Things to do · Arts and crafts
Try glassblowing
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Gathering molten glass from a furnace, adding colour and shaping it with a glassmaker beside you is unlike any other craft, and a first session ends with a paperweight, a cup or a small vase you made. Pieces are annealed (cooled slowly) before you collect them, the next day or later.
ModerateOver £500 / $650An afternoonIndoorsWith othersUK and US
Someone who has done it
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What happens on the day
A glassmaker guides you through each step. At the Corning Museum of Glass, the hour-long In-Depth Glassblowing session has you gather glass from the furnace, add colour and shape a vase, bowl or cup. If it breaks, the project restarts if time allows.
Nothing goes home hot. Corning's pieces are ready after noon the next day or can be shipped within the US and Canada; London Glassblowing anneals and finishes its pieces, which are ready about a week later.
{'Groups are small': 'London Glassblowing takes two people per session. For a longer way in, GoggleWorks in Pennsylvania runs a five-evening Intro to Glassblowing for adults. The National Glass Centre in Sunderland, long a place to try it in the UK, closed permanently on 31 July 2026.'}
What beginners pay
| Where | Course | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| London Glassblowing, Bermondsey | Three-hour Saturday session for two people; make a paperweight and a blown vessel; 18 and over | £500 per person |
| Bransfield Glass Makers, Westcott, Aylesbury | Half-day glassmaking class, three hours (listed on Craft Courses) | £155 |
| GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading, Pennsylvania | Intro to Glassblowing: five Tuesday evenings, three hours each; adults, all levels | $390, or $331.50 for members |
How to start
- Book a taster at a glass studio; sessions run from under an hour to a full day, and some studios take only two people at a time.
- Wear natural-fibre clothes and shoes that fully cover your feet, take off jewellery and tie back long hair.
- If you want more, look for a multi-week introduction at a community arts centre with a hot shop.
Where to go
- London Glassblowing: half-day glassblowing experience (Bermondsey) UK
- Craft Courses: glassblowing tasters and days across the UK UK
- Corning Museum of Glass: Make Your Own Glass (New York State) US
- GoggleWorks Center for the Arts: hot glass classes (Reading, Pennsylvania) US
We opened these links on 8 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Can a complete beginner try glassblowing?
Yes. Corning's Make Your Own Glass needs no experience, and London Glassblowing's half-day session is an introduction for beginners.
What should I wear to a glassblowing class?
Natural fibres, no loose clothing or jewellery, long hair tied back, and shoes that fully cover your feet. Corning does not allow open-toed shoes.
Can I take my glass home the same day?
Usually not. Pieces are annealed (cooled slowly) first; Corning's pieces are ready after noon the next day, and London Glassblowing's about a week later.
How much does a glassblowing experience cost?
It varies widely. UK listings on Craft Courses run from about £35 for a short bauble session, or £155 for a half-day class, to £350 for a full-day masterclass, and London Glassblowing lists £500 per person for three hours.
Where this comes from: London Glassblowing, Half-Day Glassblowing; Craft Courses, One day beginner glassblowing course listings; Corning Museum of Glass, Make Your Own Glass; Corning Museum of Glass, In-Depth Glassblowing; Corning Museum of Glass, Health and Safety at The Studio; GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Hot glass classes; Sunderland Culture, National Glass Centre classes and courses for adults (closure notice). Opened 8 November 2026.
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