Important Information

Accommodation: Do I need to pre-book? It is STRONGLY advised that you do as places do tend to get booked up in advance especially in school holidays.

Banking: There are two banks on St. Mary's, Lloyds and Barclays. The Lloyds bank has an ATM (cash point) There are no banks on the off-islands, however you can withdraw money from the post offices.
Books: During your stay on Scilly you are welcome to borrow books from St. Mary's library.
Bureau De Change: You can change money at the Post Office and at the two banks on St. Mary's. Euros are accepted at the Chemist, and Chez Michel restaurant.
Bus: There is a 'community bus' operating on St. Mary's. However this is a privately run company and national Bus Passes are not valid. There are also tour busses which run tours with commentary.

Children: Childcare on the Isles of Scilly: Childcare, equipment hire, holiday playschemes, toy & resource library .... email at: earlyyears@scilly.gov.uk
Credit Cards: Some of shops, hotels, restaurants and pubs accept Credit Cards however Scilly remains a cash-orientated society. Cheques are welcome.
Currency: British currency is pound sterling (£) and pence (p). Banknotes issued in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland are all legal tender in the UK.
Cars: It is strongly advised that you do NOT bring your car over. There are only 9 miles of road on St Mary's, with none to speak of on the other islands.The islands are perfectly suited to getting about by other means and retain their tranquillity because of a lack of cars. For that reason there is no car ferry. We aim to keep it that way.
Churches: There are Church of England Churches on all the inhabited islands. There are Methodist Chapels on St. Martin's and St. Mary's. There is also a Catholic Church on St. Mary's.
Chandlers: There is one chandlery on St. Mary's located on the Thorofare.
Chemist: There is one chemist on St. Mary's, however prescriptions must now be collected at the Health Centre (see 'Health Centre' for opening times)

Dentist: At St. Mary's Hospital- please telephone 01720 422694
Dog Friendly Beaches: We love dogs on Scilly however there are three beaches which are off-limits to dogs between Easter and October. These are Porthcressa Beach in Hugh Town, Porthmellon Beach and Old Town Beach. Please download our 'where can I walk my dog guide' from the bottom of the page.
Doggy Bags: Please pick up after your dog. These biodegradable bags are available from the Town Hall and the Tourist Information Centre.

Emergency Services: For fire, ambulance, police or coastguard call 999.
Evening Entertainment: There are a lot of activities that go on throughout the season. There is a vibrant music scene, with various bands, ranging from folk and jazz, choirs, to rock and pop playing regularly. The resident amateur dramatics society, as well as touring companies, put on open air productions throughout the summer; these are performed in the Chaplaincy on St. Mary's or Abbey Garden on Tresco.There is a plethora of evening walks and slideshows, which give a fascinating insight into island life and history. The Tourist Information Centre also provide a weekly What's On guide, which is a comprehensive list of all that can be seen and done on the islands.

Group Activities: There is a huge range of activities to participate in, depending on your interests. There are organised wildlife, nature and historical walks with local expert guides for example. Or, there are daily boat excursions to go on. There are opportunities to learn to sail, bake bread, canoe or windsurf. For more information, contact the Tourist Information Centre team.
Gig Racing: There is ladies gig racing on a Wednesday evening and men's racing on a Friday evening between April and September. Check the blackboards for spectator boat times.

Hospital: There is a small hospital on St. Mary's operated by the National Health Service.
Health Centre: There is an excellent Health Centre located close to the hospital. Please ensure you bring adequate supply of medication with you should your holiday be extended or disrupted, as our health service not always carries specialist treatments.
Harbour Office: St Mary's Harbour is owned and run by the Duchy of Cornwall. The Harbour Office is on the quay and is open daily from 0800 - 1700. It can be contacted on (01720) 422768, VHF CH16 or CH14. In an emergency the Harbour Master can be contacted on 07789 273626 hm@stmarys-harbour.co.uk. There is a speed limit of 3 knots in the harbour. Please contact the Harbour Master for allocation of deep water yacht moorings. Visitors are requested NOT to take up local residents moorings. Please use the Visitors Dinghy Park, situated at the Old Quay and NOT on or alongside St Mary's Quay and passenger ferry steps. For more information see our Yachting Page.
H.M. Coastguard - Falmouth (01326) 317575

Internet Access: There are internet points at the Tourist Information Centre, on St. Mary's Quay, The Boatshed Restaurant, St. Mary's Airport, Tregarthens Hotel, and the Longstone Centre. There is also WIFI at The Deli in Hugh Town, Fraggle Rock on Bryher and some hotels.
Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust: The Trust is responsible for the management of all the land that is leased to it by the Duchy of Cornwall on the islands. There is a visitor's centre located on the St. Mary's Quay.

Local Radio: Tune in to Radio Scilly on 107.9FM or visit www.radioscilly.com for local news, and information.
Library: There is a public library on Buzza Street. St. Mary's. The opening hours are Mon -Thursday 9.30am - 12 noon and 3.30pm - 6.00pm and Friday and Saturday 9.30am- 12 noon. During your stay on Scilly you are welcome to borrow books from St. Mary's library.
Laundrette: This is located at Porthcressa, close to Buzza Street.
Lost Property: Most lost property is handed in to the Tourist Information Centre or to the Police station, if things are lost on the off-islands then they are handed in to the local pub and sub post office.

Maps: Click here for more detailed maps of the Islands
Marriage/Civil Partnership: Scilly offers an idyllic location for ceremonies with a distinctive difference; visit our wedding pages for more information and details of services.
Marine Engineers: There are several marine Engineers on Scilly.
Medication: Please ensure you bring adequate supply of medication with you should your holiday be extended or disrupted.
Museum: The Museum is situated on Church Street, and contains fascinating articles and artefacts about the islands through the ages. It is open all year round, and also offers an excellent family history service. For more information, there is a link to their website within the History and Heritage pages of this site.

Pharmacy: This is based at the Health Centre for prescriptions and medicines. Opening hours are Monday - Friday 8.45am - 12.30pm and 1.45pm - 5.00pm and Saturday 9.00am to 12.30pm
Post Office: There are sub Post Offices on all inhabited islands, the Isles of Scilly form part of the UK so use British stamps.
Puffins: Yes Puffins do nest on the outer islands of Scilly especially around Annet. They come ashore to breed before heading back out to sea. They are here between late March/early April and late July. During this time there are boat trips on offer so that visitors can go out and spot them.
Pubs: There are 6 pubs on St. Mary's and a pub on each of the off-islands. They are the heart of the community and a great place to meet new friends, catch up on old stories and contemplate what to do the next day over a pint of locally brewed ale.
Police: The police station is located on Garrison Lane, and is usually open in the mornings. Lost property is quite often returned here. Telephone 01720 422444.
Play: Childcare on the Isles of Scilly: Childcare, equipment hire, holiday playschemes, toy & resource library, earlyyears@scilly.gov.uk

Swimming Pool: There is a public outdoor swimming pool on St. Mary's. For opening hours call or e-mail the TIC.
Sailing and Windsurfing: There is a sailing school located at Porthmellon Beach. They also have a sister school on Tresco at Green Porth. There is more information about this within our Beaches and Sports pages.

Taxis: There are no licensed taxis but several private hire vehicles. There is no taxi rank so just ring one to book.
Travel Insurance: We strongly recommend that visitors to Scilly arrange travel insurance. For details of travel insurance policies specific to the Isles of Scilly contact the TIC.

Uninhabited Islands: How can I get there? There are regular scheduled services to Samson throughout the summer when weather and tides permit. Throughout the summer there are also trips to Nornour, St. Helens and other islands. Should you wish to visit an uninhabited island you can always consider getting a 'special' water taxi to and from again based on weather and tides permitting.

Wheelchairs: Wheelchair hire is available on St. Mary's through the Rotary Club call 01720 422466. There is also a Sandchair for hire from the Town Hall. Call 01720 424003 £5 per day and £5 deposit.
Weather: When is best to visit? Being a set of islands, our weather is dictated by the sea. Frost and snow are extremely rare, a result of the Gulf Stream that passes close by. Combined with a mild climate and moisture, many exotic species of plants flourish, often not found anywhere else in the UK. Winters are a time of rolling swells and sharp, bright skies, while spring tends to come very early, with the narcissi flowers being harvested around Christmas time. We tend not to get the extremes of heat during summer, due to the effects of the sea but the sun will burn if you are not careful, a result of the clear air and lack of pollution.

Yacht Charter Holidays: There are no companies that operate out of the islands however there are several companies such as Cornish Cruising who offer flotilla holidays to the islands. There are day sailing charter trips available on Scilly, for more information see our yachting pages.

'WHERE CAN I WALK MY DOG ON SCILLY': 443 Kb

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