Trains to the Isles of Scilly
Take a trip to the Isles of Scilly – England’s enchanting archipelago that's made up of five inhabited islands and many more where the local wildlife flourishes.
The Isles of Scilly attract well over 100,000 visitors every year, who come to explore this unique UK tropical landscape and to sample the ‘Scilly’ way of life.
How to get to the Isles of Scilly by Train
Taking the train to the Isles of Scilly is a great way to get your journey started, after which your best options are taking a ferry or catching a flight.
You can catch flights from both Newquay (March to October) and Land’s End (year-round), the latter of which can take as little as fifteen minutes. Make your journey even more special by catching a helicopter to either St. Mary’s or Tresco Island from Penzance heliport, which is only a five minute bus ride from Penzance train station.
Penzance Harbour is just over half a mile away from the station, and here you can catch the daily ferry and be at St. Mary’s in under three hours.
Penzance is easily reachable from a number of stations across the UK. With direct services from as far as Birmingham New Street and major stations in between such as Bristol Temple Meads and Exeter St Davids, your tropical UK getaway is easier than you think with CrossCountry.
Things to Do on the Isles of Scilly
The perfect place for a tropical weekend break, the Isles of Scilly offers a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of mainland UK.
Each of the 140 islands has its own charm, so island hopping is a must to make sure you’re making the most of your time on the Isles. Simply catch one of the tripper boats that offer multiple daily trips, or why not be adventurous and hire your own boat to be skipper for the day.
In between docking, check out the beautiful tropical garden called Tresco Abbey Garden. This oasis is open to the public for eight months of the year, with a ticket included for tourists staying in Tresco. Established in the 19th century around the ruins of a Benedictine Abbey, this unique attraction is home to over two thousand different types of flora from all across the southern hemisphere.
Scilly Sea Safaris is also a great way of getting up close to some of the eclectic sea life that call the Isles home. Ninety-minute cruises are available, but if you’re short on time then you can also pack in a lot within their thirty-minute option too.
Great food and drink is never too far away on these Isles, with a wide range of phenomenal local produce on offer.
On St. Martin’s you’ll find a quaint bakery, aptly named The Island Bakery. Here you’ll find classic delicacies from the south-west, all freshly prepared with the finest locally sourced ingredients.
You won’t struggle to find good seafood either, with one of the Isle's best restaurants being Bryher’s very own Crab Shack. This restaurant knows what it does well, and lets the local ingredients speak for themselves. With tasty Scallops, mussels and crabs available, you’ll most certainly be coming back for more!
Where to Stay on the Isles of Scilly
Although a day trip to the Isles of Scilly is possible, we recommend spending a little more time there to fully experience all that the Isles have to offer.
There's a wide range of options to suit all accommodation needs. Looking to stay in a luxurious hotel? The Star Castle Hotel in St Mary’s offers the ultimate relaxing getaway – this sixteenth century castle offers a heated swimming pool, tennis courts and complimentary golf for guests.
If you’re looking for a more immersive stay, then camping might be the option for you. The St Martin’s Campsite on the island of the same name is just a stone's-throw from the beach, and is open for around five months of the year for the best of the local weather.
More about the Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly are located twenty-five miles south-west of Land’s End in Cornwall. Famous for its flowers and tropical fauna, the Isles have been a popular local escape for many British tourists due to its much milder climate in the colder months, and its tropical summers.
The main islands became property of the crown in the sixteenth century, and over the last few centuries were caught in the middle of a number of wars. This left it up in the air as to who ruled them, until 1933 when the main islands were handed over to the British crown.
If you’re planning a trip to the Isles of Scilly, don’t forget to book Advance rail tickets via our website or the CrossCountry app. Before you travel, make sure to check scheduled train times to find the best journey for you. If you need more information, you can contact us here.
