Glasshoughton is home to the Xscape leisure centre and ski slope, the Junction 32 Outlet Shopping Village, a B&Q, a hotel, several pubs and a number of fast food restaurants, which were built on the site of the former Glasshoughton Colliery and coke coking plant.

[5] The 1890 Ordnance Survey map shows Glass Houghton as a village distinct from Castleford, with its largest buildings along each side of Front Street.

The population growth of Castleford to the southwest of the old village centre naturally has been referred to as Glasshoughton.

[9] The major developments on the budding community in the twentieth century were related to growing prosperity due to the growth of technological innovation.

Glasshoughton railway station on the Pontefract Line opened in 2005 to serve the newly built leisure and retail facilities.