Discover St Austell Bay

Our recommendations

These have been hand-picked by our skilled and knowledgeable local experts

St Austell Bay, Cornwall c John Such
Pentewan, St Austell Bay | Cornwall c Monika Kludcka
Eden Project, St Austell, Cornwall c Sophia Milligan
Pinetum Gardens, St Austell | Cornwall
Charlestown, St Austell Bay, Cornwall c John Such
Heligan Gardens, St Austell Bay, Cornwall
Rainforest Biome, Eden Project, St Austell | Cornwall
Wheal Martyn, Carthew, St Austell, Cornwall
Charlestown, St Austell, Cornwall
Holy Trinity Parish Church, St Austell, Cornwall

Discover St Austell Bay

The curve of St Austell Bay with its many sandy beaches is a haven for watersports and family holidays. The area is also fantastic for walking and cycling with many woodlands and trails. The white peaks of the China Clay industry overlook the market town of St Austell, Cornwall's largest town dating back to the 13th century. St Austell town is situated about a mile from the coast. Walk along Fore Street and you reach the historic core of the town to discover the fine Holy Trinity Parish Church and opposite, the Italianate facade of the Market House. The shopping centre in the town centre has a cinema, restaurants, cafes and shops. Nearby is the beautiful Georgian village of Charlestown and the popular fishing village of Mevagissey. Local attractions include the world-famous Eden Project and Heligan Gardens.   

Things to do in and around St Austell Bay

  • The Eden Project. Now one of the most famous attractions in the world, a visit to Cornwall would not be complete without walking through the tropical biome in wonder at the amazing plants that tower above you 
  • Pop into the St Austell Brewery Visitor Centre near the main railway station. It’s an interactive museum telling the story of the pubs, beers, wines and spirits of Cornwall and the families who created them
  • At the Georgian village of Charlestown a mile away visit the Charlestown Shipwreck Centre packed to the gunnels with historical artefacts relating to HMS Victory, Titanic, smugglers and pirates making it the largest private collection of its type on public display in Europe
  • Learn all about the china clay industry at Wheal Martyn Museum and Country Park an excellent open air museum dedicated to the area’s all-encompassing industry. Apart from displays of bygone work practices, you can see the breathtakingly massive modern working pits that use high-pressure hoses to blast the clay from the ground
  • Pinetum Park on the outskirts of the town is packed with exotic plants that grown in a unique microclimate. Painstakingly cultivated by ray and Shirley Clemo and planted out with seeds brought pack from their travels across the world, Pine Lodge is a gardener’s paradise
  • For older kids and teens Kidzworld and Cornish Market World complex is a covered outdoor leisure area with full size dodgems, mini-golf, foam shooters, pool tables, arcade games, table tennis and lots more
  • There is a cycle/walking path that takes the old mineral tram route from the town centre all the way to the Eden Project just under 7 miles away. On route you’ll pass a bizarre landscape of disused china clay pits, bright white walls and luminous turquoise water. It’s all looks a bit lunar is quite fascinatin

Useful St Austell Bay links

St Austell Tourist Information Centre
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