To not get Cornwall?

Philps pasties in Hayle was the place to get pasties when I was a kid. You'd go there at lunchtime and there'd be queues down the street! But that was 40 years ago 😂

The one food I do miss that I can't get in London is saffron cake/buns. There's plenty of places to get clotted cream, pasties (although I make my own) scones etc but never found anywhere for saffron cake.

But also yes to Trago Mills! I am definitely going next time I go down to see family. As a kid it was a huge treat! From (admittedly hazy) memory, it was the closest thing we got in Cornwall to some kind of shopping centre.

Has anyone mentioned Dingles? Old fairground rides all under cover with a museum. Bit expensive if you want to go on all the rides but takes care of half a day and only about 45 mins from St Austell.

Just been to the little aquarium in Fowey today. What a strange place! Loved it though. Fowey is a very pretty place with some lovely little shops

I’ve only been for a week 10 years ago.
I loved the Minack theatre, Port Isaac, Charlestown, The Lost Gardens of Heligan and a lovely coastal town where we walked for ages.
I need to go back.
Adult dd loved St Ives when she went.

Where do you rate ? St Ives is one of my favourite places .

Don't rate Cornwall at all. Sadly parent is relocating there.

Am I the only person who didn’t rate St Ives?
Saved it for the last day of my holiday, arrived 10 am left 11.30 totally disillusioned.
And the cost of parking.
It’s absolutely criminal.

I'm as East as you can get and still be in Cornwall, and I would also say Gear Farm is the best pasty you can get!

So glad someone recommended Camborne, went to college there - utterly fabulous, and you can split the day with a nice walk around 'druth to see the sights.

(Please no one go to Redruth, I don't want to be responsible for ruining a holiday - the Simon Reeve documentary is as close as you want to get!)

Why on earth would you stay in St Austell though, OP?

I'm further SW, and it's busy with visitors right now. And from what I can see they're having a lovely time. Great weather, great beaches.

@Dymaxion I must take issue with your claim about the best pasties! Go to Gear Farm on the Lizard. They'll blow your mind! And they grow the ingredients organically on their own farm. <retreats swiftly before the pasty fight kicks off>

We don’t go anymore as the DC grew out of it sadly.
It was huge fun. We went every year for about 8 years. Very happy memories.

These are all in Devon! why would they spend so long travelling in the car when there are so many lovely places in Cornwall??

We had many holidays in Fowey when the DC were little albeit 20 years ago:

Boat trip Polruan
Boat trip around Fowey Harbour and the estuary
The little aquarium in Fowey and mooching the quaint shops.
Ready money Bay for swimming and rock pooling
The Hall Walk
Other very pretty beaches v close by albeit a walk from the car parks
Lovely gardens in St Austell - can't remember the name
Mevagissey for the model railway museum and mackerel fishing
Day trip to Truro
There's a huge soft play place close by (or was) for wet days
Not Flambards but a farm/animal/small rides place where you watch the ckws being milked - the name will come to me
Lost Gardens of Heligan
Lanhydrock and a lovely little playground in the woods
Camel trail for cycling and camel Valley vineyard
Du Maurier links
Monkey sanctuary about an hour's drive away
I remember a zoo too within the hour - might have been near Newquay.

Absolutely loved it but wouldn't have stayed in St Austell. The big Tescos was good though!

All in Devon, not even the bit of Devon near Cornwall 🙄

We go there every year as we have family in the area and it makes a good base. It's such an amazing play to stay and the kids love it but so incredibly pricey at the same time! You definitely get your money's worth though I think.

bit further out but Paignton zoo is lovely and you can pay for one day and come back within 7 days.
Woodlands theme park and crealy are great too, one of them doesn’t free return trip too

We used to stay at Bosinver.co.uk which is just outside St Austell. We always had really good days out and didn’t have to travel far. There are some beautiful beaches just outside the town.
I’d recommend going to their website and looking for the things to do section. They have a huge selection of days out they personally love. Some are things for free, hidden places.

I see others have mentioned Bodmin Jail, there is also a town museum there, a cinema, and you can cycle the Camel Trail from there. Lanhydrock House nearby is stunning with beautiful gardens.

Liskeard Trago is like the Hotel California, you can never find the bloody exit!😂
Bovey Tracey is the best and has the train ride!

If you fancy nice views drive the coast road from st Ives to lands end going through zennor. Stunning coastal views

Don't break down on that stretch, it makes you very unpopular and be confident in reversing for when you meet the doubledecker bus !

If you fancy nice views drive the coast road from st Ives to lands end going through zennor. Stunning coastal views.
paradise park is a nice day out aswel

Yes it really is. Hugely better.

Looe has always been awful IMO. One of the last places in Cornwall I’d go.

I love Looe, I like the posh and off the beaten track places in Cornwall too, but Looe is great if you have little ones who like a nice shallow sloping beach, great rock pools and fabulous crabbing. And then there is the quiet bit on the other side of the river and up the hill
It also has the best Cornish pasty shop in the whole widey world, Sarah's pasties !