Falmouth With Kids Itinerary: The Perfect 2–7 Day Family Guide
We adore Cornwall and have enjoyed multiple family trips there over the years. Recently we wanted to stay in a stunning floating eco-house on the river just outside the town of Falmouth on Cornwall’s south coast. What surprised us was that Falmouth turned out to be one of the most practical and enjoyable bases for exploring Cornwall with kids.
Unusually for Cornwall, Falmouth has the convenience of a proper town with shops, restaurants and public transport, yet some of Cornwall’s most spectacular coastal spots are within easy reach.
There are several excellent beaches within walking distance of the town centre, a fantastic family-friendly maritime museum, access to the South West Coast Path, a castle and a nearby garden that is a perfect playground.
Even better, Falmouth makes an ideal base for exploring further afield. From here you can easily visit some of Cornwall’s most iconic places including St Michael’s Mount, Porthcurno Beach and the spectacular coastline around Kynance Cove.
Falmouth even has a train station, making it brilliant for car-free holidays too.
This guide shares our 2–7 day Falmouth with kids itinerary, based on multiple visits and plenty of trial and error. Inside you will find:
- things to do in Falmouth with kids
- beaches perfect for rockpooling and paddling
- one of the most magical gardens in the UK
- easy day trips to places like St Michael’s Mount and Porthcurno Beach
- our favourite stretch of coast from Kynance Cove to Lizard Point
Whether you have a couple of days or a full week, this itinerary will help you plan an unforgettable family trip.
Quick Guide: Visiting Falmouth With Kids
If you’re planning a Cornwall family trip, Falmouth makes a brilliant base. It combines beautiful beaches, plenty of family-friendly attractions and easy access to some of Cornwall’s most spectacular coastal scenery.
Here are a few highlights from this itinerary:
- Best family attraction: National Maritime Museum Cornwall
- Best beach in town: Gyllyngvase Beach
- Best place for rockpooling: Castle Beach
- Best garden for families: Glendurgan Garden
- Best day trip: St Michael’s Mount
In this guide you’ll find a flexible 2–7 day Falmouth itinerary, including things to do in town, beautiful beaches and some of the best day trips across Cornwall.
More Cornwall Family Travel Guides
Looking for more Cornwall inspiration? Here’s our list of Cornwall guides so far. Check back as we have more planned later this year.
- Cornwall Travel Guide: St Ives family itinerary.
- Cornwall Places to stay: SeaSpace Newquay family review.
- Unique stay: A unique stay in a floating house in Falmouth.
How to Plan Your Falmouth With Kids Itinerary
This guide is designed to help you plan a flexible family trip to Falmouth, whether you are visiting for a long weekend or a full week. Although we designed it with families in mind, it works well for couples or friends visiting the area too.
The itinerary covers two to seven days, starting with the best things to do in Falmouth itself before exploring some of Cornwall’s most spectacular coastal locations.
If you only have a couple of days, focus on the highlights in town, including the excellent National Maritime Museum Cornwall, the beaches and a visit to Glendurgan Garden.
If you have longer, the later sections suggest unforgettable day trips across Cornwall.
Each section can be used independently, so feel free to mix and match depending on the weather, the ages of your children and whether you are travelling by car or public transport.
A map of all the locations is included below to make planning easier.
Map of things to do in and around Falmouth, Cornwall
To make planning easier, I’ve included a map showing all the places mentioned in this itinerary. You’ll find Falmouth attractions, beaches and some of the best day trips across Cornwall.
Zoom in to see how close many of these locations are, and use the map to help plan your own route around the area.
This map shows all the best things to do in Falmouth with kids, plus several spectacular day trips across Cornwall.
Example 3-Day Falmouth With Kids Itinerary
If you only have a long weekend in Falmouth, here’s a great itinerary.
Day 1 – Explore Falmouth
- Visit the Maritime Museum
- Walk to Gyllyngvase Beach
- Explore Pendennis Castle
Day 2 – Gardens and Beaches
- Morning at Glendurgan Garden
- Swim or paddle at Swanpool Beach
- Evening harbour walk in town
Day 3 – Iconic Cornwall Day Trip
- Visit St Michael’s Mount
- Spend the afternoon at Kynance Cove or walk to Lizard Point
- Sunset at Kynance Cove
Days 1 & 2: Explore Falmouth
Falmouth has a bustling high street with quirky shops and a multitude of eating options. It’s worth a wander through the streets before you head to the museum, castle or beach.
Top Things to Do in Falmouth With Kids
Visit the National Maritime Museum Cornwall
We spent a morning at National Maritime Museum Cornwall for the perfect rainy day activity during our April visit. It certainly didn’t disappoint and we spent over 3 hours there.
There is a real wow factor when you enter the building into Boat Hall, where every imaginable type of small boat fills the space from floor to ceiling. There are sailing boats, dinghies, coracles, hydroplanes, kayaks, canoes, rafts and even Olympic racing boats.
During your visit be sure not to miss:
- Experimenting with sinking and floating in the indoor boating lake – our 5-year-old loved this. Check the opening times at the start of your visit to avoid disappointment.
- Explore the pirate gallery, full of strange and wonderful stories of local maritime history.
- Visit the rooftop café, a lovely place to relax, with excellent views across the harbour
- Check in advance for visiting workshops and performances. We were lucky to visit when the hilarious Cornish Caretakers were performing and each holiday sees a changing programme of events.
- Take part in a craft workshop – We loved making a Cornish Chough (a Cornish black bird) on our visit.
There is just the right balance of hands on activities and information to keep the whole family engaged.
Go Rockpooling at Castle Beach
Rockpooling and sea glass hunting are our favourite coastal activities and, best of all, they’re accessible all year round.
Between Castle Beach and Gyllyngvase Beach is the best spot for both . We found lots of treasure in a short visit: interesting varieties of seaweed; anemones; indigo velella velella and a plethora of sea snails.
Be wary — the seaweed can make the rocks treacherous, so wear sturdy footwear.
Remember to check tide times before your visit and aim to arrive at low tide.
Spend the Day at the Beach
Falmouth has several brilliant beaches to explore and they’re easy to reach from the town centre. There are a huge range of activities on offer, from a simple hike or exploring the rock pools, to more adventurous activities like kayaking or paddleboarding.
Gyllyngvase Beach
A beautiful blue-flag beach with a great beach café, toilets, paddleboarding and access to the South West Coast Path.
Swanpool Beach
Shingle beach with a huge range of watersports, coasteering and an adjoining nature reserve and SSI for nature lovers. Toilets and car parking available.
Visit Glendurgan Garden
In my opinion, Glendurgan Garden is one of the National Trust’s best properties for families in the UK.
The garden is totally unexpected and brimming with fun. It’s a wonderful mix of exotic garden and giant playground rolled into one perfect package:
- a valley garden filled with giant tree ferns, tropical plants and rhododendrons;
- a huge, lime-green laurel maze to get lost in;
- wildflower meadows filled with wild garlic, bluebells and primroses;
- a very, very enjoyable family rope swing named Giant’s Stride.
If this isn’t enough, at the end of the valley garden you emerge to the hamlet of Durgan with its beautiful cove, ideal for a spot of stone skimming or a quick, icy dip! We make sure to visit every time we’re in Cornwall, as the garden has something different to offer in every season.
Visit Pendennis Castle
Pendennis Castle commands exceptional sea views and has loads to do to keep the whole family entertained.
Built in the 1500s for Henry VIII, Pendennis Castle has over 500 years of history to discover. You’ll find Henry’s Tudor keep which remains intact, a WWI exhibition and plenty of space to roam with panoramic coastal views. When little (and big) legs get tired, you’ll find a handy cafe on site.
Check the programme of events at Pendennis before you visit, as there are often seasonal activities and events.
To get to Pendennis, either use the free car park or walk 15 minutes from Falmouth town.
Other things to do in Falmouth
We visited in early Spring, which was perfect for rockpools, museums and walks. During my research I came across plenty more options which you might like to add to your Falmouth itinerary.
Orca Sea Safaris and AK Wildlife Cruises offer sea safaris which offer the chance to see whales, dolphins and seals.
For indoor pursuits, try the Falmouth Art Gallery (free), Love Park indoor skate park or Star Glazers pottery painting.
In late spring and summer there is a regular programme of festivals, from food festivals to sailing and even a sea shanty festival which sounds like great fun.
Days 3–7: Best Day Trips From Falmouth Cornwall
Use this section to complete your itinerary for as many days as you have available. My absolute favourite is the walk from Kynance Cove to Lizard Point, it’s a little slice of coastal paradise in Cornwall. However, you can’t go wrong with adding any of the following recommendations to your itinerary, they are all place we return to again and again.
Chapel Porth Beach
Distance: 40 minute drive
Chapel Porth Beach, near St Agnes, is utterly stunning and one of nature’s best playgrounds. This wild, beautiful cove has great rock pools and caves to explore at low tide, with waterfalls falling into the caves and turning the excursion into an epic adventure.
Arrive early to avoid the crowds or visit in the off season as the small car park, accessed by a single-track road, can get very busy. Make sure you check tide times before your visit as there is no beach at high tide and the risk of becoming stranded.
Don’t miss the short walk along the coast path to the much photographed ruins of Wheal Coates tin mine.
St Michael’s Mount
Distance: 45 minute drive
This Cornish icon is now jointly managed by the National Trust and the St Aubyn family, who still live on the island, with a small community of about 30 people.
On a grey day, St Michael’s Mount emerges from the mist as you approach along the wind-ravaged causeway is one of Cornwall’s most iconic sights. It is an essential on any visit to the south of Cornwall.
Access to this tidal island via the cobbled causeway is only available at low tide and is susceptible to wild Cornish weather. Remember to check tide times before planning a visit.
Winds across the causeway can be ferocious, however once inside the village walls, you will find both shelter and a warm welcome.
There is a lot to discover here: be fascinated by the mystery of a 7ft tall skeleton found in chapel crypt; discover tales of royal visits (Queen Victoria once popped by unannounced from her yacht and Queen Elizabeth II was transported up the steep path by golf buggy); discover the religious and spiritual significance of the island or learn about the Chevy Chase, a 40-verse ballad sung while soldiers drank potent mead in the grand hall.
The original castle, dating back to the Middle Ages, was later updated with a more modern, Victorian wing. Don’t miss the story of Jack the Giant Killer and look for his heart on the cobbled path to the castle.
Porthcurno Beach and the Minack Theatre
Distance: 75 minute drive
A stunning, soft sand beach lining the turquoise, ferocious waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Backed by granite cliffs, this is an exquisitely beautiful Cornish beach and a place I could spend many happy hours at.
At low tide, there is the option of walking to Pedn Vounder beach, avoiding the potentially treacherous cliff route. This spot has become an Instagram sensation, so time your visit carefully to avoid over-crowding this delicate location.
The beach is next to the ruggedly beautiful South West Coast Path. Above the beach, the Minack theatre is carved into the cliffs, overlooking the ocean. If you are able to, try to catch a show, or alternatively book a guided tour.
Kynance Cove and Lizard Point
Distance: 60 minute drive
Kynance Cove is easily in my top 5 places to visit in the UK. Not only is the beach itself sensational, with striking rock formations, hidden caves and turquoise waters on three sides, but it is also next to one of our favourite walks (see the next section).
Due to its beauty, it can be particularly busy in the summer months. Either visit in quieter months, arrive early or late in the day, or utilise public transport if you are able to.
The car park is operated by the National Trust and the Kynance Cove Cafe sells food, hot, cold and alcoholic drinks with a focus on sustainable and local produce.
Walk the South west Coast Path
The South West Coast Path needs little introduction. At 630 miles long you may not wish to walk the entire thing, but there are many fantastic short walks along the path.
We usually take a bus one way, then walk a section of the path, however there are circular walks available too.
One of the most spectacular sections is the 7 mile circular walk from Kynance Cove to the Lizard. Although it is 7 miles long, our 5-year-old managed this walk during the summer months, with an ice-cream stop at Lizard Point.
Where to Stay in Falmouth With Kids
We stayed in a fabulous floating house in Penryn, just outside Falmouth, which we would highly recommend as a special place to stay.
Transport to and around Falmouth
Train: Falmouth Town (FMT – The Dell) Station is the main station for town, and Falmouth Docks (FAL) is used for Pendennis castle. Falmouth trains connect via Truro to other lines which serve the UK, including a trains to St Ives, Penzance and Looe.
Bus: Bus routes and times change frequently, for local buses use the Transport for Cornwall page to find up-to-date timetables.
Car-parking: There are several car parks in Falmouth, including The Dell (long stay, near the railway station) and the Maritime Carpark (2.2m max height, 4 hour max stay).
Ferry: Daily services between Truro or St Mawes to Falmouth with Fal River ferries.
Is Falmouth good for families?
Yes, Falmouth is one of the most family-friendly places to visit in Cornwall. The town has several beaches within walking distance, excellent attractions like the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and easy access to the South West Coast Path. It also works brilliantly as a base for exploring other parts of Cornwall.
How many days do you need in Falmouth?
You can enjoy the highlights of Falmouth in two days, including the beaches, Pendennis Castle and the maritime museum. However, staying for five to seven days allows you to take advantage of some fantastic day trips, including St Michael’s Mount, Kynance Cove and Porthcurno Beach.
Can you visit Falmouth without a car?
Yes, Falmouth is one of the easiest places to visit in Cornwall without a car. The town has its own train stations connecting via Truro to the wider rail network, as well as good local buses and ferries. Many beaches and attractions are within walking distance of the town centre.
When is the best time to visit Falmouth?
Falmouth is lovely to visit year-round. Spring is perfect for gardens, coastal walks and quieter beaches, while summer brings warmer weather and a lively programme of festivals. Autumn and Winter can be beautiful too, with fewer crowds and dramatic coastal scenery.
Final Thoughts: Why Falmouth Is a Brilliant Base for a Cornwall Family Trip
In the past, we’ve always chosen the north coast of Cornwall, however Falmouth is now a firm favourite. We were surprised by how much we enjoyed the town. We loved the convenience of staying in a large town, with options for wet weather (almost guaranteed in Cornwall).
Falmouth really does have it all: a great location to access Cornwall, beaches, a lively harbour, museums and a very pleasant town centre to boot! We will definitely be visiting again.
If you have any questions pop them below, or send me an email.
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