Most people visiting St Austell will know a thing or two about its headline attraction, the Eden Project. It hardly needs much by way of introduction. Its iconic pair of giant biomes are one of the most recognisable attractions in the UK. Step inside the larger of the two and you’ll be transported from sunny St Austell to the humid rainforests of the Amazon. Meanwhile, the smaller of the pair simulates more of a Mediterranean environment. Between them, they hold nearly two million plants of more than 5,000 different varieties.
Eden Project
Eden Project
It took two and a half years to transform a china clay pit into the Garden of Eden you can visit today. From the main entrance, follow the pathway through the planted landscapes, beautiful sculptures and lovely vegetable gardens. Soak up the aroma from the flowers, and marvel at the sheer size of the domes before you make your way inside.
When the Eden Project first opened in 2001, the country converged on St Austell to see this incredible feat of engineering in the flesh. However, many of the plants were small, and it was patchy in places. With more than a decade’s worth of growth under its belt, the Eden Project is an entirely different beast; it’s absolutely brimming with wonderful plants and flowers from around the world. The gardens provide the perfect home for wildlife as well as plants. While you’re there, you can spot lizards and salamanders sneaking around near the waterfall. From the canopy walkway, which weaves through the treetops, you can watch the local birdlife flying around the dome.
Take a look to see what’s on during your stay at our St Austell hotel. The team that runs the Eden Project do a good job of curating a wonderfully varied range of events throughout the year, including ice skating, hands-on workshops, and their incredible light nights, when the biomes are lit up like a Christmas tree.
Eden Project
Eden Project
Eden Sessions
Music lovers won’t want to miss the chance to see some of the biggest artists in the world perform at the Eden Project. The Eden Sessions is an annual series of summer music concerts. They’re unlike any other festival in the country. Past performers include huge names, such as Massive Attack, Queens of the Stone Age, Bjork, PJ Harvey, and Elton John.
The Eden Sessions are also well known for some unforgettable collaborations. We’ve seen Sigur Ros perform with Daughter, Dizzee Rascal with Katy B, and – our favourite of them all – The XX, with CHIC and Nile Rodgers.