About St. Helens in Merseyside

St. Helens is a town in Merseyside, England. The town has a population of around 180,000 people and is the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St. Helens. The town is situated on the River Mersey, about 20 miles (32 km) from Liverpool and 30 miles (48 km) from Manchester.

St. Helens is a town with a long history, dating back to the 12th century when it was founded as a chapel of ease for the parish of Eccleston. The town grew rapidly in the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, becoming a major centre for coal mining and glassmaking. In the 20th century, St. Helens was heavily involved in the Lancashire Coalfield Wars, as well as being the site of two major disasters: the collapse of a mining slag heap in 1972, and the explosion of a chemical plant in 1997.

Today, St. Helens is a thriving town with a diverse economy. The town centre has been redeveloped in recent years, and there are plans to regenerate other areas of the town. There are plenty of things to do in St. Helens, with a variety of shops, restaurants, bars and clubs, as well as museums, art galleries and theatres. There are also several parks and green spaces to enjoy.