Located just outside of the town of St Austell, Charlestown is a village and port on the South Coast. The port was developed in the late 18th Century from the fishing village of West Polmear. Most recently Charlestown has become a famous spot for filming locations and the Poldark series was filmed on the harbour.
Charlestown Beach - has two small pebble and sandy beaches at each side of the harbour.
Charlestown beach is bursting with local wildlife and at low tide you’ll have the opportunity to explore the endless amounts of rockpools. Although there are no facilities at this beach the village centre is a short walk away and you’ll be able to fill your bags with goodies before heading to the beach.
To access Charlestown beach there are steps and a steep slope which may not be ideal for people who have mobility difficulties. Charlestown beach is well-maintained and has stunning views in all directions. Lifeguards do not cover this area. Please be aware of tide times. Dog restrictions are in place throughout the year.
Charlestown Parking and Accessibility - parking is limited at Charlestown and parking spaces are subject to availability so and we suggest arriving before peak hours. The closest car park to the village is at Clifden Road, St Austell. Here you’ll be able to choose between 1 hour up to 24 hour parking. There are around 30 car parking spaces. This car park is managed by Cornwall Council and offers both pay-by-phone and pay and display.
Most car parks owned by the Cornwall Council will allow you to purchase tickets through the JustPark App. Please make sure you download the App before your visit. The best thing about paying through the app is that you can ‘top up’ your ticket time if your parking time has expired.
Some car parks in Charlestown have an automatic car registration reader’s which means when you enter the car park through the barrier parking charges begin so please keep this in mind. Please note that this is subjected to change.
Charlestown History - based just outside of the town of St Austell, Charlestown is a village and port. The port was developed in the late 18th Century from the fishing village of West Polmear. The port was constructed by Charles Rashleigh and it was created to export copper from local mines. Stepping into Charlestown harbour and village you’ll be transported back in time as most of the remains have not been modernised. Due to the uniqueness of this little village Charlestown has become a famous spot for filming locations for TV series and movies. The Poldark series was filmed on the harbour and Hornblower was filmed in the village.