Summary
Situated in Merseyside, St Helens is a significant town comprising various local townships that merged during the Industrial Revolution.
The coal mines in St Helens ceased operations in the 20th century, with some, such as Sutton Manor, evolving into country parks.
The town is renowned primarily for its glassmaking industry, which dominated the market during Victorian times.
One notable glass manufacturer, Pilkington, maintains its headquarters in St Helens and is responsible for the entirety of the UK’s float glass production.
The exceptional World of Glass Museum, located in the town center, chronicles St Helens’ glassmaking heritage and allows visitors to explore the inner workings of a massive Victorian furnace.
1. World of Glass
Pilkington remains the only major industrial entity still functioning in St Helens.
The company’s collections form the basis of this leading museum, situated on a canal-side location that once housed a Pilkington factory.
One of the unique features of the World of Glass is its integration of walkable underground tunnels of the world’s first regenerative glass furnace, which was developed by William Windle Pilkington in 1887. Visitors can explore the extensive collections of intricate studio glass while the Earth into Light Gallery delves into St Helens’ glassmaking tradition, tracing its evolution from its 17th-century origins to the prosperous years of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Glass Roots Gallery, in contrast, examines the broader history of glass, showcasing artifacts that date back to Ancient Egypt. The museum also offers daily glassmaking demonstrations, and visitors have the opportunity to create their own ornaments during glassblowing courses.
2. Knowsley Safari
The Earls of Derby, whose ancestral residence is located a few miles from St Helens at Knowsley Hall, have a longstanding tradition of keeping exotic animals, which dates back long before the establishment of Knowsley Safari Park by Edward Stanley, the 18th Earl, in 1971. This park is renowned as one of the premier attractions in the North West, featuring a five-mile Safari Drive across 550 acres inhabited by more than 750 animals.
The drive allows visitors to traverse various zones populated by different species of antelopes (including wildebeests, blackbucks, and lechwes), along with deer, bison, zebras, southern white rhinos, and buffalo.
The park’s most notorious residents are the olive baboons, known for their playful antics with visitors’ vehicles.
For those who prefer not to drive, a Baboon Bus operates throughout the Safari Drive.
Additionally, Knowsley features a Foot Safari, resembling a traditional zoo, complete with a new Amur Tiger Trail, Giraffe Tower, and demonstration areas dedicated to birds of prey and sea lions.
3. Carr Mill Dam
The largest inland water body in Merseyside dates back at least four hundred years and initially served as a pond to operate a mill.
In the 1750s, it underwent significant expansion to function as a reservoir for the Sankey Canal, followed by further enhancements by the London and North Western Railway in the 19th century.
Carr Mill Dam serves as an oasis for water sports enthusiasts and anglers; however, it is also a picturesque destination for those merely seeking to appreciate the scenery. The old brick Nineteen Arches Bridge stands as a striking feature on the lake’s northern shoreline.
A café is available at The Boat House on the eastern shore, alongside a waterside Toby Carvery to the south.
Adjacent to the railway line on the eastern shore lies the sole tract of ancient woodland remaining in St Helens.
4. North West Museum of Road Transport
This intriguing transport museum is housed within the St Helens Corporation Transport bus depot, which dates back to 1881 and has been refurbished in the 2000s.
The museum serves as a repository for historic buses operated by various companies across the region, including those from St Helens, Liverpool, Chester, Warrington, Widnes, and Southport.
Visitors can explore the collection of single and double-decker buses dating from the 1930s onwards, all retaining their original livery, during Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holiday Mondays.
The collection is further enhanced by numerous other vehicles, such as a Dennis F8 fire engine from the 1950s and a variety of historic cars, including a Ford Prefect.
On designated “Running Days,” guests can board one of the vintage buses for a tour around St Helens, and seasonal events for children, such as a Santa’s grotto during Christmas, are also available.
5. Inglenook Farm
Inglenook Farm encompasses a variety of endeavors, cultivating chamomile and lavender for essential oils that are distilled on-site.
Guests are invited to a farmhouse café that offers hearty breakfasts and light lunch options, including sandwiches, jacket potatoes, wraps, and salads.
Children will enjoy engaging with the farm’s animals, which include a donkey, a pair of Shetland ponies, goats, sheep, ducks, peacocks, and chickens.
The farm also hosts a range of local businesses within its courtyard, such as a craft beer shop, a vintage bicycle restoration service, a pet grooming operation, a tipi maker, and a garden room designer.
6. Taylor Park
This Grade II listed Taylor Park, previously part of the Eccleston estate, was generously given to the public by landowner Samuel Taylor (VIII) in 1892. Spanning 47 acres, it includes a historic quarry that supplied sandstone for the nearby Eccleston Hall, which still stands in Whiston.
Taylor Park retains much of its Victorian character, notably in the beautifully cultivated garden that occupies the quarry, along with a sweeping lake that attracts various wildfowl, complete with a boathouse on its southern bank.
The park features a popular tearoom open daily, an adventure play area for children, and a network of paths leading into the adjacent woodland surrounding the lake.
7. St Helens R. F. C.
St Helens is proud to be the home of one of the most successful and well-supported Rugby League teams in the country, having secured 13 titles, with the latest victory in 2014. Established in 1873, the Saints compete at the contemporary Langtree Park, which opened in 2011 and accommodates 18,000 spectators. Rugby League is primarily played during the spring and summer months, commencing at the end of January and culminating in a playoff series followed by a grand final in October.
St Helens finished at the top of the 12-team league during the 2018 season; however, they were overcome by Warrington in the playoffs.
A key matchup to look forward to is the rivalry with the Wigan Warriors, which always produces an intensely competitive atmosphere.
8. Sutton Manor Woodland
This expansive 230-acre park in the southern part of St Helens evokes reminders of the affluent colliery that once operated in the area.
The mine, which was established in 1906, reached its peak during the 1960s when over 1,000 individuals were employed, ultimately closing in 1991. It is sobering to note that over 60 miners lost their lives here, on what is now a tranquil landscape featuring a high point exceeding 80 meters, previously the colliery’s spoil tip.
In the ensuing years, tens of thousands of ash, willow, and alder trees have thrived, complemented by a monumental sculpture titled “Dream,” which stands atop the highest elevation.
Visitors can also discover the old wrought iron gates from the National Coal Board that once belonged to the colliery.
9. Dream
This remarkable 20-meter-high sculpture, created by Jaume Plensa and unveiled in 2009, weighs 500 tons and consists of bright white concrete due to its dolomite content. It portrays the head of a nine-year-old girl with her eyes closed in meditation.
The sculpture, a product of extensive consultations involving 15 miners from the colliery, aims to reflect on St Helens’ mining legacy and inspire hope for the future.
Upon closer inspection, it becomes evident that the piece comprises numerous segments—90 in total spread across 14 tiers.
For enhanced understanding, visitors can download an audioguide and mobile application prior to their visit to the park.
10. Theatre Royal
Despite its modern exterior, the large theatre located on Corporation Street boasts a history of over 100 years.
Constructed in the early 1900s by Frank Matcham, the building underwent significant renovations in the 1960s and again in the early 2000s.
Theatre Royal features a rich and varied program, showcasing performances by renowned comedians (including Jimmy Carr in 2020), various tribute acts, pantomimes, touring musicals, and dance companies.
The venue regularly hosts appearances from prominent sports personalities, particularly those connected to Liverpool FC, alongside notable cultural figures.
During school holidays, children can enjoy engaging science demonstrations and performances adapted from popular literature and television shows.
11. Sherdley Park
The largest park in St Helens is situated in the Sutton district, south of the town center.
This area was once owned by the descendants of the 19th-century copper industrialist, Michael Hughes, before being acquired by the local council after World War II to serve as a recreational area for Sutton residents.
Sherdley Park spans 336 acres, featuring a lake, woodlands, expansive fields, an 18-hole golf course, formal gardens, and a children’s playground.
The golf course offers green fees of £14 during the week and £16 on weekends, with a driving range accessible for £6 per 100 balls.
12. Church of St Mary, Lowe House
In response to the burgeoning Catholic population in St Helens during the early 20th century, this impressive church was constructed to serve the community in 1924. Named partially after the manor house that previously occupied this land, the Church of St Mary is richly adorned and dramatically designed, merging Gothic and Byzantine architectural styles.
The structure features a monumental 40-meter tower housing a clock face adorned with gold mosaic.
This tower contains a 47-bell carillon, regarded as the largest in the North West, and is occasionally played during recitals.
The dark silhouette of the tower contrasts beautifully with the copper-clad crossing dome.
Within the nave, visitors will be captivated by the gleaming polished granite columns, each topped with intricate Byzantine-style capitals, in addition to the lofty vaulted ceilings of the chancel apse.
13. The Smithy Heritage Centre
This endearing museum is housed within a historic blacksmith’s forge located in Eccleston village.
The Smithy has been operational for over 200 years, serving a vital role for the community until the mid-20th century, primarily focused on crafting and fitting horseshoes for the rural populace.
The blacksmith also engaged in various tasks such as creating and repairing tools and agricultural implements, collaborating with a wheelwright on wagons, wheels, and even coffins.
The heritage center showcases artifacts, including blacksmith and wheelwright tools, historical photographs, and exhibitions dedicated to the local history of Eccleston.
14. St Mary’s Market
For those in search of necessities or simply in the mood for shopping, Church Street and the Church Square Shopping Centre encompass a plethora of prominent retailers, including Argos, Marks & Spencer, JD Sports, River Island, Game, and more.
Additionally, popular food chains such as Greggs, Costa Coffee, Subway, and McDonald’s are conveniently clustered within a 100-meter radius.
For a more local shopping experience, St Mary’s Market operates indoors Monday through Saturday, located directly across from the World of Glass.
Featuring free WiFi, St Mary’s is notable for its high occupancy rates across its permanent stalls.
Among the offerings are a butcher, fishmonger, haberdasher, dressmaker, and fabric dealer.
Visitors can also discover fruits, vegetables, toys, phone accessories, arts and crafts, flowers, and international teas, all while supporting the local economy!
15. Haydock Park Racecourse
Recognized as one of the leading racecourses in the UK by attendance, Haydock Park offers racing events year-round.
The majority of the racing occurs on the flat; however, a comprehensive schedule of National Hunt (jump) races takes place during the winter months.
The course is characterized by its tight turns, long straightaways, and generally fast, firm ground that favors speed over strategy.
Key Group 1/Grade I events to pay attention to include the Haydock Sprint Cup on the flat in September, and the Betfair Chase National Hunt Race in November, which saw a dominant performance by Kauto Star during the 2000s with four wins. Additionally, Haydock Park serves as a concert venue during summer months and hosts various special events, such as Ladies’ Day for the Rose of Lancaster Stakes in August.
