Things to Do in Cornwall with Kids

Cornwall might be Britain’s best county for a family holiday: miles of sandy beaches, rock pools at every turn, and enough rainy-day attractions to fill a fortnight. This is our guide to the best things to do in Cornwall with kids, from the obvious big hitters to the small, free pleasures that children remember most. Whether you want a beach-and-bucket week or a packed itinerary, it is all here.

Build a day around a family beach

Cornwall’s beaches are its greatest free attraction, and the family favourites are the big, flat, sandy ones with lifeguards and rock pools: Gwithian and Perranporth on the north coast, Polzeath for gentle surf, and Daymer Bay for calm, shallow water. Bring a bucket, a net and a picnic, and a whole day disappears.

Spend a day at the Eden Project

Two vast biomes near St Austell hold a rainforest and the Mediterranean under glass, with kids’ trails, a giant nest to climb and one of the longest zip wires in England for older children. It is the county’s most reliable rainy-day plan.

Meet the seals at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary

At Gweek on the Helford, rescued grey seal pups are nursed back to health before release. Feeding times are the highlight, and it is an easy, gentle outing for younger children.

Ride a steam or miniature railway

The Lappa Valley near Newquay runs miniature trains through woodland to a lake with boats and play areas, and the Bodmin & Wenford steam railway puts on a proper heritage ride. Small children are transfixed.

Go rock pooling and crabbing

On any harbour wall, at Mousehole, Cadgwith or Padstow, a line, a bucket and a bit of bacon will keep children happily crabbing for hours. Low tide on a rocky beach turns up starfish, anemones and the odd small fish.

Explore the National Maritime Museum

On the harbour at Falmouth, this hands-on museum lets children build boats, tie knots and climb aboard. It is indoors, which makes it another safe bet when the weather turns.

Learn to surf or bodyboard

Cornwall is Britain’s surf capital, and the family surf schools at Fistral, Watergate Bay and Polzeath take children from about eight upwards. Even the smallest can bodyboard the shallows on a foam board.

Take a boat trip to spot seals and dolphins

From harbours like Padstow, St Ives and Falmouth, short family boat trips head out to look for seals, dolphins and seabirds. It is the best way to show children the coast the way Cornwall’s fishermen always have.

Cycle the Camel Trail

A flat, traffic-free former railway line runs from Padstow up the Camel estuary to Wadebridge and beyond. Hire bikes in Padstow, ride out for an ice cream and roll back. Easy enough for young riders and buggies alike.

See a family matinee at the Minack

The open-air theatre carved into the cliff above Porthcurno stages family shows in summer, and the beach below is one of the finest in Cornwall. Combine the two for a proper day out.

Eat a pasty on the harbour wall

No family trip is complete without one, followed by a Cornish ice cream. It is cheap, it is everywhere, and it tastes better with your feet dangling over a harbour.

Where to stay in Cornwall with a family

For a family holiday, the north coast is the classic choice: Newquay, Padstow and Perranporth have the biggest sandy beaches, the surf schools and the widest range of family places to stay. For calmer, more sheltered water with younger children, the south coast around Falmouth and the Roseland is gentler. Our guide to where to stay in Cornwall covers the best of both by area.

The best time to visit Cornwall with kids

The summer school holidays are warmest and busiest; late May, June and early September give you warm sea, long days and far smaller crowds, which is easier with young children. Whenever you come, build in flexibility: Cornwall is at its best when you follow the weather rather than a fixed plan.

Planning your visit

Getting here: most families travel down from London by rail or car. See travelling from London to Cornwall for the easiest route, and our Cornwall itinerary for how to structure a week.

Beyond the beaches: for the wider county, see our guide to things to do in Cornwall and the Cornwall coast.

A family trip with Kernara

Kernara Private creates bespoke private tours, which makes them easy to tailor for a family that wants the planning, the driving and the logistics taken care of, and a local guide who knows exactly which cove, railway or rainy-day attraction suits the ages you are travelling with. Enquire and we will build a Cornwall trip around your family.