Visiting Wadebridge for the First Time: What to Know

Short answer: Wadebridge is a market town on the River Camel and the halfway point of the Camel Trail: 5.5 miles to Padstow, about 5.75 to Bodmin, flat and traffic-free, with three bike hire shops on Eddystone Road. Park at Piggy Lane (long stay, cheaper in winter), walk Molesworth Street for cafés and pasties, and drive 20 minutes to Rock, Daymer Bay or Polzeath for the beach.

Plenty of people drive through Wadebridge on the way to Padstow or Rock. Stop instead: it's the easiest base on the north coast for cycling, with good food and a proper old cinema.

What is Wadebridge known for?

• The bridge. Wadebridge grew at the lowest bridging point of the Camel, where a 15th-century bridge replaced a dangerous ford. Legend says it was built on wool sacks; in fact it stands on bedrock, but the name stuck (the Bridge On Wool pub is on The Platt).
• The Camel Trail, the old railway line from Padstow to Wenfordbridge, with Wadebridge at its midpoint.
• The Royal Cornwall Show, held every June at the showground just west of town.
• Sir John Betjeman, whose belongings are kept at the John Betjeman Centre in the old station; he's buried at St Enodoc, near Rock.

Where to park

Piggy Lane is the council long-stay car park (cheaper from November to March); Goldsworthy Way is short stay, up to 3 hours. Both are free from 4pm to 9am. Wadebridge parking.

What to do

• Hire a bike and ride the Camel Trail to Padstow or Bodmin.
• Head to Daymer Bay, Rock or Polzeath, or take the ferry from Rock to Padstow.
• Visit Pencarrow House (dog friendly) or Camel Valley vineyard.
• On a wet day: the Regal cinema and the leisure centre.

Where to eat

Pasties from Malcolm Barnecutt on Molesworth Street, fish and chips at Seasmiths, brunch at one of the cafés, and some of the best Sunday roasts on the north coast: Sunday roast in Wadebridge.

Getting there without a car

There's no station (the line closed in 1967). Bus 57 runs from Bodmin Parkway station via Bodmin to Wadebridge and Padstow.

Coming up

The free Cornish Winter Fair is at the showground on 21–22 November 2026, and the Royal Cornwall Show returns on 10–12 June 2027.

Everything else, filtered by who you're with: the Wadebridge guide.

Times, prices and dates are the businesses' and organisers' to change — check before you travel. Spotted something we've got wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.