St Austell Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

St Austell featuring signage and a city
Lost Gardens of Heligan which includes a park
St Austell featuring heritage architecture
Lost Gardens of Heligan which includes a park
St Austell

This busy market town is a great place for starting your exploration of some of Cornwall’s prettiest beaches. 

St. Austell stands in front of the white peaks of the Cornish Alps, towering clay tips made of excavation waste from the town’s china clay industry. The town’s long history stretches back to the 13th century. Enjoy the golden sand beaches of St. Austell Bay, explore a spectacular town garden and learn about local china clay excavation history.

The Eden Project, set in a former china clay pit, is a remarkable garden representing three climate zones. Plants from temperate zones are outdoors, while plants, insects and birds from other zones are housed in geodesic domes. Climb to the viewing platform above the treetops in the Rainforest Biome and note the fascinating sculptures in the outdoor garden.

Check out the 19th-century St. Austell Market House, which once housed the town’s fire station, town hall and police cells. The building’s timbered roof, made from yellow pine was, at the time it was built, the largest unsupported span of any roof in Britain. During summer, the building houses the St. Austell Town Museum, a small collection dedicated to the town’s history. Look for an early 20th-century Cornish stove from the 1900s, as well as film posters dating back to the building’s brief tenure as a picture house.

Learn more about the town’s history of china clay production in the Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum. Here, you’ll find a visitor platform overlooking a working china clay pit, as well as nature trails around the museum.

Tour the St. Austell Brewery, which was founded in 1851 by Walter Hicks. Learn about traditional brewing processing and sample St. Austell beers at Hicks Bar after the tour.

Just outside St. Austell are a number of lovely beaches. See the rock pools of popular Porthpean Beach or enjoy watching ducks and wildfowl in the pond at Par Sands.

St. Austell is located close to the east coast of Cornwall, 12 miles (19 kilometres) south of Bodmin. Ride the bus or train here from London. If you’re driving, take roads from Exeter or Plymouth.

The Cornwall Hotel Spa & Estate

The Cornwall Hotel Spa & Estate

4 out of 5
Pentewan Road, St Austell, England
The price is ₹12,557 per night from 31 Jul to 1 Aug
₹12,557
₹15,069 total
31 Jul - 1 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in St Austell. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in their reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,000 reviews)
"Fantastic stay. Staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Breakfast was delicious and location was quiet and peaceful. Would highly recommend."

Reviewed on 17 Jul 2025

The Cornwall Hotel Spa & Estate
Holiday Inn Express Bodmin - Victoria Junction by IHG

Holiday Inn Express Bodmin - Victoria Junction by IHG

2.5 out of 5
CORNWALL SERVICES, VICTORIA ROCHE, St Austell, England
The price is ₹10,596 per night from 25 Jul to 26 Jul
₹10,596
₹12,715 total
25 Jul - 26 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in St Austell. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition in ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (244 reviews)
"Everything was as expected, clean room ,quiet, good breakfast, friendly staff, can’t ask for more ,thankyou."

Reviewed on 19 Jul 2025

Holiday Inn Express Bodmin - Victoria Junction by IHG
Carlyon Bay Hotel

Carlyon Bay Hotel

4 out of 5
Sea Road, St Austell, England
The price is ₹15,258 per night from 29 Jul to 30 Jul
₹15,258
₹18,310 total
29 Jul - 30 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in St Austell. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (411 reviews)
"Lovely and quiet hotel with great sea view. The bed was super comfortable and the staff was very friendly! Some interior and the outdoor pool area could be more modern, in my opinion. The breakfast was good, but could have had more options to choose from. Besides that, everything was excellent! Thank ..."

Reviewed on 21 Jul 2025

Carlyon Bay Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Pinetum Garden Cottages

Pinetum Garden Cottages

3.5 out of 5
Holmbush Rd, St Austell, England
Stay at this 3.5-star holiday home in St Austell. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Eden Project and Pinetum Park ...
10/10 Exceptional! (2 reviews)
Quirky perfect for plant/garden and nature lovers!
"What an amazing place! Set in beautiful gardens and full of wildlife! Beautiful accommodation and so nice to be able to walk around all the gardens! The Japanese garden was our favourite! Also the cakes and coffee in the cafe are lovely!"

Reviewed on 6 Jul 2025

Pinetum Garden Cottages
Pochin House Collections

Pochin House Collections

4 out of 5
Pochin Drive, St Austell, England
Stay at this 4-star apartment in St Austell. Enjoy free parking. Popular attractions Eden Project and St Austell Brewery are located nearby.
9/10 Wonderful! (31 reviews)
"Lovely, modern, spacious apartment. Catered for everything, towels, tea towels, dishwasher tablets, even cling film! Only downside was that the beds weren’t the most comfortable but stunning view. Great communication from host too."

Reviewed on 31 May 2025

Pochin House Collections
Kerensa

Kerensa

3 out of 5
4 Church Street, St Austell, England
Stay at this 3-star golf cottage in St Austell. Enjoy free Wi-Fi and free parking. Popular attractions Eden Project and St Austell Brewery are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (1 review)
The last 60 years revisited.
"Everything we wanted and more. Central for the places we wanted to visit. No problems whatsoever. Very clean comfortable like home from home."

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2025

Kerensa
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of St Austell

3.9
Guest rating
5 - Excellent
27
5 - Excellent 22%
4 - Good
63
4 - Good 52%
3 - Okay
30
3 - Okay 25%
2 - Disappointing
2
2 - Disappointing 2%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Tom

A lovely part of the British Isles. Would visit again.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Parking very reasonable cost. Town centre compact and has everything you need.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

A great base to explore Cornwall (and they have a Mary’s pasty shop, perfect!)

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Very interesting and nice area, I’ll be back.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

St Austell seemed really lovely but unfortunately there was not much to do

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Needs a bit of serious investment

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