Padstow: Things to Do, Beaches & Food
A working fishing port on the Camel estuary, Padstow is famous for seafood, its May Day festival and some of the best beaches on the north coast. It's busy in summer but well worth it.
Top things to do in Padstow
- Eat seafood. Padstow is home to Rick Stein's restaurants and fish and chip shop, plus plenty of other places to eat fish fresh off the boats. Book ahead in summer.
- Cycle the Camel Trail, a flat, traffic-free path along the estuary to Wadebridge. Bike hire is right by the start.
- Take the Black Tor ferry across the estuary to Rock and walk to Daymer Bay.
- Walk to Stepper Point along the coast path past St George's Cove, for views out to sea.
- Visit Prideaux Place, an Elizabethan manor house above the town with a deer park.
Beaches near Padstow
Within a short drive are Harlyn Bay (a family favourite), Trevone with its tidal rock pool, and Constantine Bay and Treyarnon for surfers. Across the estuary is Polzeath. The estuary itself has strong currents, so swim on the open beaches instead.
May Day
On 1 May the town celebrates the 'Obby 'Oss festival, with music, dancing and the 'Osses parading through the streets. It's one of the oldest festivals in Britain, and the town gets very busy.
Getting there and parking
Padstow has no railway station. Most people drive, and the main car parks are signposted on the way in and fill by late morning in summer. On the Camel Trail you can cycle in from Wadebridge or Bodmin instead.
Where to eat in Padstow
- Rick Stein's The Seafood Restaurant, Riverside, Padstow
- Stein's Fish & Chips, South Quay, Padstow
- The London Inn, Lanadwell Street, Padstow
Plan your trip
Save places from this guide into our free trip planner. It sorts them into days, tracks your budget and works on your phone, even offline.
Open the trip planner More Cornwall towns