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Attractions
The Cornish Riviera has a range of 'must see' gardens, full of contrasts, complementing each other through the year;
- The Lost Gardens of Heligan
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The Eden Project
- Caerhays Castle
- Pine Lodge Gardens
- Tregrehan Gardens
- Lanhydrock House & Gardens
Houses & Historic buildings such as;
Attractions in the St. Austell area on the Cornish Riviera.
The Eden Project: The world famous Biomes, which include the largest conservatory in the world. Learn how a clay pit was turned into a paradise and find out how it is run in ways that won’t harm the planet. Explore the Core, the stimulating education centre, with a roof based on the structure of a sunflower.
Discover plants that have helped humanity since the dawn of time, including things you’ve only heard about like Hemp and Tea explained in engaging ways.
Trek through steamy jungles, past shacks, waterfalls and plantations in the largest rainforest in captivity, with a tree canopy of almost 50 metres high!
Travel to the Mediterranean without leaving the U.K. You’ll find perfumed citrus orchards, olive groves and delicious Mediterranean food all enclosed in the second Biome.
World class art installations across the site make Eden a huge outdoor gallery.
First and foremost it’s a garden, the most amazing garden you’ll ever see!
Free shuttle buses run from the Car Park to the visitor centre. A free land train runs throughout the day lifts are also available. Shuttle buses and land trains accommodate wheelchairs. Both manual and powered wheelchairs are available for visitors.(booking of powered wheelchairs is essential) Guide dogs welcomed – visitors are not encouraged to bring dogs, other than guide dogs, as they are not allowed on the main site however a very limited number of shaded car parking spaces are available on a first come first served basis.
Fast-Track, Discounted Tickets are available from St. Austell Tourist Information Centre. Typical saving is 10% on each ticket. Fast-Track gets you in more quickly !! And, if you Gift Aid your ticket, it's up-graded to give you a Year's Free Entry too! Just click on the 'Visit the Biomes' icon, call us or call in when you're in St Austell
Allow at least 4 hours when you visit Eden. www.edenproject.com
The Lost Gardens of Heligan : Open all year round, Heligan, seat of the Tremayne family for over 400 years, is one of the most mysterious estates in England. Between 1770 and 1914, four generations created an almost self sufficient community. A century ago the garden was thriving and productive. Gradual decline set in following the departure of the last resident squire in the 1920’s brambles and ivy were drawing a veil over this “sleeping beauty” but in 1990 following decades of neglect the gardens were rescued from overgrowth and decay
More than twenty years have now passed and the immaculate and award winning restoration of Heligans productive heart has come of age!
This is a wonderful place!
Ideally you should spend a whole day at Heligan as there are over 200 acres to explore.
There is a Tea-Room, a Shop- for mementos of your visit and a Plant Centre offering you the opportunity of recreating your own little piece of the Lost Gardens at home.
Assistance dogs admitted at all times of the year. Dogs on leads are welcome from October to March. Access information for disabled visitors is available in advance or on arrival. Stout footwear is recommended for those who wish to explore the Jungle and wider estate
Not far from Heligan is Mevagissey, a traditional fishing village, it’s working harbour has an unbroken tradition of boat building since 1745. Fishermen still repair nets on the harbourside and are happy to take visitors out on angling or pleasure trips. In the narrow streets leading off the harbour, craft workshops sit side by side with shops, art galleries, cafes, restaurants and pubs which were once the haunts of Cornish Smugglers!
Mevagissey is home to one of Britain’s most entertaining model railway displays www.model-railway.co.uk whilst across the on the quayside there’s an aquarium in the old lifeboat house containing some of the local fishermen’s more unusual catches. Also not to be missed is the Mevagissey Folk Museum on the East Quay. Displays and wonderful photographs show how Mevagissey once looked when the Pilchard industry was booming. In fact Mevagissey was the first village to have electric street lighting, powered from pilchard oil and was the starting place of Pears soap.
Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum and Country Park : Set in 26 acres of woodland and amongst the remains of a Victorian china clay works nestled in the historic Ruddle Valley, Wheal Martyn provides a fascinating day of discovery and adventure for everyone.
Located on the site of two former clay works, Wheal Martyn and Gomm, the park provides visitors with a fascinating insight into Cornwall’s largest mining industry.
You’ll discover how china clay was mined, what it is used for, how it shaped the world today and what it meant to the families who lived in the area. Hidden away at the top of the grounds you’ll see a working clay pit and witness modern day mining in action! Wheal Martyn has Cornwall’s largest working water wheel, a nature trail, interactive exhibits in the visitor centre, activity sheets and a play area for the children.
There is a licensed café serving the best Cornish food and a gift shop for that special gift or unique souvenir at prices to suit all pockets. If you can spare just an hour or a whole day there is something for everyone no matter what the weather!
Dogs are welcome on leads throughout the site.
If you Gift Aid you get a free return ticket. Pop into the T.I.C. before you go to get a voucher for 10% off the entrance fee.
The Shipwreck centre Charlestown : An all weather attraction where children under 10 go free when accompanied by an adult! Pop in to the T.I.C. before you go and collect a leaflet to get £1 of other admission tickets.
The Shipwreck Centre is located in an historic china clay building in the heart of the small Georgian port of Charlestown, close to St. Austell, visitors are offered an insight into the history of Charlestown and its founder Charles Rashleigh.
Artefacts from over 150 shipwrecks (including treasure!) are on display along with memorabilia from the finest ocean liners including The Titanic, The Lusitania and The Queen Mary.
There is a Diving collection with exhibits dating back to 1740, A Real Lifeboat, Rescue equipment from the past to the present day, Remote control “supercruisers” for you to steer in challenging waters!
The shipwreck centre has a new audio and visual centre illustrating the connections between Charlestown and the china clay industry.
Lots here to see and do, for both Mums and Dads and Children with an “I-Spy” observation quiz designed to keep children interested and make your visit more fun.
There is Wheelchair access and Dogs are welcome on a lead.
St. Austell Brewery: No trip to Cornwall is complete without a visit to St Austell Brewery, the home of the South West’s favourite beers!
Take a walk through this Victorian Brewery and learn about 150 years of Cornish brewing history. See the fascinating brewing process first hand find out about the secret spring that supplies the water.
You’ll begin the tour in the visitor centre, where you can explore the interactive museum, hear the fascinating stories about many of the pubs, beers, wines and spirits, learning all about the families who created them. Once you have worked up a thirst you can enjoy some “essential” product sampling at Hicks Bar and choose from a range of freshly prepared, home cooked bar snacks and hot meals.
The tour of the working brewery includes some steep staircases, low ceilings and wet floors, so is regrettably not suitable for people with some disabilities or children under eight years old. However the Shop, visitor Centre and Hicks Bar welcomes everyone.
A 1hr guided tour includes a free pint or soft drink, groups of over 15 people receive a 10% discount. Booking is advisable. Free Parking.
Wingz Bird and Animal Sanctuary: The Allen family welcome you to their slice of paradise, set in three acres of Cornish countryside. Go and see over 60 species of birds and animals, many of which are endangered, plus a family of meerkats.
See the Owls, Wallabies, Chipmunks, Squirrels, Marmosets, Tortoises, Terrapins, Ducks, Geese and many other birds. You can even talk to the ex- pet Parrots who have been re-homed at Wingz.
Free Parking, Picnic area, Gift shop, Free dog kenneling with shade and fresh water.
(Sorry no dogs allowed in the Sanctuary) Toilets and baby changing facilities. The site is fully accessible to wheelchair users.
Kidzworld: St. Austell’s all weather attraction. 54,000 sq.ft. of family fun all included in one admission price. Brining out the child in all of us!
Older adventurers can scale the digiwall, fire the cannon blasters and brave giant slides. Younger guests will love the toddler village, baby sensory room and 3-5’s area.
Outdoors, master the wobbly platforms, reach the zany heights of the tree house, challenge Dad to mini golf or visit Smugglers Cove.
Square Sail Shipyard, Charlestown: The harbour at Charlestown is home to the Square Sail fleet of Square Riggers and is the only fleet remaining in the world that earns it’s keep by trade alone. The fleet has been painstakingly restored over the years by a wealth of exceptionally talented craftsmen.
Subject to commercial charters, film and television etc: which often take the ships to other locations, the square rigged sailing ships can be seen in their home port.
When the ships are in harbour, during the summer, they are open to the public (a small admission fee applies) and you are welcome to walk around them, view a photographic exhibition of the productions the vessels have starred in and learn more about these magnificent tall ships and their maritime history.
If you are lucky enough to pick the right day and time you may have the opportunity of seeing one of the tall ships entering or leaving the harbour.
*However, Square Sail cannot guarantee specific dates when the ships will be open to the public as they are subject to ever changing commercial activities, weather conditions etc.*
Square sail shipyard is involved in new builds and repair and restoration of replica ships, they also offer sailing cruises to the general public with the aim of providing an exciting experience and “hands on” participation is encouraged but not compulsory!
For more details see the website- www.square-sail.com
St Austell Market House: The present grade II listed building replaced an earlier Market House. It was opened in 1844, designed by Cope and Eales of London and built by Olver and Sons of Falmouth, at a cost of £6,000.
The building has two floors with five splendid arched windows lighting the original Town Hall on the first floor. At one time it also housed the fire station and two police cells! Stone stairs lead from a secondary entrance to what was once the town hall and later the picture house.
There is a vaulted ceiling over the main entrance hall which is supported by granite pillars and from each side of the ground floor market hall where the butchers plied their trade, stone stairways lead to the gallery landing on the first floor, beyond which is a further stone paved area, probably used for general stallholders.
The Market House’s most notable feature is it’s superb timbered roof, intricately constructed from yellow pine and spanning the full width of the building. At the time of it’s construction it apparently had the largest unsupported span of any roof in Britain, if not Europe!
St Austell Holy Trinity Church: The Parish Church of St. Austell with its 90ft tower stands proudly at the top of Fore Street for everyone to admire. The eight bells in the tower still ring out across St. Austell reminding visitors of it’s presence at the heart of the community.
There is documentary evidence of a Church on the site before 1169 although the present building dates from the end of the 15th century.
Adorned externally, with beautiful stained glass windows and sculptures, there are a number of interesting plaques commemorating the lives of people with local connections some of whom were prominent on a national scale.
There is plenty of interest on the inside too, like the Norman Font and the Wagon roof with its beautiful carved bosses.
“walk- around” guides are available inside the Church with more details and points of interest.
The Church is open from 9am-5pm Monday-Friday and 9am-1pm on Saturdays, as well as on Sundays for services. At most times you will find someone there to welcome you.
The Church provides peace and tranquility in a bustling market town.
Readymoney Cove Beach
South east facing sandy cove overlooking the Fowey Estuary. Access - Easy from car park via a 5...
