The Old Custom House

The Old Custom House is a hotel on South Quay in Padstow, sitting directly on the medieval harbour with rooms overlooking the waterfront or the Camel Estuary. It carries a rating of 8.5 from over 1,200 Booking.com reviews - one of the highest-rated hotels in town. The property includes a restaurant, bar lounge, and conservatory dining room, all serving local seafood and Cornish produce. Wifi is included; there is no on-site parking.

Rooms are furnished with tea and coffee facilities and satellite TV. Some rooms face the harbour; the listing does not guarantee estuary views. The award-winning breakfast runs to a full cooked option each morning. The bar stocks local real ales alongside the main restaurant menu, and the conservatory is an option for meals when the quayside is busy.

Padstow itself sits at the mouth of the Camel Estuary - Rick Stein's first seafood restaurant opened here in 1975, and the town now has several of his establishments within a few minutes' walk of the hotel. The 18-mile Camel Trail cycle path to Bodmin begins at the edge of town. Daymer Bay, a sheltered sandy beach ideal for families, is about 1.5 miles south by road. The Camel ferry to Rock runs seasonally for access to the wider north coast beaches.

**Best for:** couples or solo travellers who want a harbour-centre base within walking distance of Padstow's restaurants, without needing a car once they arrive. **Less good for:** families with dogs (not permitted), anyone needing parking, or guests prioritising guaranteed sea views.