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St Austell is a town in South Cornwall. Its main attraction is the Eden Project, a huge outdoor and indoor collection of plants from around the world. The town is also a centre of the Cornish china-clay industry.
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Spectacular rehabilitation of an old china-clay pit. Full of plant life, the star attractions being the two "biomes": one tropical rain-forest habitat, one Mediterranean, housed in vast transparent hex-domes, like Xanadu in galactic bubble-wrap. Impressive if a tad eco-preachy, plus lots of merchandising and theme-park stuff (eg "Hangloose", a long zip-wire ride over the site), which it's easy to swerve. They hope to build a third biome, for desert life, when finances allow. There's also a YHA on site, see "sleep".
China clay mining museum, with various exhibits of the extraction process.
Mostly aimed at younger children. With adjacent retail park.
The Blackpool Trail is a short but steep walking trail in the china clay-mining area near Blackpool Pit.
Established 1851. Museum, bar and tours
Campsite, static caravans and tourer stands overlooking the sea.
Has en suite bedrooms made from recycled shipping containers and kitted out with bathrooms, bedding and TVs (towels can be rented for £2). There's a campsite a short walk away where you can pitch your own tent or hire a bell tent in the summer months. Reception tent has self-catering kitchen, WiFi. Continental breakfast £5; pizza £7.50, or nachos available in the evening.
Stadium Retail Park, Par Market
Browse and shop at Cornish Market World, while the children play at Kidzworld. Charlie's offers fun for young adults and the Kids' Academy is an Ofsted-approved nursery, pre-school and holiday club.
By train
St Austell station stands on the Great Western main line from London Paddington to Penzance.
By coach
National Express coaches run from St Austell via Truro to Penzance (3 per day, two hours).
By car
St Austell is a 5 hour drive from London via M4, M5, A30 and finally A391. It's a long way and at some point you'll need to refuel.
The town itself is walkable, but all the main attractions are some miles out, too far to traipse with children. See Eden Project listing for buses there.
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Newquay · Regional · NQY
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