Overview of the Holiday Destination St Austell, Cornwall
St.
Austell a Mixture of Historic and Modern Interests Saint Austell is a town that wears a lot of hats.
Depending on where you inquire, it is the largest town in Cornwall (the other contender for that title is Truro).
St.
Austell is also a place of beaches, religious and secret societies, industry, commerce, historic architecture, hyper-modern living experiments, and of course, beer.
It's a lot to handle for a town of roughly 22,000 people, but this place is definitely up to it.
The British John Leland in the mid-1500s wrote that there wasn't much to see in Saint Austell, but all that changed in the middle of the 18th century.
William Cookworthy discovered the mineral that is commonly known as china clay in the land surrounding this place.
After determining a method for its extraction, the industry began to boom.
China clay mining in the present day is declining; however, there was a point when the industry in the market town was worth what would be multiple billions of dollars in today's money.
An enormous amount of the material, used for making everything from porcelain to paper, has been mined and produced at St.
Austell.
The Wheal Martyn China Clay Heritage Centre provides fascinating insight into the process and culture that developed with the industry in Cornwall, and in this place in particular.
The museum boasts audio-visual exhibits, and an amazing tour of the clay works from the 19th century, where the water wheel still goes round.
At the opposite end of the mining industry is the largest greenhouse in the world, sitting only three miles from St.
Austell.
The Eden Project was opened to the public in 2001 and is largely comprised of massive domes, inside of which various environments have been created to support and study plant life from all over the planet, including an entire rainforest! The Eden Project and its educational center, The Core, offer enough to take up a visitor's entire day in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Aside from mining and environmental modernism, though, this place has another business with a big name.
St.
Austell Brewery has been brewing award-winning beers and ales for nearly 150 years.
The brewery also has pubs, restaurants, and inns spread throughout Somerset, Devon and, of course, Cornwall.
Connoisseurs of beer will love a visit here.
Along with great beer, St.
Austell has a number of fine and affordable dining, offering everything from fish and chips to Asian cuisine.
One pub in particular that visitors might want to take the time for is The Stagg Inn, where a cozy atmosphere can always be found, quite often along with some live music.
During the summer there are more visitors to this place, which makes for a fun and vibrant atmosphere.
This also means that while your everyday practical stores can be found, there are also numerous shops selling fine arts and crafts, things that you might not be able to get elsewhere.
Another great reason for a visit to Saint Austell in the summer is the beaches.
Carlyon Bay is a busy and exciting resort, whereas those who prefer a quieter beach trip can go to Polkerris, where there is plenty of relaxation, and even great swimming, to be had.
Access to St.
Austell is very convenient, with rail service arriving from Penzance and Truro in the west, London and Plymouth in the east, and on most days, from Northern England and Scotland.
There is also bus service provided by National Express, with one route specifically made for the Eden Project.
Drivers can take the A390, which skirts St.
Austell on the way to Truro from Lizkeard, the A391 coming from Bodmin, or the A3058 on the way in from Newquay.
There are numerous inns and hotels in St.
Austell to fit many budgets, including the White Hart hotel, which serves beer brewed straight from Austell brewery.
Boscundle Manor and The Cornwall Hotel offer upscale options for lodgings, while the Austell branch of the Premier Inn offers clean and affordable rooms.
In addition, there are many cozy bed and breakfasts to choose from in the area.
Cornwall is more and more becoming a popular destination for tourists, and for good reason; there is so much to see and do.
Unfortunately, Saint Austell is sometimes overlooked when there are so many fascinating places to visit.
All in all, St.
Austell may not have the glamour of a place like Lands End, but its past and present are both rich with the kinds of history and sights that are perfect for a couple, a family, or just a pleasant daytrip by yourself.
Austell a Mixture of Historic and Modern Interests Saint Austell is a town that wears a lot of hats.
Depending on where you inquire, it is the largest town in Cornwall (the other contender for that title is Truro).
St.
Austell is also a place of beaches, religious and secret societies, industry, commerce, historic architecture, hyper-modern living experiments, and of course, beer.
It's a lot to handle for a town of roughly 22,000 people, but this place is definitely up to it.
The British John Leland in the mid-1500s wrote that there wasn't much to see in Saint Austell, but all that changed in the middle of the 18th century.
William Cookworthy discovered the mineral that is commonly known as china clay in the land surrounding this place.
After determining a method for its extraction, the industry began to boom.
China clay mining in the present day is declining; however, there was a point when the industry in the market town was worth what would be multiple billions of dollars in today's money.
An enormous amount of the material, used for making everything from porcelain to paper, has been mined and produced at St.
Austell.
The Wheal Martyn China Clay Heritage Centre provides fascinating insight into the process and culture that developed with the industry in Cornwall, and in this place in particular.
The museum boasts audio-visual exhibits, and an amazing tour of the clay works from the 19th century, where the water wheel still goes round.
At the opposite end of the mining industry is the largest greenhouse in the world, sitting only three miles from St.
Austell.
The Eden Project was opened to the public in 2001 and is largely comprised of massive domes, inside of which various environments have been created to support and study plant life from all over the planet, including an entire rainforest! The Eden Project and its educational center, The Core, offer enough to take up a visitor's entire day in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Aside from mining and environmental modernism, though, this place has another business with a big name.
St.
Austell Brewery has been brewing award-winning beers and ales for nearly 150 years.
The brewery also has pubs, restaurants, and inns spread throughout Somerset, Devon and, of course, Cornwall.
Connoisseurs of beer will love a visit here.
Along with great beer, St.
Austell has a number of fine and affordable dining, offering everything from fish and chips to Asian cuisine.
One pub in particular that visitors might want to take the time for is The Stagg Inn, where a cozy atmosphere can always be found, quite often along with some live music.
During the summer there are more visitors to this place, which makes for a fun and vibrant atmosphere.
This also means that while your everyday practical stores can be found, there are also numerous shops selling fine arts and crafts, things that you might not be able to get elsewhere.
Another great reason for a visit to Saint Austell in the summer is the beaches.
Carlyon Bay is a busy and exciting resort, whereas those who prefer a quieter beach trip can go to Polkerris, where there is plenty of relaxation, and even great swimming, to be had.
Access to St.
Austell is very convenient, with rail service arriving from Penzance and Truro in the west, London and Plymouth in the east, and on most days, from Northern England and Scotland.
There is also bus service provided by National Express, with one route specifically made for the Eden Project.
Drivers can take the A390, which skirts St.
Austell on the way to Truro from Lizkeard, the A391 coming from Bodmin, or the A3058 on the way in from Newquay.
There are numerous inns and hotels in St.
Austell to fit many budgets, including the White Hart hotel, which serves beer brewed straight from Austell brewery.
Boscundle Manor and The Cornwall Hotel offer upscale options for lodgings, while the Austell branch of the Premier Inn offers clean and affordable rooms.
In addition, there are many cozy bed and breakfasts to choose from in the area.
Cornwall is more and more becoming a popular destination for tourists, and for good reason; there is so much to see and do.
Unfortunately, Saint Austell is sometimes overlooked when there are so many fascinating places to visit.
All in all, St.
Austell may not have the glamour of a place like Lands End, but its past and present are both rich with the kinds of history and sights that are perfect for a couple, a family, or just a pleasant daytrip by yourself.
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