Family friendly fun
For a more affordable Cornish family holiday this summer, why not stay away from the coastal hot spots & base the family in Truro? Our local rail & bus links make it easy to get around if you want to leave the car behind. This 4-day itinerary focuses on ease of travel & low-cost activities that cater to children.
Day 1. Explore Truro – "The Great Little City"
Spend your first day exploring your base without needing to travel far.
Morning – City Discovery: Visit Truro Cathedral (free entry, donations welcome) to see its impressive architecture. Follow this with the Royal Cornwall Museum, which is free for under-18s & features interactive exhibits.
Lunch - Grab a Cornish pasty from a local bakery & have a picnic in Victoria Gardens, which has a bandstand & often hosts free summer events for kids.
Afternoon – Playtime: Walk 20 minutes to Boscawen Park. It features a large natural play area, sandpits, & a duck pond.
Evening - Enjoy a family-friendly meal at Hubbox Truro for burgers or check out what’s on at the cinema. If there’s energy still to be burned off, head to nearby Loe beach (Feock) for an evening swim & beach comb.
Day 2. Falmouth – Maritime Magic and Castles
Take a scenic 20-minute train ride or a scenic ferry from Malpas/Trelissick to Falmouth.
Morning – Explore Pendennis Castle, a Tudor fortress with plenty of space for kids to run. If you have an English Heritage membership, entry is free.
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/pendennis-castle/
Lunch - Walk the seafront promenade & stop for fish and chips.
Afternoon – Visit the National Maritime Museum Cornwall. It has a dedicated "Skull Island" soft play zone & an underwater "Tidal Zone" where kids can see real sea life.
Evening - Try crabbing off the quay or visit the Falmouth Art Gallery, which is free & offers family workshops.
Day 3. The North Coast – Golden Sands at Perranporth
Perranporth is one of the closest beaches to Truro (approx. 20-minute drive or bus ride). It is ideal for families because of its wide golden sands, tidal sea pool for safe swimming, & rock pools.
Activities - For a special treat, book a beginner surf or bodyboard lesson at a local surf school.
Refreshments - Visit the Watering Hole, the UK's only beach bar, or try Callestick Farm nearby for authentic Cornish ice cream.
Day 4. Gardens, Trains, or Theme Park Fun
Choose one based on your children's ages & interests:
For young kids, head to Lappa Valley Steam Railway. Your ticket includes steam train rides, crazy golf, & a play area.
https://www.lappavalley.co.uk/
Or visit Glendurgan Garden, a National Trust property near Falmouth. It features a historic laurel maze & a giant rotating rope swing called the "Giant's Stride".
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/glendurgan-garden
For thrill seekers, spend the day at Camel Creek Family Adventure Park near Wadebridge for rides & animal encounters.
Money-Saving Tips for Families
Purchase a Mussel Card for hop-on, hop-off travel on ferries, buses, and trains in the Fal River area.
https://www.falriver.co.uk/fal-mussel-card/visitor
Many attractions like the National Maritime Museum and Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm allow you to turn your day ticket into an annual pass at no extra cost.
If your children have a Blue Peter Badge, they can get free entry to several venues, including The Eden Project.
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