The Red House Glass Cone is a Grade II*-listed former glassworks beside the Stourbridge Canal in Wordsley, Stourbridge, and one of only four surviving glass cones left in the UK. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and other practical visitor tips.
This guide was checked against the official Dudley Council website in June 2026. One point worth flagging: the Cone’s Hot Glass Studio is currently closed, while it is rebuilt to be more accessible and more environmentally friendly, so live glassblowing demonstrations are not currently running.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Monday–Friday 10am–3pm; Saturday–Sunday 11am–4pm |
| Ticket prices | Free entry; some events may charge |
| Address | High Street, Wordsley, Stourbridge, DY8 4AZ |
| Nearest transport/parking | Free on-site parking; Stourbridge Junction station, then bus 16, 17, or 17a |
| Typical time needed | 1–2 hours |
Red House Glass Cone opening hours
The Visitor Centre is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm.
The individual craft and design studios on site keep their own hours, which can differ from the main Visitor Centre, so check with each studio directly if visiting specifically to see a particular maker. The Hot Glass Studio, normally a highlight for many visitors, remains closed for redevelopment at the time of writing.
Red House Glass Cone ticket prices
General entry to the site is free, though some special events, workshops, and guided tours carry a separate charge.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in June 2026.
The Red House Glass Cone is not part of any multi-attraction city pass; Dudley Council’s museums, including this one, are free to enter individually rather than bundled into a paid scheme. Tickets for paid events are sold through TicketSource rather than at the door.
How to get to the Red House Glass Cone
The site sits on the A491 High Street in Wordsley, directly adjacent to the Stourbridge Canal bridge, with the postcode DY8 4AZ.
By rail, the closest station is Stourbridge Junction, from where a short shuttle train runs to Stourbridge Town and its adjoining bus station. From there, bus routes 16, 17, and 17a all stop at Brook Street, a short walk from the Cone.
Parking at the Red House Glass Cone
Parking is free for all visitors, with two dedicated spaces reserved for Blue Badge holders.
The car park sits on site, making this one of the more straightforward Black Country attractions to drive to without budgeting for parking charges.
How long to spend at the Red House Glass Cone
Most visitors spend 1 to 2 hours exploring the Cone, galleries, and studios.
A longer visit suits anyone booking a guided tour, glass fusing workshop, or combining the trip with a walk along the adjoining Stourbridge Canal towpath.
Accessibility at the Red House Glass Cone
The Cone is a Grade II* listed historic monument and is not fully accessible.
The original flooring inside the cone itself is uneven, the interior is dimly lit, and there is currently no lift to the upstairs gallery. All organised events and family activities, along with the free family trails, take place on the fully accessible ground floor. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome on the external parts of the site, and an accessible toilet is available on the ground floor.
Inside the Red House Glass Cone: what to see
The Cone itself stands 100 feet high and 60 feet wide at its base, built between 1788 and 1794; it functioned as both a workspace for glassmakers and a giant chimney, drawing air through underground tunnels to keep the furnace at melting temperature.
The Stuart Crystal Gallery traces the Stuart family’s glassmaking dynasty, who produced glass on this site until just before the Second World War, including their connection to glassware supplied for the Titanic.
Inside the Cone and the Courtyard Gallery host changing exhibitions and displays exploring the wider Stourbridge Glass Quarter’s history.
A particular highlight of the site’s history is its role in the Cameo glass revival: in the 1870s, glassmakers here reproduced the Roman-era Portland Vase using two layers of contrasting coloured glass, a technique lost since antiquity until it was rediscovered at the Red House.
Working designer-maker studios, including Blowfish Glass UK, and a row of small business studios let visitors see contemporary glass and craft makers at work, alongside the on-site café, Heavenly Baking, and a retail space selling work made at the Cone.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on a weekday morning for the quietest experience, before school groups and tours arrive. |
| Crowds | Weekends tend to be busier, particularly when events or markets are scheduled. |
| Layout | Wear flat, sturdy shoes, since the original Cone flooring is uneven underfoot. |
| Entry process | No tickets are needed for general entry; simply walk in during opening hours. |
| On-site logistics | Download the free Bloomberg Connects app beforehand for a self-guided digital tour. |
Frequently asked questions about the Red House Glass Cone
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Red House Glass Cone suitable for children? | Yes, free family trails run all year on the fully accessible ground floor. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Red House Glass Cone? | No, general entry does not require booking, though events and tours often do. |
| Is the Red House Glass Cone open on Sundays? | Yes, from 11am to 4pm. |
| Are dogs allowed at the Red House Glass Cone? | Guide and assistance dogs are welcome on the external parts of the site. |
| Is the Red House Glass Cone wheelchair accessible? | Only partially; the ground floor is accessible, but there is no lift to the upstairs gallery. |
Things to do near the Red House Glass Cone
- Dudley Canal Trust and Tunnel Trips – underground canal boat trips through limestone caverns, around 15 minutes away.
- Black Country Living Museum – an open-air museum recreating the region’s industrial past, a short drive away in Dudley.
- Himley Park – an 18th-century landscaped park with woodland trails, around 15–20 minutes away.
- Mary Stevens Park – a public park in Stourbridge with a lake and gardens, a short drive from the Cone.
- Stourbridge Glass Quarter – a wider trail of historic glassmaking sites and studios around the town.
What to visit tomorrow
- Black Country Living Museum, Dudley – around 20 minutes away; a recreated 1900s industrial town with working trades and demonstrations.
- Ironbridge Gorge Museums, Telford – around 50 minutes away; a UNESCO World Heritage industrial heritage site centred on the world’s first iron bridge.
- Museum of Royal Worcester, Worcester – around 45 minutes away; a porcelain museum tracing more than 270 years of Worcester ceramics.
- World of Wedgwood, Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent – around 1 hour 15 minutes away; a ceramics visitor centre and factory tour.
- Quarry Bank Mill, Styal, Cheshire – around 1.5–2 hours away; a National Trust working cotton mill with its original machinery.
More West Midlands travel
Other West Midlands travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan your visit to Dudley Zoo and Castle.
- Plan your visit to Winterbourne House and Birmingham Botanical Gardens in Birmingham.
- Discover the Tolkien connection at Sarehole Mill in Birmingham.
- What to know before visiting Aston Hall in Birmingham.
- Key information for visiting the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.
