The Best Places in Padstow for a Little Retail Therapy

Best shops, boutiques & galleries to explore in this Cornish town

Don’t you just love a bit of holiday shopping? Well, when you come to Cornwall you can forget crowded high streets and shopping malls crammed with mainstream stores. Shopping in Padstow means moseying around the harbour and dipping into unique boutiques, art galleries and independent clothing shops. In fact, whether you want homeware, drinks, arts and crafts or chic attire, Padstow’s shops are filled with treasures made by local artisans and inspired by the coastal lifestyle.

Coastal-inspired art

If you cycle into Padstow along the Camel Trail, or float in on the ferry from Rock, you’ll have even more time to soak up the rich ocean and estuary hues, and no doubt be keen take a little piece of Padstow with you. 

Start on the quayside, where you’ll find a huddle of galleries with window displays reflecting the maritime scenes of the local area. Renowned fused glass artist Jo Downs captures the light, colour and detail of the scenery in her stunning range of glass giftware on display in her pretty seaside gallery.

Step into The Picture House Gallery, where you’ll find Dreya Bennett’s stained-glass seascapes amongst other original artworks and ceramics. Nudging the water’s edge, at Quay Art you can get your hands on limited edition prints, unusual ceramics and sculptures that will catch the eye of anyone with a penchant for art and design.

Stroll along the quayside and you’ll see that Rick Stein’s interest in the town doesn’t stop at food. His gift shop is a wonderful spot for a little retail therapy, whether you’re looking for stylish interior design and homeware inspired by Jill Stein’s travels, or stylish kitchen gadgets for seafood lovers.

Beach-chic clothing & books

It’s not just a little slice of Cornwall that you’ll want to adorn your house with to remind you of your holiday; you’ll no doubt want to add a dash of beach-chic clothing to your wardrobe, too. And Padstow is the perfect place to pick up beach wear and outdoor clothing that you won’t find on the high street.

The vibrant family beach clothing at Aloft goes hand-in-hand with the maritime vibe, while Cornish-born Seasalt lives and breathes the coastal vibe through its functional fashion collection. 

Originally turning sails into waterproof jackets, Quba & Co has expanded to produce a wide range of nautically-inspired clothing and accessories and is now very much part of the fibre of daily Padstow life. If you’re looking for something pretty and ethical, pop into the Pink Lemon’s Boutique for something striking and original to jazz up any outfit.

There’s nothing like spending time on holiday reading a good book, so swerve the latest Amazon list and spend time browsing the shelves of the traditional Padstow Bookseller. From locally inspired literature to contemporary classics, there are all sorts of page-turners made for reading beside the sea. 

Lip-smacking local produce

With Padstow being the town that put Cornwall on the gastronomes’ map, it’s little wonder that the foodie offerings in town include an impressive range of take-home local produce. Padstow Farm Shop stocks a wide range of lip-smacking ingredients, while Stein’s Deli is a one-stop shop for local produce and ales, cookbooks and giftware.

While in town, you will want to stop in at one of the town’s many bakeries to sample a Cornish pasty or one of the sweet pastries, which are an ever-present temptation on Padstow’s streets.

If you fancy a tipple, you’ll be spoilt for choice in Padstow as there are a number of brewery tap rooms, wine shops and stores selling locally inspired spirits. Try the local ales from the Padstow Brewery Co at the Padstow Tasting Rooms, pick up a special bottle of wine from BinTwo, and treat yourself to some spiced rum from Twin Fin Rum or a locally distilled gin from Tarquin’s Gin School & Shop.

Atlantic Highway emporium 

While you’ve got all the trappings of Wadebridge a short trundle along the Camel Trail from Padstow, take a short cruise west along the Atlantic Highway to discover an array of art, food, furniture and trendy interior accessories at the county’s coolest up-and-coming shopping hub – Hawksfield.

Encapsulating the shopping ethos of Cornwall in a single location, here you can don ethical outdoor clothing from Finisterre, stock up on independent fashion and interior accessories from the Jo & Co Home, eye up vintage vehicles at Bespoke Traders, find fine art at Circle Contemporary, and stock up on award-winning ingredients from Europe and the West Country at The Arc. You should definitely re-fuel at the cool Strong Adolfos café while mooching around Hawksfield.

Book a Trip to Padstow

Fancy a little retail therapy by the sea? Browse our collection of holiday cottages in and around Padstow and find the perfect pad for your next shopping trip to Cornwall. From harbourside houses to boutique beach houses, Harbour Holidays offers a wide range of properties in town and in nearby villages and beaches.