The Carlyon Bay Hotel and Spa
ST AUSTELL, CORNWALL, ENGLAND
👶 Great with toddlers 🧒 Great for older kids 🍝 Great food 🏡 Characterful 🏊 Great pool 🏖️ Near the Beach 🥾 Great for walking 🚲 Great for cycling ✨ A bit special 🏕️ Outdoorsy
A family-friendly Cornish escape with brilliant pools and kids’ activities, while parents can enjoy the spa, golf and beautiful coastal setting.
Relax by The Carlyon Bay Hotel Pool
At a Glance
The accommodation:
A family-friendly coastal hotel with indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, golf course and plenty of space for children to run around. There are organised kids’ activities during school holidays, plus family rooms and plenty of on-site facilities to keep everyone entertained.
The location:
Set above Carlyon Bay on the south coast of Cornwall, the hotel has a fantastic coastal position with direct access to the beach. It’s around 10 minutes from St Austell, making it a great base for exploring Cornwall without being too far from shops, restaurants and amenities.
What to do nearby:
Carlyon Bay Beach is right on the doorstep, while the Eden Project is around 10 minutes away by car. Charlestown’s historic harbour is also nearby, and families can easily reach Fowey, Mevagissey and the Lost Gardens of Heligan for day trips.
Best for families:
This is a great choice for families who want a holiday where the children have plenty to do without having to leave the hotel, while parents can enjoy some downtime too. The combination of pools, kids’ activities, beach access, spa and golf makes it particularly good for families with children of different ages.
Accommodation Types
Family rooms from around £150 per night
For families of three, the Standard Inland Room is one of the best-value options, sleeping up to three guests and offering a more affordable way to enjoy the hotel without paying for a sea-view room. Superior Inland Rooms are another option if you want a little more space, while families looking for a view can upgrade to a Standard or Deluxe Sea-Facing Room. Interconnecting rooms are also available for families who need more space and privacy.
Best budget tip for small families:
If you're travelling with a baby or toddler who isn't tied to school holidays, look at term-time stays in the quieter months and consider a Standard Inland Room. You can still enjoy the hotel's pools, beach access, grounds and family facilities without paying the premium for a sea-facing room or peak-season family package.
Family-friendly features:
Families have access to the hotel's indoor and outdoor pools, leisure facilities and extensive grounds, with organised children's activities and entertainment available during school holidays. For parents travelling with babies or toddlers outside school holidays, quieter term-time stays can offer much better value.
Cots & extra beds:
Cots are available for babies, subject to availability. Extra beds can be requested, with an additional charge of around £100 per night, depending on the room and availability. Children aged three and under can stay free when sharing their parents' room on selected family offers.
Prams & accessibility:
The hotel has lift access to the accommodation floors, making it suitable for families with prams. If you need a ground-floor room or have specific accessibility requirements, request this when booking.
Dogs:
Dogs are not permitted, apart from assistance dogs.
Breakfast:
Breakfast is available with selected room-and-breakfast rates, but isn't included with every booking. Room-only rates are available, giving families the flexibility to choose the best-value option for their stay.
Getting there
Nearest Airport:
Newquay Cornwall Airport: around 27 minutes by car (17 miles).
Nearest Train:
Par Railway Station: around 6–9 minutes by car (approximately 2 miles).
St Austell Railway Station: around 6–10 minutes by car (approximately 2.5 miles). There is also a local bus service connecting St Austell with the hotel.
Nearest Town:
St Austell: around 10 minutes by car. The hotel is in Carlyon Bay, just outside St Austell, with the town centre around 2.5 miles away.
By car: A car is useful for exploring wider Cornwall, although there are local bus services from the hotel towards St Austell, Fowey and surrounding areas.
Good to Know
A car is useful: Carlyon Bay is well placed for exploring Cornwall, but you’ll want a car for day trips to places such as Fowey, Charlestown, Mevagissey and the Eden Project. There are local bus services, but having your own transport makes family days out much easier.
Beach on your doorstep: The hotel sits above Carlyon Bay with access down to the beach, so you can easily enjoy a beach day without getting back in the car. St Austell is around 10 minutes away by car for shops and everyday essentials.
Best for better value: If you’re travelling with babies or toddlers, consider visiting outside the main school holidays. Quieter periods can offer better rates, while still giving you access to the hotel’s pools, grounds and family facilities.
Check family packages: During school holidays, the hotel offers family packages with extras such as children’s lunches, ice creams, packed lunches, soft drinks and supervised kids’ activities. These can be worth considering when comparing the overall cost of your stay.
Extra beds cost extra: If you need an additional bed, current rates are around £100 per child per night, subject to availability. Families of three can often get better value by choosing a Standard Inland Room and sharing the existing beds rather than adding an extra bed.
“We love Carlyon Bay for its brilliant mix of family fun and grown-up downtime, with pools, beach days and plenty for children alongside the spa, golf and beautiful Cornish setting. It’s the kind of stay where you can slow down and enjoy the hotel itself, while still having some of Cornwall’s best family adventures right on the doorstep.”
Ready to book?
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