Jamaica Inn

About the museum

Jamaica Inn is a Grade II listed coaching inn on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, dating from the 1750s. Its remote position on the road across the moor made it a convenient place for smugglers to hide goods before sending them on to towns such as London and Bristol. It is run today as a hotel, restaurant and pub by the Coaching Inn Group, with low oak beams, open fires and a bar named after the smugglers.

The inn became famous through Daphne du Maurier, who stayed in Cornwall from her youth and wrote several novels set there. Her book Jamaica Inn was her first big commercial success and was filmed in 1939 by Alfred Hitchcock. After her death in 1989 a room at the inn was created in her memory. It displays memorabilia, including her Sheraton writing desk, a packet of the cigarettes named after her father and a dish of her favourite sweets.

The museum side of the inn tells the story of Cornish smuggling, which began in the 13th century and reached its height in the 18th century, when high import duties made tea, silk, brandy and tobacco worth smuggling. A film, The History of Jamaica Inn, forms the centrepiece of the smuggling museum. The inn is also known for ghost stories, and it can be hired for paranormal investigations.

Highlights

• Smuggling museum with the film The History of Jamaica Inn
• Daphne du Maurier room with her writing desk and memorabilia
• Grade II listed coaching inn from the 1750s on Bodmin Moor
• Smugglers' Bar with low oak beams and open fires
• Ghost stories and paranormal investigations

Permanent exhibitions

• Smuggling museum – Displays and a film explain how smuggling grew in Cornwall from the 13th century and why the inn on Bodmin Moor was a good hiding place for contraband.
• Daphne du Maurier collection – A room in memory of the novelist with her Sheraton writing desk and other personal memorabilia.

Founded

1750

Operated by

Coaching Inn Group

Admission & discounts

One ticket covers both the smuggling museum and the Daphne du Maurier collection.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The inn stands in Bolventor on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall. Sat nav postcode PL15 7TS.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

The inn has a bar and restaurant serving modern British food and a shop. High-speed wifi is offered in the hotel bedrooms.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The inn takes bookings for functions, conferences and weddings and can be hired for paranormal investigations.

Plan your visit