Nestled inside a former clay pit near St Austell in Cornwall. You’ll discover the interesting bubble-looking biomes of The Eden Project. This once bitten landscape has been fully rejuvenated into a flourishing haven where nature and plants now thrive. It’s also home to the largest indoor rainforest in the world! Quite the claim to fame, eh?
The Eden Project is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the entirety of Cornwall. Possibly because you get to experience different ecosystems and feel their diverse climates, all without needing to step foot on a plane. Which is pretty unique concept.
Once you’re inside the ginormous greenhouse domes (called biomes), you’ll be magically transported to the humid tropics of South East Asia and West Africa. Or you can head inside the smaller (and cooler) Mediterranean biome at The Eden Project to discover some weird and wonderful plant species, like ‘Kangeroo Paws’ from Western Australia.
There’s more here than just the impressive biomes though. Various exhibits are dotted throughout Eden, along with plenty of outdoor garden areas to explore too. Plus, if you’re looking to get a buzz of adrenaline, you can take flight on England’s fastest zip-line! This exhilarating face down zip-line soars right over the top of the biome domes, giving you the perfect aerial view of The Eden Project.
Here’s a closer look at everything The Eden Project in Cornwall has on offer, so you can decide if it’s worth visiting yourself.

In this article...
What’s inside The Eden Project’s rainforest biome?
The tropical rainforest biome is what The Eden Project is best known for. The fact it holds the trophy for the largest indoor rainforest in the world probably helps attract the endless visitors to this part of Cornwall!
The rainforest biome is home to over 1000 different varieties of tropical plants, some of which are absolutely towering. But it also has some fun additions to keep the walking trail engaging as you make your way around.
Whilst exploring the humid jungle, here’s a few things to keep your eyes peeled for:

Eden’s rainforest rope bridge
As you trudge your way higher up into the biome and the humidity really ramps up. Not only will your hair begin to resemble Monica’s holiday hair (if you’re a member of the curly-hair-club like myself) but you’ll also notice a fun rope bridge swinging between the tree canopy.
Just a heads up, this rope bridge bounces and sways pretty well when it’s busy with people making their way across. The sides are super high though, so it wasn’t too unnerving. If you’re not keen on walking over it, you can avoid it entirely by walking across the normal nearby path.
The rope bridge is a lot of fun though, so if you can face your fears it’s a great element within the rainforest biome.

Indoor biome waterfall
The rainforest biome also has a beautiful indoor waterfall, which you will be able to hear as you get closer. The spray coming off this crashing waterfall was so welcoming after being in his humid rainforest biome for a while.
We enjoyed standing here for moment, admiring this magnificent jungle whilst the refreshingly cold mist pitched on us. It’s so impressive how they have incorporated a rushing waterfall into this Eden Project biome!

Jungle huts & props
Throughout Eden’s rainforest biome you’ll find a few different jungle huts and props, which all help paint a picture of everyday life in these parts of the world. For example, there is a South African market stall full of fresh produce like fruit and nuts. Along with huts styled to look like peoples holiday homes in Costa Rica, set out with deckchairs and belongings.
They also have other fun props in here like Hawaiian boats (think Moana) and colourful sugar trucks. All these extra touches and attention to detail really helps to transport you right into the heart of the rainforest. Enabling you to picture how real people could actually be living in these tropical countries.
Not only that, but all these extra things to discover help to keep the rainforest biome trail exciting. You never know what you might uncover next, and you’ll begin to forget that you’re actually in Cornwall.




Grab yourself a tropical baobab smoothie
During our visit to The Eden Project they had a retro-style ice cream cart inside the rainforest biome, selling tropical baobab smoothies. After just seeing a real life baobab tree in the flesh, and learning about the large fruit that grows from it, we were intrigued to give one a go. After all, it’s not every day you get to grab a baobab smoothie in England is it!
Described as having a similar flavour to lemons and pears but with a slight twang of yoghurt, we ordered a non-alcoholic smoothie for £3. There’s also the alcoholic option of a baobab and rum smoothie for £6. (They take card payment)
I must admit. I wasn’t a fan of the taste at all, and although James didn’t rave about it, he didn’t actually mind it. Maybe the rum option tastes better! It was a fun addition to the rainforest experience nonetheless.

Cool down room
Jungles need humid temperatures to thrive, so you can expect toasty temperatures whilst exploring this biome. Usually the Eden Project heat their rainforest biome somewhere between 16-35 degrees, and as hot air rises, things get pretty sticky the higher you go! Because of that, its a good idea to wear light layers. That way you can peel some off during your time in here.
However, if things get a little too hot for you, and its not socially acceptable to remove anymore items of clothing. You can head into the cool down room which you’ll find within the rainforest biome. They provide a nice air-conditioned room, enabling you to cool down for a moment before continuing on your jungle journey.
The cool room is marked on the map with a snowflake, which is near the West Africa section of the rainforest biome.

The Eden Project’s Mediterranean Biome
The Mediterranean biome is smaller than it’s rainforest neighbour next door. But it comes with a far more comfortable temperature, and the sweet aromas of citrus fruits and fresh herbs fill the air.
Although it’s not as impressive as The Eden Projects bigger biome, the theming in here is still very beautiful. Almost like you’ve been transported from pretty Cornwall to sunny Italy, with all the white-wash walls, terracotta pots and olive groves that they have growing in here.
Eden Projects Mediterranean biome doesn’t only cover Mediterranean countries though. It sends you on a journey to Western Australia too, where you’ll get to see all kinds of weird and wonderful plants. Australia is home to plenty of dangerous animals, reptiles and bugs, but some of their plant species look just as terrifying. Some are larger than life, some come with spikes, and others just look a little alien like they belong on a different planet.
One of my favourite flowers from the Western Australia section was the Kangaroo-Paws. These were vibrant and looked so unusual! Seriously cool.






Eat inside Eden Projects mediterranean biome
There’s even a beautifully themed restaurant inside the Mediterranean biome, so you can imagine you’re dining alfresco – even if Cornwall is actually a little drizzly outside.
They have done a great job at making this restaurant look authentic. With enchanting festoon lights strung up, wooden tables and red terracotta roof tiles. Blended with its beautiful surroundings of palm trees and olive groves, you genuinely feel like you’re having a meal on holiday.
The restaurant is called Magic of the Med, and it’s open daily from 12pm-3pm with no pre-booking required. They have a tasty Mediterranean-influenced menu using locally sourced produce, offering a mixture of small plates along with more hearty main meal options too.
You’ll find dishes like olives marinated with orange, thyme and coriander seeds. To cured Cornish monkfish, or a selection of different pasta dishes to name a few.
Small plates start around £4, with mains starting from £13. They have a few alcoholic beverages available too, if you fancy a little tipple.


Outdoor gardens at the Eden Project
The Eden Project has over 3000 variety of plants spread across 20 acres of outdoor gardens. To name a few, you’ll see purple lavender, hops (an ingredient thats used in beer making) and Ginkgo, which is one of the oldest living tree species on Earth. You could easily spend an hour exploring the different outdoor garden areas they have here at the Eden Project, perhaps even longer on a nice sunny day. You’ll discover different statues and ponds along the way too.

The Eve sculpture
You’ll discover this beautiful living and glistening sculpture hidden inside a shady area of the outside gardens. When we visited in August the Eve sculpture had beautiful long plant hair, and her mosaic mirror face sparkled in the summer sun.
She reminded me a bit of the sculpture at The Lost Gardens of Heligan!

Go Wild family trail at the Eden Project
From the visitor centre there are a few different routes down to the biomes. We took the ‘Go Wild’ family trail, which has a few quiz questions along the way. I recommend coming this way if you’re bringing kids to the Eden Project, as it will help to keep them engaged.
Each sign had a stamp press fixed to a log, which children will no-doubt find fun to use. There are 6 different stamps to collect in total and the questions were pretty good.

Food options at Eden Project
We’ve already talked about Magic of the Med earlier, but if you don’t fancy eating inside the Mediterranean biome, there are a few other options available too.
Biome Kitchen
The Biome Kitchen area is split in two, with two different cafes inside. Both of which have indoor seating, along with outdoor seating under a canopy to protect you from Britains unpredictable weather.
One of the cafes serves up cooked meals, like Thai curries and pasta bakes which looked and smelt really tasty. As we had a pub meal booked that evening we grabbed something smaller from the other cafe. I had a delicious slice of sticky toffee cake and James went for a traditional pasty. We are in Cornwall after all!
They both have vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options too.


Core Play Cafe
This cafe is a great option for families visiting with young children. The Core Play Cafe serves up kid-friendly food, like toasties, snacks and cakes. But what makes this extra great for families, is they have a selection of games to play whilst you’re enjoying your lunch.
Eden Coffee House
This coffee house is located inside the visitor centre at the entrance of the Eden Project. Making Eden Coffee House a perfect place to grab a hot drink or snack before or after exploring the Eden Project.
In here you’ll find a selection of tasty cakes, poke bowls, soups, sandwiches and other savoury options.

Picnics
Another option to save some money and help keep the cost down, is to bring your own packed lunch. We saw lots of people doing this, and there were plenty of tables and chairs dotted about to enjoy a picnic in the sunshine. They even have dedicated picnic areas which you’ll be able to locate on the Eden Project map.
They also have free water refill spots which are super convenient to top up your own reusable water-bottles if you’ve brought one.

What to wear to the Eden Project
Like much of the UK, Cornwall’s weather can be unpredictable. You’d like to think it would be a safe bet to get dry weather in the height of summer, but that isn’t always the case here! So definitely check the weather forecast to help you dress appropriately.
However, visiting the Eden Project does involve quite a lot of walking. So make sure you wear trainers or something comfortable on your feet. Because the Eden Project is built down inside a bowl, there are quite a few steep paths involved. If you’re visiting in the winter, you might want to wear something a little more grippy like some walking shoes or boots.
As for clothing, bring layers! You’ll need to strip off a few when you’re inside the toasty rainforest biome.

Gift shops at Eden
If you want to pick up a little holiday souvenir or keepsake, there are a couple options at Eden Project. First up, they have the plant shop. You can take your own little slice of the Eden Project back at home with you. Making a lovely memory, or gift for someone special.
If you don’t have green fingers, they also have a gift shop inside the entrance to the biomes. In there you’ll find some locally made products, things like candles and hand creams. To pens, mugs and scarfs. It’s a good sized shop with a great selection of gifts suiting a variety of budgets.
Exhibits at the Eden Project
On top of the biomes and the outdoor gardens, there are also a few other exhibits to explore at the Eden Project. They were my least favourite part, here’s why.
Core building – Invisible Worlds Exhibition
The core building looks impressive from the outside, like a ginormous spiky sunflower. But I personally didn’t find the inside all that interesting. There was a lot of big empty spaces, and not all that much to see inside.
They did have a couple interesting exhibits in here though. One was about the gut microbiome, and the other was the Infinity Blue ‘breathing’ sculpture. A large blue statue covered in ceramic, which blew out the occasional vapour ring.
I’ve seen photo’s of this statue, and it had endless vapour rings coming out left, right and centre. But we had to wait a couple minutes for one ring to come out, and even then it was only one or two at a time. It wasn’t anywhere near as impressive as they make it look in photos.
Perhaps it was broken?!


Tunnel of Love For The Planet
This little tin building looked super cute from the outside, but once again it was a little underwhelming.
The Tunnel of Love had some old fairground type games inside, which were supposed to give you planet saving ideas on how to reduce your carbon footprint. It was just all bit tatty and seemed completely out of place here at the Eden Project. I can’t say it made me feel inspired at all.

Enjoy the thrill of an Eden Hangloose Adventure
Hangloose is separate to the Eden Project, so you don’t need admission to the Eden Project to partake in a Hangloose adventure. They actually have a few different action-fulled adventures at the Eden Project, perfect for any dare-devils looking to catch some thrills!
To book any of the following activities, you’ll need to head to their website.
Zip-line
If you’re feeling brave you can take on the fastest zip-line in England! The Hangloose zip-line is 660 meters long and sends you flying above the Eden project face down like Superman, giving you impressive aerial views as you zoom over the tops of biomes.
You can reach top speeds of 60mph on this 96 meter high zip line. But whats even better is there are two lines, so you can make a friend do it with you! Much like myself and James did on the twin zip line at adrenalin Quarry!
There are some age and weight restrictions to have a go on Englands fastest zip line. You’ll need to be at least 30kg, and a max weight of 120kg. You’ll also need to be 8 years old or older, however there is a chance that anyone under the age of 10 might be too light to join in. To avoid any upset and disappointment on the day, Hangloose recommend you weigh them before booking!
The Air Bag Jump
The air bag jump lets you free fall from an 8 meter high platform with zero harness or safety gear! Putting all your trust into the ginormous air bag below to catch you.
There are 3 different platforms, so you can choose to jump from 1.5 meters, 5 meters, or really go for it from the 8 meter high platform.
Children must be 8 years old and weigh a minimum of 25kg to join in. Only people aged 18+ can jump from the highest platform and their is a max weight limit of 120kg.
Giant swing
If you love that feeling of your belly flipping over, then this giant swing is the one for you! The zero gravity swing will lift you up before sending you swinging through the air at 50mph with your friends and family. The swing seats 3 people in total, but you will need to be at least 8 years old and weigh at least 25kg.
Their is also a max weight of 120kg. However, the entire weight the swing can hold across the three people is 250kg.
Skytrek – High ropes
Another Hangloose adventure at Eden is the Skytrek high ropes course, which has 20 different sections to complete. From wobbly bridges, to nets, this high ropes course will certainly get your adrenalin going!
Children over 8 years old are allowed to join in (but they must weigh 25kg or more) and anyone under the age of 12 needs to be accompanied with someone whos 18+.
Is Eden Project worth visiting?
I think the Eden Project is worth visiting, but mainly just for the two impressive biomes (particularly the rainforest biome which is fabulous) and not so much all the other bits around the site, like the exhibitions.
Ticket prices cost a lot to come here, so I was thankful that the Eden Project is included with our Newt Garden Membership, meaning we could get in for free. Had I of paid full entry price for my family, I think I’d potentially be a little miffed on how expensive it is.
I think if you’re really into your gardening and plants, then maybe you would enjoy the outside spaces just as much as the biomes.

Is the Eden Project fun for kids?
Children will absolutely love the rainforest biome, but after that I feel the excitement for children may start to dwindle. The Mediterranean dome is still good, but it’s not half as impressive or fun as the rainforest dome. If you’re bringing kids, I would recommend saving the rainforest biome till last!
Unless your children have green fingers, there’s a limit on how much they will enjoy looking at different plants in the outside gardens, and the exhibits aren’t overly interactive for children either. There is a wooden play area for children which has a big tube slide, but I feel that will only keep them entertained for so long.
I would say the Eden Project is ok for kids, but when considering the price (family of 4, you’re looking at £100) I think you could better spend your money elsewhere. I think older children would appreciate it more, however they would probably want to have a go on some of the Hangloose Adventures!

Eden Project car park
The car park at the Eden Project is free and ginormous, and they have EV charging available too. Expect quite a steep and long walk from the car park down to the entrance of the Eden Project, as you can’t even see it from the carpark!
They do run a park and ride shuttle to and from the higher tier carparks, so if you struggle with mobility this can be a helpful option.

Places to stay nearby
St Austell is around a 10 minute drive away from the Eden Project, making it a perfect location to base yourself.
We have stayed at The Blue Bee Cottage in St.Column Major, which is around 20 minutes away. Or a little further away and you could stay at the unique Bodmin Jail Hotel! An old 18th century prison thats been converted into a luxurious hotel!


Eden Project address and opening times
Opening times for the Eden Project vary throughout the weeks and months, so you’ll need to check their opening times page here.
Address for the Eden Project
Eden Project
Bodelva, Cornwall
PL24 2SG
Ticket prices for the Eden Project
I recommend buying your tickets online, either directly on their site or with GetYourGuide to gain a little bit of discount. If you buy your tickets on the door they are even more expensive.
If you live in either Cornwall or Devon you can get a local discount saving up-to 45%, so make sure you bring some proof of residence along with you.
Adult: £38 or £42 on the door
Student/Young Adult (17–25): £32.50 or £36.50 on the door
Child: £12 or £16 on the door
Under-5: free

Other places to visit nearby
Although Cornwall is best known for its stunning white sand beaches, crystal clear water and surf culture. Theres many other gorgeous places that don’t involve getting sandy toes or salty hair. Why not take a look at some of these:
- The Lost Gardens of Heligan – 25 minute drive away
- Tintagel Castle – 55 minute drive
- Bodmin Jail Hotel & Attraction – 20 minute drive
- Adrenalin Quarry – 35 minute drive

Top tips for visiting the Eden Project
- The tropical rainforest dome is humid! There are lockers to leave your coats in so you don’t have to lug them around with you. Wear layers so you can shed off a few as you begin to warm up inside the biome!
- You don’t need a Eden Project ticket to do the Hangloose adventures
- Parking is quite far from the Eden Project building, and it will be all uphill on the way back. There are park and ride pick up options for the higher carparks if you feel the walk would be too challenging.
- Bring a picnic to save on food and drink costs
- To save on waste, the cafe’s no longer offer single use cups. If you want a take away coffee you’ll need to bring a reusable cup which gives you a 30p discount. Or you can hire one of their reusable cups for a £2.50 refundable deposit. The other option is to purchase one of their reusable bamboo cups for £6.95.
- The rainforest biome is the best part, maybe save it till last!
Conclusion
I’m a bit torn with the Eden Project. We enjoyed our time here and would re-visit again purely for the rainforest biome and the fact entry is included with our Newt membership, which makes it a no brainer.
The Eden Project is a fun day out and getting to explore a jungle is something a little different to do. I think it’s ok for children, but I do feel like they haven’t fully hit the mark with making this a top family attraction. Especially when you’re looking at spending £100 for a family of four, I think you could spend that money on something better for kids. Had we of paid regular entry I wouldn’t be rushing back again for that sort of money.
However, I think the Hangloose Adventures look great fun, so we might have to come back another time and do the Zip-line!
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