Fun things to do in St Helens: 12 fun attractions and activities

Really pleasantly surprised by this place. Have heard poor things (in the past) but we have just had the loveliest day at World of Glass. We took our baby and 3 year old who absolutely loved exploring. There are lots of interactive bits for little hands. Loads of nice things to look at, beautifully preserved glassware thousands of years old. The site was impeccably clean. The outdoor space is lovely, a nice little play area at the back. We stayed for about an hour and a half but could definitely stay longer. Didn't use the cafe so can't comment on that. The only single thing that was slightly difficult were the toilets and lift are through a heavy double door which was hard to navigate by myself with the pram, having electric doors or a prop to hold them open would be really helpful as there was no one around to assist at the time. Can imagine this being hard for someone in a wheelchair or with mobility issues to get through as it opens outwards towards you. Thank you to the staff for a lovely visit.

My visit to The World of Glass in St Helens was absolutely amazing. I was completely captivated by the live demonstrations, especially watching the skilled glassmakers create a beautiful red pig right before my eyes. The craftsmanship and artistry are incredible, and all of the exhibitions are absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend a visit to anyone looking for a unique and fascinating day out—you won't be disappointed!

Outstanding place. We heard about this from Johnny Vegas TV show, so i knew i just needed to go and visit what hes got there, when we arrived I was so surprised on how much else was there to see and do. Free parking on a Sunday and free to enter. Gift shop decent prices to. We easily spent a few hours here and we didn't use the cafe here, we went across into the town. We will be back 100% - next time we will ensure we watch the glass blowing part of it too :) Please if you do come here, donate to keep it going, glad we came across it

The World of Glass is an absolute treasure, visiting the glass museum where you can even learn to blow is fascinating. Then there’s the gallery, the library, a shop stocked with beautiful glassware, jewellery, books and trinkets, and don’t forget the the cafe. Great for adults and children with many events and activities to enjoy throughout the year. They also host excellent writing workshops as well.

Really interesting place. I have been before but still find it very informative to be able to walk around,and in, the No 9 Furnace was an experience. Hellish working conditions in those days. The displays of glass, modern stuff and historic St Helens display is great and brought back memories. It is sad that this place is struggling financially- it's free to enter; £5 to watch glass blowing - well worth it. Oh and finally that seldom seen on TV, Johnnie Vegas, has a n artwork "Love Letter to St Helens" on display in the Cone House. If you can please support it before it is lost.

Brilliant day out. Very informative, lots of exhibits. Best if all its free, but its worth giving a donation to keep the place viable. I hadnt been for years, so glad I popped back. Next time ill get a ticket for the live glass blowing which looks very good. Highly recommended

Lovely staff and glassblowers. Nice to just wander around for free and glass made on the premises and by other artists is for sale. Cafe nice looking over canal and gardens, though the music was a bit too loud for us. Proper glassblowing demos are £5, but we just wandered in when empty and still saw the furnace and glassblowers working. There are blue badge spaces near entrance, but no free parking, all pay and display or via app.

Absolutely incredible, it really is a true hidden gem of a museum. Very well laid out and presented collection covering practically every mode of transport from cars, bicycles, vans, trams, motorbikes, trolleybuses and even trains. Something for everyone really! Volunteers were a credit to the Town, never mind the Museum, and the shop and canteen van serving food were nice touches. The vintage Bus ride out was very different and there's free parking nearby and toilets on site as well. We are already talking about coming back here.

Small but absolutely great place to spend lovely time on sunday in St Helens! For everyone! Many buses, and vintage cars. Also vintage bus ride around town which was £6 is included in the price for everyone. 100% recommended

We visited the museum today 23/02/25 and it was amazing £6 per adult and children free, plenty of refreshments as you walk in. Gift shop needs abit of attention could do with more stock/merchandise. The vehicles are great and a credit to their owners. There are plenty of trains to watch go around and the staff are full of knowledge. We went on a bus ride that operates every hour and last for around 20/30 mins that in its self was worth the £12 we paid to enter. We spent around 2 hours in the the museum with plenty of old vehicles to look at well worth the visit

Defo worth a visit even if transport isn't your thing, great place! Staff were great

I love it there . It so nice to see the old vehicles espeically the 80s and early 90s vehicles i.e astra G model. Also i was nice to see the crosville double decker DVL435 as my dad drove that bus for crosville when the bus was at mold depot in the 80s . I recommend this place for who into classic vehicles.

The staff are so friendly and helpful. A lot of information about the different types of transport . £6.00 in as I am a carer and disabled friendly

Great day out, lovely staff. Will go again some day

The park is beautiful and it has various entrances. There are also parking areas located in different parts of the park. There are various wildlife in the area, including a turtle in the lake. This is the only park I have seen a turtle in nature, around the northwest. The park also has various children play area which is really cool. I saw few people fishing, so I guess it’s allowed? Its idea for picnic, walking and playing for children

Nice lake, good paths for walking around. Aivery gone, paddling pool now skate park. Good cuppa at the cafe.

We’re here almost daily.. it’s an extremely big park very well maintained and a lovely walk in the summer with the cafe and ice cream van open, it can get very busy at times.

Love this place, never get tired of going, kids love it, cafe is lovely as well ❤️

The blue lake is absolutely gorgeous and lovely to walk around. It’s not every day you see an actual blue lake! The children’s parks (2 of them) are well equipped for the children to enjoy, plus there’s an outdoor gym for all ages. There’s also a big field behind the lake for a sit down field picnic, or gymnastics session if you fancy it like we did (no bones broken). There are also lots of baby ducklings and cygnets if you visit in the right months (April/May). AND, LOTS of squirrels. Which we’ve fed nuts to in the past - super cute! Overall, highly recommend for the family on a sunny day & winter walks! (Ice cream van there year round. I believe there is a café which I’ve heard good things of, but I’ve never been in).

Fantastic spot to take a walk. Taylor perfect for dogs as there are lots of places to go and rummage and plenty of space to run and play. Several play areas for younger children and a cafe for refreshments. The park was very tidy with bins a plenty to dispose of your rubbish.

A lovely park with a fair sized reservoir situated within making a good home for wildlife Good sized playground facilities for the children and of course a cafe and ice cream vans There is also exercise equipment to hand Plenty of paths to run on for those inclined Plenty of dog walkers about and picnic areas available

Staff are generally quite good. The theatre is clean and well maintained. Show was good although one of those where three kids from a hundred are “chosen” and rest feel a bit left out. No photo ops this time but generally good.

Just been to our 9th Panto of 2025 at the theatre royal ! They always put on an Incredible show , the casting, staging , costume , sound and lighting all brilliant , there’s loads of participation and the humour is not just for kids ! My son is autistic and I worried he’d not manage it but he’s enjoyed every single show he’s watched and stayed in his seat the entire time ! The front of house staff are absolutely amazing too and very kindly let my little girl win the golden ticket yesterday which has made her entire year! (Shout out to Angela and Julie! ) We’ll definitely be back for more shows and of course more Panto ! Get yourself there , you’ll have a Ball!

Went to see Police legend Stewart Copeland last night. What a lovely theatre St. Helens is. Had a little drink in the bar before the show, I never even knew that was there. Brilliant little area. Staff were all pleasant and knowledgeable. Overall, a great night at a great theatre. Thank you very much 👍

Went to see the amazing thebonjoviexperince (search them up they are really good!) Security at the door were friendly and polite..inside was clean and tidy..only a 5 minute walk from St Helens Central station

Went to watch Gary Delaney at the theatre. Great theatre, I'd not been for years andbits not changed much, which is a good thing as its perfect.

Attended to see The Lancashire Hotpots. Staff amazing, atmosphere amazing. An all around brilliant evening.

My partner and I watched night collar, which was a bit rubbish in our opinion. We sat in stalls row c seats 10,11. The carpet was rotten and our feet were stuck to it all night. The bright side lights hurt my sensitive eyes and the loud announcement for refreshments every 5 minutes prior to the show was too loud, too frequent and kept making me jump.

clean, dog-friendly place. Perfect for a Sunday walk with a great sculpture. Car parking nearby.

Interesting sculpture. We parked in the free car park where the Dream tourist road signs led us to. It was a short walk to the sculpture on well maintained paths. The paths through the woodland (which were the coal pits) are wide, stony, and easily accessible for many people. There's plenty of different paths to take too. It's well signposted to the sculpture with plenty of benches and some information boards.

We visited at night. Contrary to some of the images I found online, the sculpture is not lit during the evenings. The path surrounding the statue is pitch black as well so I’d thoroughly recommend going when the sun is out.

Hidden Monumental Calm with a Modern Edge Dream in St Helens is one of those places that leaves an impression the moment you see it—but only if you know where to look. It’s tucked away just off the M62, practically hidden in plain sight. You wouldn’t expect something so serene to exist only yards from the steady hum of motorway traffic, but somehow, it does—and that contrast gives it a quiet power. The sculpture itself is striking. Towering at 20 metres tall, the elongated face of a young girl with closed eyes stands frozen in thought, like it’s meditating above the chaos. Made from brilliant white concrete and quartz, it reflects sunlight in a way that gives it a ghostly glow on bright days. It’s both eerie and peaceful, modern yet timeless. From a distance it almost looks like a digital rendering dropped into the landscape, but up close, it’s tactile and grounded. There’s a short, mostly flat walk through woodland to reach it from the nearby car park, maybe 10–15 minutes at most depending on your pace. The path is well maintained, and although signage could be better in places, you get there easily enough with a bit of common sense. It’s a nice little stroll in itself, especially on a calm day. The space opens up as you approach, revealing the sculpture slowly rather than all at once. It’s a lovely bit of design—intentional or not. Flying my drone there added a whole extra layer. From above, you get a completely different sense of scale. The way the sculpture rises out of the old Sutton Manor colliery site is genuinely powerful. It commands the land it’s on, without shouting. Peaceful, thoughtful, and oddly moving when seen from the air. For anyone into photography or drone work, this is a brilliant subject—just be mindful of the area and check you're clear to fly. The sculpture was built to honour the mining heritage of the area and the people who worked there. That history isn’t heavy-handed—there’s no museum here, no overdone storytelling—but you can feel it. The land has a memory to it, and Dream sits right in the middle like a quiet witness. There are benches along the way, bits of art embedded in the trails, and even information plaques if you stop to read them. It’s not busy unless you go on a sunny weekend, and even then, there’s enough open space to sit, reflect, take some photos, and enjoy the quiet. You’re never totally isolated—the sound of the M62 is always there—but it becomes background noise after a while, more like a distant river than a disruption. Parking is free and reasonably close, though it’s not signed clearly from the main roads. The local council could do a better job of guiding visitors in, especially with sat navs sometimes taking odd routes. Once you’re parked, though, it’s a smooth and easy visit. --- Final Thoughts This isn’t an all-day attraction, and it doesn’t pretend to be. You come here for a walk, a bit of quiet, and to take in something thoughtful. Dream is one of the best examples of public art in the region. It feels well-placed, well-meaning, and surprisingly emotional once you take a moment to slow down with it. Would I go back? Absolutely—especially at sunrise or sunset. It’s an ideal stop if you're passing through the area or want a quick mental reset. Just don’t expect bells and whistles—this is minimalism done right.

Lovely walk up the hill, then all of a sudden it's there!

Really nice and scenic park. It is a good park to take the dogs for a walk or run. There are quite a few small animals that can be spotted on the trail like ducks, rabbits and various birds. The sculpture is quite impressive up close and there is a lot of interesting information regarding the sculpture on a sign. Around the trails are unique little sculptures with beautiful quotes, each small sculpture has a different quote, making each unique. This is a good path to take children on and isn’t too steep or long for little children. I would recommend going on this little walk to experience some interesting local history.

Standing 20 metres tall on the site of the former Sutton Manor Colliery in St Helens, Jaume Plensa’s Dream is a striking and contemplative public artwork that captures both the memory of the past and the promise of the future. Commissioned as part of Channel 4’s Big Art Project and shaped in close collaboration with former miners, the sculpture symbolises a town’s desire not to dwell solely on what was lost, but to look forward with optimism and grace. The sculpture itself – a serene, elongated head of a young girl with closed eyes – evokes a meditative stillness. Cast in white concrete mixed with Spanish dolomite, its luminous surface stands in deliberate contrast to the coal that once lay beneath the ground. In this way, Plensa transforms the landscape’s industrial legacy into a quiet beacon of renewal. St Helens’ old motto, Ex Terra Lucem (“From the ground, light”), finds tangible expression in this hauntingly beautiful form. Technically, Dream is an impressive feat of engineering. Comprising 90 individual panels and weighing over 370 tonnes, it is anchored deep into the reclaimed spoil heap on which it rests. Its placement—just off the M62—ensures visibility to tens of thousands of motorists each day, further enhancing its role as a public landmark. More than a monument, Dream has become a cultural icon for the region. It attracts upwards of 85,000 visitors annually and has been featured in media such as the Netflix drama Stay Close. Awards and accolades—including the 2009 Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture and a Civic Trust Award—affirm its impact not only as a work of art but as a deeply resonant community project. That said, the visitor experience is not without some limitations. Access via forest trails is scenic but can be challenging for those with reduced mobility. Additionally, concerns have been raised about limited amenities and overgrown vegetation that can partially obscure the sculpture. Plans for night-time illumination remain unrealised, which some feel would enhance its visibility and atmosphere. Nonetheless, Dream endures as a powerful symbol of transformation. Its success lies in its emotional clarity: the calm face, the closed eyes, the upward gaze—all suggesting inner reflection, hope, and the courage to dream. In a place once defined by hard labour underground, Plensa offers a vision that rises above.

What a warm and welcoming family friendly venue this is. The kids had a great time doing Autumn crafts. We made apple faces. Apple prints and bug hotels the weather was not it's best so we had hog roast indoors with a cuppa. What a lovely local treasure x and the staff were amazing. Thank you.

To all those that came to the Smithy comicon, thanks. Now if you come to the Smithy in two weeks time the 22nd September, we have Apple day, were there is someone pressing apples, there will be a cafe with tea/coffee and cake. If you have any apples bring them along and we will get them pressed to be used as cider for next year's blacksmith day. There is also bee keepers coming with a section of a bee hive to view, they will be more than willing to answer questions.

Used to spend hours there as a lad in late forties watching the blacksmith work. Canstill recall the smellof scorched hooves as he hot-shoed horses.

Aw such lovely memories of my lovely Uncle Elais(Ellis) Scorched hooves <3 xx

Not as s great as it was!! Over grown gardens and maintenance of facilities gone down. Wouldn't recommend 😪😪

Beautiful place very interesting as a heritage centre goes well worth a visit

Worth a visit never heard of it before but had an event on so hence visit.

There are 2 sort of walks to this one relatively short round 45 mins the other round 1h 15 both have stunning views and lots of wildlife to see. It’s great for dog walks

Lovely place for a walk with the dog. Great pub, cafe called The Dam. Great breakfast menu. Dog friendly too

My favorite place for a relaxing walk or rest.

You can pass a good couple of hours walking round here especially if you have a mud magnet doggy with you and with that a good pair of shoes needed don't wear your good stuff. and then grab a brew/pint and/or a bite to eat at the grill at the end this is also dog friendly and has free doggy treats and you can park at the back of it also plenty of parking along the dam wall.

I had my first photo taken of me at Carr Mill about 65 years ago when my parents used to bring me here. I've been coming here ever since. It's a really nice walk around the dam and from here there are walks to Earlestown, Billinge and Garswood. Also a few times when I've been here at the weekend there has been speedboat racing on the dam which is great to watch and photograph.

This place holds childhood memories for me swimming in the dam at sandy bottom and having picnics with my family. Love walking around here with the dogs. And having a drink with friends. The boat house has events on over the bank holidays serves food and flood drinks. It’s a good laugh and nice to chill on sunny days

Really nice walk. Child friendly, popular with dog walkers and fishing. It was a bit muddy so sensible shoes would be advisable. If you've got a hour spare definitely worth a visit plus there's a Toby carvery there if you fancy lunch.

We went to the cinema today at screen 4 for the 'Weapons' movie. The employees were very kind and the place was clean and comfy. Unfortunately, through the movie, we found the sound to be very limited and very low volume. Cinemas are supposed to have surround systems so that the sound is amplified. I found the sound lacking a lot through the movie and had to really focus to be able to hear and my partner had the same issue. Especially at the start of the movie. Also, halfway through the movie, a strong white light came on from behind us directed sideways at the chair we were sitting on and we had to try to switch seats to avoid the glare. Which was very distracting. People go to the cinema to have an experience they can't get at home. Otherwise no one would go... Please do better... I love the cinema and I want to have the best experience possible!...

Extremely rude staff (particularly the man with long hair who we assume to be the manager?) who doesn’t even know Cineworld’s own policy on taking cold food into the cinema. Don’t follow their policies by taking in COLD food (in our instance cake and a biscuit) because apparently it has “been baked somewhere else” so doesn’t count as cold 🤣🤣 He wasn’t even nice about it either, just rude and condescending. In this economy you’d think they’d be abit more relaxed and welcoming to their customers. We’ll take our business elsewhere, Vue Newcastle is so much better especially when it comes to staff politeness and general policies 🫶🏼

Been here to see Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Godzilla vs Kong New Empire. Screens usually open around 15 minutes before showing, ads last around the same length of time, so don't be too frightened if you're stuck in Hanley traffic. Seats are the classic (but dated and sometimes rough) material; it's not bad, but after a 2hr movie you may feel a little stiff. Lightning, cleanliness, seating arrangements, service, etc are all really good, no pet peeves. No distractions, and with tiered seating, you don't get screwed over when sat behind some tall rotter. They're also fully equipped for digital tickets and getting them scanned takes 5secs. Not had issues with "those" types of cinegoers yet, nor have I experienced the cinema snacks on principle, but I imagine those would sour things. Never felt bad at this place. The usual parking is a bit of a trial to work with, so I recommend going to the Potteries and using their ticketless system. It's like £7.50 for the time in the cinema. It's literally right next to the cinema and means you walk down, not up, a flight of stairs, which is nice. Also, if you're reading this around the time of posting, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is very fun. Go see it!

Nice sized screen average priced but a lot of stairs. Thankfully their is a lift for those who struggle and the foyer is level accessed. I was impressed that they had multiple disabled toilets too

Cineworld itself is clean and welcoming, with easy to locate screens. The screens themselves are tidy and clean, with no litter or rubbish. Seats were easy to find. In particular, cineworld does £1 family film tickets throughout the summer holidays, which is fun and cost effective! Parking is adequate in the potteries multi storey parking garage. There is disabled parking with lifts to access the entertainment areas. Although cineworld itself is a 5* to us, the area outside of the cinema is shocking! Most of the shops are up for rent, so there is no entertainment and dining area that it was designed to be! Hopefully, these units will be filled and it will make the area more appealing again.

Lovely staff, answered all of my questions (and I had a lot 😅) We went out for my birthday, and was served by Sarah, who was an absolute diamond. She went above and beyond looking after us, made us both laugh and cannot wait to come back! Thank you!

Handy parking with nearby restaurants. Theatre is very comfortable with a massive screen. Normal 20 minutes of rubbish ads before film starts but other wise an excellent experience

We've visited once on a Saturday, it was really busy but I think any soft play is of a weekend. Plenty for my toddler to do, he loved it. Lots of staff who were friendly and on the ball. Would recommend and go again. Toilet and baby change was clean & tables were kept really clean.

Not open on a Wednesday in the easter holidays when says it is. Caught a bus to come here today as states open. Shambles of a play centre

Lovely soft play, staff very friendly good for a range of ages my son is 7 and daughter is 4 and enjoyed all parts. Didn't eat anything this time but there is a good range of food options available.

What can we say, glad to see the place re opened. Staff are lovely. Food is delicious 😋 good value for money. But they need mustard 😂 IYKYK Seriously though best of luck, place looks great

Had a lovely visit with my daughter, was made to feel so welcome, the place is so clean and looks amazing what the team have done! Will definitely be visiting regularly 😊

We’ve been to Chi Chi’s 3 times already and my 4-year-old loves it. The staff are very friendly and the food’s really tasty. We highly recommend it 😊

Used the under 2s area. It's a bit small and not much to do except the ball pit for 2 hours. Cafe is decent.

Sick of loosing in this arcade it’s every time I go in they are defo rigged to put 400 in not to even get the 7s £100 it’s not once it’s every time u go in it’s always empty no wonder they really need to understand that we the public like a win also and not all for admiral going to make it more empty I’m not going in again also it’s hard work even getting a drink in there there not interested staff spend a lot of time in toilet why ???? Or chatting between them selves very unsociable place not at all fun

Lose every time I go in there....the slots need to be checked if they are paying the correct RTP. other amusements seem to give you more enjoyment than this place, you seem to get more bonuses elsewhere even though you may lose.

managed to loose £75 in 10 mins, absolute rip off. 0% rtp. no wonder the place is dead. rather give my money to betfred its that bad here. dont bother

Rude arrogant staff

no frills and relaxing

Ok nothing specail

Another money maker

Staff are really pleasant and helpful nice cup of tea or cold drink available and sometimes a sandwich. Nice atmosphere my only gripe is that people are allowed to put cards on fruit machines that they are not playing obviously to stop other people going on them to win. Staff should remove cards. One lady had 2 cards on machines and she was playing a different machine. Totally greedy and off putting. If I walked in It would put me off if I seen that. But it's a nice place so maybe it could be noted and dealt with even if the lady's a regular!

When I heard about this thought it was going to be live casino. Table games etc. Just a load a fruit machines.