Bells Cottage – Explore Cornwall by rail

Bells Cottage – Explore Cornwall by rail Overview

First Impressions

Walking up Market Hill in St Austell, you’d almost miss Bells Cottage – Explore Cornwall by rail if you weren’t looking for it. This unassuming Victorian cottage sits right in the heart of town, and honestly, that’s exactly what makes it special. The moment you step inside, you realize this isn’t your typical accommodation — it’s more like staying in someone’s beautifully restored family home. The hosts have clearly put thought into every detail, from the original features they’ve preserved to the modern touches that actually make sense.

Location & Getting Around

Here’s what I love about this place — St Austell railway station is literally a five-minute walk away. You can dump your car in their free private parking (which, trust me, is gold in Cornwall) and explore the entire county by train. The Eden Project? Easy train ride. Truro, Newquay, even Plymouth — all accessible without dealing with Cornwall’s notoriously narrow roads and summer traffic. Market Hill itself puts you right in the thick of things, with proper local pubs and shops within stumbling distance. It’s one of those spots where you feel like you’re living in Cornwall rather than just visiting it.

The Cottage Experience

The cottage has this wonderful lived-in feel that somehow manages to be both cozy and spotless. The rooms blend period character with modern comfort — you’ll find original fireplaces alongside excellent WiFi and proper heating. What struck me most was how quiet it gets at night, despite being right in town. The beds are genuinely comfortable (I’m picky about this), and there’s enough space to spread out your stuff without feeling cramped. Each room feels different too, so if you’re staying multiple nights, you’re not just getting a cookie-cutter experience.

Why Couples Love It

I can see why couples rate this place so highly — there’s something inherently romantic about the whole setup. Maybe it’s the way the evening light hits the old windows, or how you can wander down to a local pub for dinner and feel like proper locals. The cottage strikes that perfect balance between intimate and comfortable. You’re not dealing with hotel corridors or breakfast rooms full of families (though nothing wrong with that), just a peaceful base where you can actually relax together. Plus, having that railway access means you can plan proper day trips without the stress of driving.

Why Guests Keep Coming Back

With a 9.7 rating, Bells Cottage clearly gets something right that bigger places often miss. It’s the personal touches — the local knowledge the hosts share, the way everything just works without fuss, the feeling that you’ve discovered something special rather than just booked another room. The free parking alone saves you money and hassle, but it’s really about the whole experience. You know how some places feel like they’re trying too hard? This isn’t one of them. It just quietly delivers exactly what you need for exploring Cornwall, whether you’re using it as a base for adventures or simply want to soak up authentic Cornish town life.

Bells Cottage – Explore Cornwall by rail Accommodations

Reviews of Bells Cottage – Explore Cornwall by rail

• Corinne from Switzerland – 10 June 2025 (10/10)

  The location is very close to the railway & bus station, traveling with the public transports. We had a big support from Halyna in answering all our questions always very fast, thank you so much!

• Pamela from United Kingdom – 28 April 2025 (10/10)

  Clean functional cosy tastefully decorated ideal for purpose ideal locational
  
  What could be improved: Steep stairs so might be difficult if not very mobile

• Paul from United Kingdom – 14 April 2025 (10/10)

  Host is nice and welcoming,facilities,free private parking,

• Paul from United Kingdom – 21 March 2025 (10/10)

  Facicities ,Location, parking

• Paul from United Kingdom – 26 October 2024 (10/10)

• Jensen from Australia – 12 October 2024 (9/10)

  The house was very clean and presentable, it had all the facilities and utensils we needed in the house, including cleaning equipment.
  was comfortable enough for a family of 5

• Guy from United Kingdom – 27 August 2024 (10/10)

  Convenient location. Clean and comfortable.
  
  What could be improved: Climb the hill to access it.

• Joan from United Kingdom – 5 June 2024 (10/10)

  Locality
  Cleanliness
  Facilities
  
  What could be improved: NA

• Amanda from United Kingdom – 4 June 2024 (10/10)

  Close proximity to the town and nearby attractions, such as the Eden Project and Gardens of Heligan.
  The property has been tastefully decorated and furnished. 3 lovely bedrooms with lots of space for clothes and comfy pillows and bedding. New bathroom and en-suite. Clear instructions received on how to find the property, the parking pass for the car park opposite is great.
  Smart TV so handy for Netflix etc and no issues with the wi-fi (happy teenager)
  
  What could be improved: Only thing my Husband wasn’t too keen on was the narrow drive up Market Hill and the car park entrance is quite narrow but all manageable.
  Anyone with mobility issues would not be able to use the garden due to the steps but this did not affect us in any way.

• Virginia from Canada – 6 May 2024 (9/10)

  It was very easy to locate when walking from the train station , an local to some lovely cafes, including Kimmys Pancake Crepe and Waffle , it has wonderful coffee, also the Trinity Church cafe great coffee and so helpful staff.
  
  What could be improved: It couldn’t be helped with a home so old, but we did have a wee bit of damp /mold in our bedroom , we also had to put away some of the floral scent bottles , sorry I forgot to get them back out

Surroundings

Facilities