Par is a small coastal village in Cornwall, England that grew up around its harbour and docks on St Austell Bay. Historically it was an industrial port, handling copper, granite and especially the county’s china clay exports, and the arrival of the railway in the 19th century cemented its role as a transport hub - Par station is still the junction for the branch line to Newquay.
Today Par blends that industrial legacy with seaside life: the old docks and harbour sit alongside a working marina and the wide sandy strip known as Par Sands, popular with walkers and watersports enthusiasts. Its proximity to St Austell and other tourist draws means the local economy mixes light industry, commuter households and seasonal tourism, giving the place a quietly mixed, community-oriented character.