Charlestown Guide: My Favourite Places to Eat, Drink & Explore

A day exploring one of Cornwall’s prettiest harbours, with coastal views, good food and plenty of places to stop for a drink.

Charlestown has always felt like somewhere straight out of a film set. With its cobbled paths, historic harbour, tall ships and beautiful coastal setting, it’s not hard to see why it has featured in films and TV shows including Poldark and Alice Through the Looking Glass.

It’s around 1.5 miles from St Austell, making it an easy place to visit if you’re staying nearby. We were staying in St Austell and had a few places on our bucket list that involved alcohol, so rather than drive, we decided to walk. It took us around 30 minutes on a fairly straightforward route, although there is parking if walking isn’t your thing.

We arrived around 11.30am and somehow didn’t leave until about 9pm! I remember wondering beforehand whether there would really be enough to keep us occupied for a whole day, but I was very quickly proved wrong.

There’s plenty to do around Charlestown, from exploring the harbour and coastal walks to water sports, the beach, food, drinks and, of course, ice cream. The harbour itself is a big part of what makes Charlestown so special, with its historic buildings, cobbled quays and beautiful coastal setting. It has also recently reopened following a major period of repairs and restoration.

I also spotted a tall ship trip that I would have loved to do, but unfortunately, we missed it. That’s going on my list for next time.

A Little Update Since My Visit

There is a little bit of a change to this post since my original visit, as two of my favourite places from the day have sadly closed.

Harbour Q, the outdoor BBQ and street food shack where we enjoyed tacos and frozen margaritas, is no longer there. The Shipwreck Treasure Museum has also permanently closed, with the museum shutting at the end of 2024.

It’s a real shame because both were a big part of what made our day so memorable. But that’s the thing with travel posts, places change! I’ve kept them in here because they were part of my original experience and some of the reasons I enjoyed Charlestown so much at the time.

So, if you’re visiting now, just bear in mind that Harbour Q and the Shipwreck Treasure Museum are no longer open. Charlestown itself, however, is still well worth a visit, with the harbour, coastal views, historic surroundings and plenty of places to eat, drink and explore.

My Top Five Charlestown Must-Dos

1. Harbour Q – now closed

This was one of my favourite stops of the day. Harbour Q was an outdoor BBQ and street food shack right on the harbour, serving up things like tacos, slow-cooked meats, fish and dirty fries.

Sadly, Harbour Q has since closed, but it was such a fun part of our Charlestown day that it absolutely deserves to stay in my original list.

2. Shipwreck Treasure Museum – now closed

The Shipwreck Treasure Museum was another stop from our day and one I really enjoyed. It was packed with maritime history and fitted perfectly with Charlestown’s connection to the sea.

Sadly, the museum has since permanently closed, so this is another one for the memories rather than somewhere you can visit today. The closure also saw important historical artefacts being secured by local groups and maritime organisations, which is lovely to know considering how closely the collection was connected to Charlestown’s history.

3. Rebellion Roast House

One word: cocktails!

The cocktails were insane, and the food coming out looked fantastic too. This was one of those places where we could happily have stayed longer, especially after spending the day wandering around Charlestown.

It’s also one of the places from my original visit that remains part of Charlestown’s food and drink scene, so worth checking out when you’re planning your visit.

4. The Rum Sailor

The perfect place to feel like a pirate while drinking your weight in rum!

The Rum Sailor was another memorable stop during our day and, naturally, fitted perfectly into a Gin & Coast day out. It was one of those places that added a bit of fun to the day and gave us another excuse to stop for a drink.

It deserves its place in my original Charlestown favourites.

5. The Harbour

You can’t visit Charlestown without spending time around the harbour itself.

Take a wander around the cobbled quays, admire the historic ships, look out across the water and soak up the atmosphere. It’s one of those places where you don’t necessarily need a huge itinerary – sometimes just wandering around and seeing where the day takes you is enough.

The harbour remains the heart of Charlestown and reopened to the public in April 2026 following its period of repairs.

Charlestown Is Definitely Worth a Visit

Charlestown turned out to be one of those places where you can easily lose track of time. We arrived late morning thinking we’d probably be ready to leave after a few hours yet somehow stayed until the evening.

There’s something about wandering around a historic harbour, stopping for food and drinks, watching the boats and taking in the sea views that makes it very easy to settle in for the day.

Even though a couple of my favourite places have now disappeared, I’d still happily return to Charlestown. I still haven’t managed that tall ship trip, so I think I have a very good excuse to go back!

If you’re planning your own visit, Charlestown is definitely one to add to your Cornwall list. Just remember that some of the places mentioned here are part of my original visit and have since changed, so it’s always worth checking what’s currently open before you go.

Where: Charlestown, St Austell, Cornwall PL25 3NT / Parking: 6 Barkhouse Lane, Charlestown, Saint Austell PL25 3NH