Saint Helens

The large town of St Helens is located in Merseyside and home to the impressive 20m tall sculpture called ‘Dream’; it is sited on a former colliery in St Helens and can be seen from the M62 motorway. The growth and prosperity of St Helens came about as a result of coal mining and glassmaking during the 18th and 19th century. It also had a thriving cotton and linen industry kept busy by sail making until the mid 19th century. St Helens lies on the Sankey Canal and has over 170 wonderful listed buildings for the visitor to enjoy. Some of the most impressive are St Mary's Lowe House, the red brick Gamble Institute where the Central Library is based, the Beechams Clock Tower and The Friends Meeting House.

There is a strong association here with the glass industry and a leading name in that industry, Pilkingtons. The World of Glass Museum that opened in 2000, incorporating the Pilkington Glass Museum, has received many awards including North West Attraction of the Year.  Other museums to visit include The North West Museum of Road Transport and small museum dedicated to the works of a local blacksmith, The Smithy. There are many places of beauty to visit here and the parks are popular; from historic Taylor Park, which opened in 1893 to the modern Sherdley Park featuring a petting zoo and hosting the annual summer funfair, the St Helens Festival.