Galiani Glass Art

Galiani Glass Art is a working gallery just outside Poole where you can watch glass being made and see finished pieces on display. It's the sort of place where you actually get to see the craft happen - molten glass being shaped, cooled, finished - rather than just looking at objects behind glass cases. The gallery itself stocks work from the studio, ranging from small decorative pieces to larger installations. For anyone interested in how things are actually made, this beats a standard art gallery hands down. Kids tend to get genuinely mesmerized watching the glasswork, though patience is required - it's not a hyperactive kind of place. Families staying at Parkdean Resorts Sandford Holiday Park, less than half a mile away, could easily visit between other activities without much planning. It's also close to Haven Rockley Park if you're based there. The real appeal is seeing the process live rather than just the finished product, so don't expect a massive collection or a full day's entertainment. An hour or so should cover it properly, unless you get drawn into conversation with whoever's working that day - which often happens. Worth fitting in if you're in the area and fancy something different from the usual park activities, but it's not the sort of place to drive across Dorset for specifically.