Visit
Charlestown Harbour is a must see for visitors to Cornwall
From the historic ships and harbour through to the stunning beach, shops and cafes – there’s something for people of all ages to enjoy.
Charlestown Harbour is a great place for families of all ages to spend the day. Visitors can stroll this historic site whilst taking in amazing, unspoilt views over St Austell Bay. A walk along the quays includes walking over the famous lock gate, which is a must for many.
From 31st March – 31st October unique the Inner Harbour is open – free of charge – to visitors who can explore the history of the Harbour from within. One of our resident classic ships, the Kajsamoor is also open during this period for visitors to step onboard and explore her rich history. There’s a fantastic range of food a drink outlets on offer. Whether it’s a coffee, pasty, rum cocktail or braised beef brisket, there’s something for everyone to sit and enjoy whilst taking in the views of the harbour and tall ships. For 2020 our pop-ups include Cubs Coffee, offering great quality coffee, home made cakes, pasties and snacks, the Charlestown Fish Co with a range of fantastic fresh fish, including fish and chips. Returning to the Harbour this year also have and the ever-popular HarbourQ, run by the Longstore Team, offering harbourside summer barbeque dining and the amazing The Rum Sailor, offering a range of rums as well as other drinks and cocktails in a truly unique environment.
Things to see
If you are looking to see historic sailing ships set in a traditional Cornish harbour then Charlestown is the place to visit.
Charlestown also has some of the most beautiful architecture in Cornwall. The lock gate is of particular interest, with the water levels in the Inner Harbour always maintained whilst the water in the Outer Harbour goes in and out with the tide – so walking across the lock gate can even be nerve-wracking for some!
The Harbour also has both resident and visiting classic ships, which are beautiful to see. From the beaches there are unspoilt views across St Austell Bay.
Charlestown Harbour is also the setting for many famous film and television productions, so visitors to the Harbour can see where the likes of The Three Musketeers, Taboo, Poldark and BAIT were filmed.
Things to do
After exploring the historic harbour the beaches are the perfect place to sit and take in the stunning views of the South Cornwall coastline. There’s also great choices for a meal or drink in one of many cafes and restaurants and boutique shops to browse.
Charlestown boasts an array of restaurants, cafes, pop-ups, bars and pubs, most of which have views of the Harbour or the bay. There’s also a variety independent local shops, offering arts, crafts and jewellery. For those that are interested in maritime history, there’s not only the Harbour itself, steeped in history, but also the Shipwreck Museum, which is full of interesting artefacts and information.