Things to Do in Charlestown

Set on the gleaming shores of St Austell Bay, the coastal village of Charlestown is perhaps best known for its characterful Georgian harbour – a popular film and television location which has featured in primetime costume dramas such as Poldark, Hornblower and Mansfield Park.

It’s easy to see why so many of our returning guests adore this timeless village, its narrow, winding streets lined with centuries-old fisherman’s cottages and handsome merchants’ houses. Strolling along the waterfront, you can imagine this once busting harbour at its zenith, the sails of oceangoing tall ships and schooners being furled and buckets of freshly-caught pilchards being barrowed to the quayside cellars…the 18th century port of Charlestown was well known across the maritime world and is recognised today as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here, you’ll also find yourselves surrounded by some of Cornwall’s favourite family attractions.

Have a gander at our top ten things to do both in and around Charlestown and start planning your South Cornwall escape.

Follow in the Footsteps of Captain Ross Poldark

No trip to Charlestown is complete without a gentle stroll around the village’s famous Grade II Listed harbour, which more recently grabbed the local headlines for the appearance of actor Aidan Turner (who plays Ross Poldark) during the filming of the BBC’s Poldark TV series. Viewers watched “Ross” dressed in his familiar tricorn hat and frock coat as he walked past the oak barrels and grain sacks beneath the rigging of a frig.

This iconic granite harbour has featured in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, Walt Disney’s Treasure Island, World War II classic The Eagle Has Landed, and the romantic action blockbuster The Three Musketeers.

Why not dangle an eco-friendly crab line over the harbour wall and see if you can nab a crustacean, enjoy a hearty lunch at the aptly named Harbourside Inn or treat yourselves to a round of Cornish ice creams courtesy of the Tall Ships Creamery. The harbour is also a good place for a romantic, dusky sunset stroll, and maybe a quiet table for two at Charlestown’s newly opened seafood restaurant, the Springtide.

Discover the Secluded Shores of Charlestown Beach

One of a series of enchanting bays that pepper the Roseland Heritage Coast, Charlestown Beach is popular with divers and snorkellers and also attracts swimmers, having received five stars for its water quality as well as being a recipient of a Marine Conservation Society award. Follow the South West Coast Path to the neighbouring beaches of Porthpean and Polgwyn known for their soft sands and crystal clear waters and beloved by wild swimmers, stand up paddle boarders and kayakers. When you book a holiday cottage in South Cornwall you’ll be able to explore some of the region’s most secret beaches found only by way of winding paths, rocky steps and ivy-bound waymarks.

Take a Deep Dive into the Charlestown Shipwreck Treasure Museum

One of South Cornwall’s many award-winning family attractions opening its doors to thousands of visitors every year, the Charlestown Shipwreck Treasure Museum offers you a fascinating look into what lies along the seabed, from gold bullion bars and copper ingots to manillas used to enslave poor souls. You’ll also be able to explore the subterranean passageways, the Charlestown Tunnels, dug during the reign of Edward VII during St Austell’s booming china clay era, more than 100 metres of underpasses which lay hidden for more than a century.

New to the museum is the Shackleton exhibition, a collection of astonishing polar photography from the Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition, plus the Frozen in Time exhibition which offers an insight into the ground-breaking technology being used to help archaeologists in their hunt for shipwrecks in the icy polar territories. Learn about the world’s most famous ocean adventurers and their quests to discover uncharted shores. It’s the ideal attraction for those rainy days and is sure to satisfy the curiosity of your budding archaeologists.

Walk the Secret Paths of the Lost Gardens of Heligan…

Years spent lost to the undergrowth, these enchanting valley gardens now cover more then 200 acres encompassing a variety of landscapes and ecosystems, having been lovingly restored. It was the chance discovery of an etching hidden in the old garden wall that read “Don’t come here to sleep or slumber” that would become the watchwords of the Heligan renaissance. This award-winning estate includes Victorian growing gardens, pleasure grounds, living sculptures and art forms, bamboo tunnels and sub-tropical jungles flourished by giant rhubarb, banana plants and tree ferns, plus rolling pastures, wildflower meadows and ancient woodland. A memorable Cornish experience, especially for all those who enjoy horticulture and the wonder of plants.

What has proved to be one of the garden’s most popular events is the Night Garden walk, filled with illuminated art installations. Last year, the gardens made the headlines when a rare, bearded tooth fungus (Hericium erinaceus, or Lion’s Mane Mushroom) was found growing among the estate’s record-breaking bug hotel, aptly named “Bugginhum Palace”. The Lost Gardens of Heligan are only a fifteen-minute road trip away, or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can walk there and back via the South West Coast Path.

Day Trip to Eden – the Eighth Wonder of the World

The magnificent tropical biomes of the Eden Project help to cover an area the size of thirty football pitches. Described as a global garden, the rainforest biomes are the largest of their kind in the world and host over 1,000 plant species. Visitors can walk among the tree canopies on suspended bridges that span the domes through changing environments. The entire site is run on geothermal energy, naturally occurring and captured from rocks deep underground.

Also making use of naturally occurring forces is the Eden Project zipwire, which at 660m in length is the longest, and fastest, zipwire in the UK! One for all you adrenaline junkies.

Eden also offers an exciting calendar of international and cultural events, not forgetting the World Pasty Championships. It also boasts an incredible line up of musical artists, Amy Winehouse, Elton John, Ellie Goulding and Ben Howard all having performed there. The roots of the project lie in sustainability making it an inspiration to environmentalists and a flagship for a greener future. It remains one of the leading tourist attractions in Europe and is only a ten-minute road trip from Charlestown.

History Walks around Charlestown

A riveting way to learn more about the colourful history of Charlestown in the company of one of the village’s most longstanding residents. Lyndon Allen is a passionate local historian with a knack for bringing the past back to life. A local fisherman and author of two historical books, Lyndon’s family tree can be traced back to Charlestown in the 1700s, his grandfather a famous master mariner and former harbour master. Step back in time to when the village was the small fishing hamlet of Polmear and learn about the deeds of Charles Rashleigh who masterminded the construction of the port that saw Charlestown transformed into a bustling shipping harbour, a vital link in the region’s then booming china clay industry.

Share in this glorious past with a gentle walk around the centuries-old streets and enjoy a fascinating insight into one of the region’s most celebrated coastal communities. Charlestown Tours was featured on the BBC’s Village by the Sea series and continues to garner glowing reviews.

Golf and Spa Pampering at Carlyon Bay

Only a mile away from Charlestown, the Carlyon Bay Hotel is the ideal place to relax and unwind. Expect tailored treatments under the expert supervision of highly-trained therapists as well as an indoor pool and bubbling spa bath, sauna and steam room, and a fully equipped gym. With more than forty treatments to choose from, you’re sure to find your ultimate wellbeing experience.

Golfers travel far and wide to play the Carlyon Championship Golf Course, pitting their wits against the immaculate fairways and verdant greens while enjoying dramatic views of St Austell Bay and the surrounding cliffs. Iron out those creases in your game with some pinpoint tuition from the resident golf pro, or simply enjoy a round with family and friends to see who can claim the bragging rights in the clubhouse.

A Day Trip to Turo, the Capital of Cornwall

Truro, Cornwall’s cathedral city, lies in the heart of the county at the head of the Truro River and is Britain’s southernmost city. Popular places to visit include Lemon Street Market, Victoria Gardens, the Royal Cornwall Museum and Truro Cathedral. Truro remains a hub for arts and culture, and no where more so than the Hall for Cornwall, one of the region’s most celebrated playhouses. Poet and historian Bert Biscoe is the city’s walking guide and leads tours of Truro, delving into its fascinating past and bringing back to life its many chapters and heroes. Truro is only a 30-minute road trip from Charlestown.

Antique Hunting in Lostwithiel

Proclaimed as the antiques capital of Cornwall, Lostwithiel lies deep in the Fowey valley, surrounded by some of the loveliest scenery in the county. This ancient stannary town has reinvented itself as a centre for antiques, markets, auctions, crafters and artisans, “history in every stone” as was said of the parish by poet and writer John Betjeman. Also tucked away along its winding streets are numerous cafés and tearooms where you can enjoy some light bites and treats, and you’ll also receive a friendly welcome at the town’s historic pubs and inns. Lostwithiel is surrounded by idyllic countryside walks, the most popular of which takes in the dramatic ruins of Restormel Castle, built in the late 13th century and a much-loved picnic spot. Come and discover one of Kernow’s hidden gems, less than a 20-minute road trip from Charlestown.

Discover Lanhydrock

Towering magnolias and mountainous rhododendrons await all those who visit the stunning gardens of Lanhydrock. Nestled into ancient woodland and interwoven by cycle paths and leafy trails, this timeless estate houses a high-Victorian style mansion, a maze of kitchens, nurseries, servants’ quarters, dining halls and four poster bedrooms. Following a devasting fire in the 1800s, Lanhydrock was rebuilt in its inimitable style and remains one of Cornwall’s leading tourist attractions. A must for all culture vultures and only a 25-minute road trip from Charlestown.

Come and explore the golden shores of South Cornwall when you book a stay in Charlestown. Toad Hall Cottages have hundreds of holiday cottages in Cornwall, so you’ll be sure to find your perfect match.

Whether you’re seeking a romantic weekend away or a fortnight for all the family, we can help tailor your search, take out the stress, and allow you to concentrate on planning your daily adventures.