Amazing little town as you walk down the hill, don't try to park anywhere near the car parks in Padstow as they must fill up at dawn! As soon as you hit the main shopping area the crowds hit you, it is very busy and the streets are small and tight, got hit by a car being driven by a lunatic, glancing yes but if I had been elderly god only knows. There are high end shops and independents alongside an excellent Boots which was packed out. The harbour front was the busiest, only a few seats to sit on but people were seated on the harbour walls and anything that was static really. A small lane takes you from the harbour up into the hills and over to a wonderful beach area. The harbour, the streets were clean and the local people were very friendly (mostly) and the shop staff were all friendly and helpful with no exceptions. Despite everything, we enjoyed our time in Padstow but be prepared for a lot of people.

Very busy place. Great for crabbing our crab trap was only in the water for a few minutes and loads of crabs were in the net. Highly recommend if you want a crabbing experience. Car pack is decent priced and it's practically on the harbour.

Visited as part of a bike hire trip. Lovely place. As picturesque as Rick Stein's Saturday Kitchen segments. I'd have liked to have spent a bit longer here but everything seemed to shut up shop before 5pm. Lovely array of shops, gifts, food and locally made celebrity fish chef alcohol . Rick Stein shop with nautical but nice Kitchen and homewear. Extortionate prices, but one would expect that in such a place. There was a handy Spar shop with nice staff. One thing I noticed - a lot of dog fouling, people hadn't picked up afterwards. I wouldn't have minded, had it been Chalkie. I wouldn't have minded catching crabs here. I'd have like Rick Stein to have cooked them but he charges an awful lot for cod and chips!

My husband and I visited Padstow to go to a shoe shop there that has great boots. After a little shopping enjoyed a walk around the harbour before heading to the pub for a pint of Mena Doo on draft. Sat enjoying our drinks on the comfy sofas next to the log burner. Menu looked good but as we had a late breakfast wouldn’t have managed a meal but will be try when next in the area

I love Padstow. We visit every time we’re in Cornwall. However, it seems to be turning into a Rick Stein themed fishing village. Everywhere you turn he’s trying to squeeze another pound out of the tourists. With little regard for “local” businesses.

School's were on holiday, so it was so busy. Lovely place to spend the afternoon if you can get parked! Went for a pasty forlunch then headed to the harbour area for an ice cream, and a seat. Lovely old place, great for wandering around.

It’s a rather small, quaint harbour. It was cool and breezy despite it being mid June. There’s not much to see or much more to say: it’s similar to many pretty harbours around the UK and Ireland. RNLI volunteers were practicing and as it was only about 11am a chap was setting up his restaurant for trade. I noted he priced a crab sandwich at £17. There is no chance that I would pay this sum for a crab sandwich. I wondered if this was the Rick Stein effect. What I mean is that people price things more greedily as there’s a place nearby that draws a crowd and lives on its reputation (what I saw of Stein’s empire didn’t much impress me but as he’s made his money he doesn’t have to bother). I got a much better fish & chips in Harry Ramsden’s Manchester for less than half Rick’s price. I knew a business owner who had his own coffee cafe. He kept complaining that Starbucks hadn’t come to his town and when they did he raised his prices. He was delighted. There is a public toilet not far from the harbour. It was set up to charge users but not now.