Things to do in St Austell
St Austell is maybe one of the more underrated coastal towns in Cornwall, and with stunning vistas and rugged history, it’s well worth a visit.
Plus, it’s only 20 miles up the road from our Perran Sands Holiday Park. If you want to get out in nature or immerse yourself in Cornish history, here are some family-friendly things to do, St Austell style.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan
It’s hard to believe that a few decades ago, these gardens were nothing more than an abandoned estate. Now, these mysterious gardens are Europe’s largest garden restoration project, with 200 acres of land. Delve deep into the UK’s only outdoor jungle, complete with rope bridges to traverse! Explore the themed gardens with allotments, weird and wonderful sculptures, and unique plantings. Naturally, it attracts lots of wildlife that you’ll spend all day trying to spot. This special area is home to ancient woodland and beautiful wildflower meadows too.
Over 13 acres of the gardens are accessible by an even path and there are toilets and a car park available. It’s best to book your ticket in advance so you don’t miss out.
Shipwreck Treasure Museum
Did you know that St Austell is home to Europe’s largest shipwreck collection? There are over 8,000 treasure artefacts, all from sunken ships around the harsh Cornish coastline. Learn their stories through the exhibits, where thousands of belongings from lives lost at sea are on display. Even bring your dog on the journey, as dogs on leads are allowed to join you throughout the museum.
Although there’s no parking, the venue is fully wheelchair accessible, including the Koffi cafe, where you can relax with a locally roasted cup of coffee and light bites.
Cornwall FootballGolf Park
Get outdoors and make a game of it! Cornwall’s FootballGolf—you read it right—is amazing fun for kids and adults to play together. It’s exactly what it sounds like; golf rules, but you'll swap a golf club with your own feet and kick a football around one of two 18-hole courses. The great thing is that there’s no need to book—just show up and get stuck in. To refuel, stop by the licensed bar for a local beer on tap and chill out in the covered picnic area with a hot or cold meal.
Wheal Martyn
For an interactive day of local history, visit the UK’s only china clay mining museum. It’s an indoor and outdoor museum where your four-legged friends are more than welcome to join in the fun. Learn about the life of the workers that mined here in the Victorian era, through artefacts and true stories. Make your way around the discovery centre to interact with the exhibits there.
Outside, check out the waterworks and lots of vintage vehicles on display. You can follow the woodland trails around the museum to explore further! If you need a moment of calm, take a timeout in one of many quiet areas dotted around. Learning and exploring is thirsty work, so pop to the on-site cafe afterwards for a cuppa and a bite to eat.
Pinetum Gardens
For more outdoorsy things to do in St Austell, the 30-acre Pinetum Gardens won’t disappoint. Arranged like ‘rooms’, the ten themed gardens each have a completely different vibe and are home to one of the largest collections of plants in the county.
As you stroll around the grounds, you’ll spot a bridge garden, sunken gardens, and an arboretum. Pinetum is home to Champion trees, too. Please bring your dog as they’re welcome as long as they’re on leads. For a pick-me-up, visit the Marquee Tearoom on-site, where there’s drinks, snacks, and cakes available all day.
St Austell Market House
Inside a stunning Grade II-listed building in the heart of St Austell is the Market House, a creative community and arts space managed by local volunteers. It dates all the way back to 1791, when locals held a small market on the same site before the building was eventually constructed in 1844. You’ll find many resident stores inside including arts and crafts, guitar lessons, ceramics, and independent comic books.
When you’ve shopped until your feet hurt, relax with freshly prepared food and drink in the Market House cafe.
The Eden Project
We couldn’t mention St Austell things to do without including the iconic Eden Project. Just a couple of miles outside the town, you’ll find one of the world’s largest indoor rainforests underneath gigantic covered domes. These biomes let you experience global nature in a completely unique way.
In the rainforest, it feels like a totally different climate, so wear clothing for hot weather, even if it’s blustery outside. There’s over 1,000 plants to see, including cacao and banana trees, and a real waterfall. In the Mediterranean biome, smell aromatic herbs and flowers as you make your way around the Australian, South African, and Californian gardens, citrus grove, and perfume gardens.
To entertain younger nature lovers, visit Nature’s Playground, a natural outdoor play area with slides, ladders, swings, and a water course.
St Austell Bay
St Austell PL26 6AU
Stretching from Gribbin Head to Black Head, St Austell Bay is lined with stunning white sand beaches, each with its own unique charm. Closer to town, favourites like Carlyon Bay, Duporth, Charlestown, and Porthpean offer scenic coastal retreats.
Porthpean, with its calm waters and lush cliffs, has a Mediterranean feel and is perfect for watersports — just not surfing. Venture further, and you’ll find hidden gems like Vault Beach, a peaceful escape, or Polkerris, a cosy cove with a historic harbour. Wherever you go along the Cornish Riviera, you're guaranteed jaw-dropping views and golden sands.
St Austell Brewery
Trevarthian Rd, Saint Austell PL25 4BY
A must-visit for beer connoisseurs, St Austell Brewery has been crafting Cornwall’s favourite ales since 1851. Overlooking the town, this historic brewery still follows traditional brewing methods, producing over 50,000 barrels a year.
The visitor centre takes you through the story of founder Walter Hicks and his brewing empire, while guided tours showcase the Victorian Brewhouse, Cask Racking Plant, and Cooper’s Workshop. Best of all? You can sample award-winning ales at the Small Batch Bar and Hicks Bar, with some tours even including a Cornish pasty. A perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon in St Austell!
Mevagissey
Mevagissey, Saint Austell PL26 6QT
Just three miles south of St Austell, Mevagissey is a picturesque fishing village with a lively working harbour. Once a hub for Cornwall’s pilchard industry, it now attracts visitors with boat trips, quaint streets, and seafood restaurants.
Meander along the twin harbour’s piers, explore the narrow lanes, or take a ferry to Fowey in summer. The village is filled with shops, galleries, pubs, and cafes, making it a delightful place to lose track of time.
Don’t miss the Mevagissey Aquarium, the harbourside museum, or the charming model railway. There’s something here for everyone, whether you stay for an afternoon or an entire day.
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Important information
New holiday homes from £39,995 – UPDATED 28 February 2025
*Holiday home price is based on a pre-owned holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2025 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As of 28 February, price is available at Kiln Park and Perran Sands
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
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Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be after deduction of the letting income.
‘Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset for 7 years’ is available at 33 Haven parks excluding Burnham, Cardigan View, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Lydstep Beach, Riviere Sands and Seaview. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance.
‘Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset for 7 years’ is applicable to new and existing customer purchases of new Victory Ashberry 3 Bed or equivalent grade holiday home purchases made through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to private sales and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion.
An example of how ‘Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset for 7 years’ operates under Let2offset is the purchase of an Victory Ashberry 3 Bed holiday home at Seton Sands with a monthly site fee of £667.08 (includes purchasing discount of £17.08) and monthly letting income of £673.17. The monthly difference equates to £23.17, which will be credited to the owner's account. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and the monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2025 figures.
Modelled assumptions on expected annual site fee and letting income charges over the 7-year lettable life of the Victory Ashberry 3 Bed indicate that under Let2offset it is anticipated that these customers will continue to receive a monthly credit during this period, however, this is not guaranteed. The modelled assumptions are based on the historical performance of Haven over the past 5 years of trading as of 2024.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Owner’s 'Appy Meal Deal for £7.99
All day, every day* - collection only
Only available to Owners staying on park
Any pie, fishcake or large sausage, small chips, any side and a soft drink
Upgrade to regular cod or haddock^ for £3
Owners can use their discount on top of this offer
Only available in Cook’s venues and not from our Cook’s vans. Offer includes any pie: Minced Beef and Onion, Chicken and Mushroom, Steak or Cheese and Onion, fish cake or large sausage (choose from plain or battered) and a portion of small chips, any side and a soft drink. Sides include curry sauce, gravy, beans or mushy peas. Drinks include any soft drinks can or bottled water (excludes Coca Cola). ^Some of our Cook’s do not serve haddock - in this case, an upgrade to cod will be the only option of fish to purchase. Dishes cannot be changed or swapped for alternatives. Non-inclusive of upgrades or add-ons. Discount is applied if all dishes and drinks are purchased together, and this must be in the same transaction. Available daily, subject to venue opening hours. *Some of our Cook’s do not open for lunch trading. Offer is only available when ordering via QR code, app or website and for collection only. Offer is only available to Owners who are staying on park. Owners can use their owner discount on top of this offer. Offer may be withdrawn or changed at any time, without notice. Offer is valid March 2025 - November 2025. Prices include VAT. This offer can be used in conjunction with all other offers. Offer not available in any on-park franchises. Haven Holidays is a trading name of Bourne Leisure Limited. Registered office: 1 Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4YL. Registered in England and Wales, no 0401166
Pre-owned holiday homes from £24,995 – UPDATED 17 January 2025
*Holiday home price is based on a pre-owned holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2025 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 17 January 2025, price is available at Kiln Park and Perran Sands.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.