Things to Do in Cornwall For Families
The southwest of England is a beautiful part of the country. Tucked away in the corner, Cornwall is an extremely popular holiday retreat. When the sun shines down, the beaches and coastline are unbeatable, but there’s so much else to see and do too.
You could spend many weeks in Cornwall and never run out of new places to visit. It’s a county that’s simply glorious.
If you’re traveling to Cornwall with the family, we’ve got five of the top things to do while you’re there.
1. Flambards Theme Park
Many theme parks are aimed at older children and adults, with very little for younger visitors. Flambards is very different. It’s a theme park that is perfect for the whole family with rides for the little ones as well as something for the older adrenaline junkies too!
Ferdi’s Funland is an area within Flambard that caters exclusively to younger children. The rides include Space Shuttles, the Teacups, and Pirate Ship, plus there’s the Jurassic Journey, where young adventurers can discover fossils.
For those that like their entertainment a little scarier, there’s one of the fastest rides of its kind in Europe, plus the pitch-dark Space Race, SkyRaker twisting drop ride, and of course, the iconic Colorado River log flume.
If the weather is wet, there are indoor attractions to keep you busy at Flambards, including a life-sized Victorian village, complete with cobbles and more than 50,000 artifacts. Roam around 50 different sets or move over to the World War II area. You can experience what life was like in the Blitz, complete with air raid sirens!
It’s possible to buy indoor-only tickets if you don’t want to visit the entire theme park. This gives you plenty of options for your budget.
2. Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Gweek
Located in the picturesque Helford Estuary close to the village of Gweek, the Cornish Seal Sanctuary has been rescuing and rehabilitating these beautiful marine creatures for more than six decades.
Visiting the Seal Sanctuary, you’ll be able to see the fantastic work the team does first-hand. Even better, every visitor will be contributing to the future welfare of seals – and with each seal costing around £2000 to be rehabilitated, there’s a lot of fundraising needed!
Children will learn about waterways, conservation, and the work being done to reinstate vital woodland. As well as meeting grey and common seals, you’ll also see penguins, sea lions, ponies, goats, and sheep. Meander over to the Secret Creek, and you’ll meet the newest residents: beavers!
It’s a place that you’ll want to return to time and again, and there are also VIP experiences available where you can feed the seals yourself.
3. Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay
If you want to combine a day at the beach with a trip to an attraction, Blue Reef Aquarium is a top pick. Situated right near the beachfront, it’s easy to pop in for a couple of hours to view some of the most incredible marine life up close and personal.
There are more than 40 naturally themed habitats, with fish and marine life from both local waters and more exotic shores. Black Tip Reef Sharks and the Giant Pacific Octopus are two of the most spectacular exhibits that you won’t want to miss.
The main attraction in the aquarium is the substantial underwater tunnel where you can view the coral reef together with angelfish, rays, pufferfish, moray eels, lionfish, sharks, and more.
4. Tintagel Castle
This site is suitable for anyone, but practically speaking, it’s easier with slightly older children due to the steep steps. However, if you can manage the climbing around, you’ll be rewarded with an unforgettable trip to one of the most mythical locations in Cornwall.
Rumored to be the birthplace of King Arthur and with Merlin’s Cave nearby, the air crackles with magic and history.
The north coast of Cornwall has a wild and rugged beauty, and you’ll be able to explore the island in all its natural majesty. Along with Tintagel Castle, there are medieval buildings and ruins, plus the Island Garden, giant statues, the beach, and the exhibition. And if it all gets too tiring, why not rest your feet for a while in the cafe and enjoy an infamous Cornish cream tea?
5. Surfing
The Cornish coastline is magnificent, and many of its beaches are popular with the surfing community. While paying a visit, you can get a taste for life on the waves with a surfing lesson for you and the children.
You don’t need any equipment as you can rent everything you need and it’s suitable for everyone from the age of 5 years and up. This is the perfect opportunity to join your children in the water and discover whether you’re a natural on a surfboard!
There are lots of surf schools for visitors all over Cornwall, but if you head to St Ive’s, you can enjoy a spot of surfing together with a look around a quaint and traditional village.
6. Game time with family
It’s always good to pack some entertainment for evenings spent relaxing as a family. Monopoly is always a winner, so why not go for something different with the game’s Cornwall edition?
With the Cornwall edition, you’ll be playing in the same way as you always have, with brightly colored money and the chance to build up your own property empire of houses and hotels. The difference is that you won’t be moving around Old Kent Road, Bond Street, and Whitehall as all the squares are placed from in and around Cornwall instead.
St Michaels Mount and the Eden Project take the place of Mayfair and Park Lane while Lands End, St Ives, The Scilly Isles, and Newquay Airport replace the London train stations. It’s a fun jaunt around the county that will get you in the right frame of mind for the real thing!
Monopoly is almost 120 years old, and there are now more than 100 different versions of the game, including a popular online version called Monopoly Live. So whether you want to have a quick play online or settle down for a full-on tycoon battle with your family, you’ll always find a game of Monopoly is on hand.
