Cornwall with Kids: St Michael's Mount Review, National Trust

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If you’re visiting Cornwall then you’ll want to read my St. Michael’s Mount review – run by the National Trust, it’s a really magical destination to visit with the kids – time your visit perfectly and you’ll even get to walk on water! 😉 It’s definitely a must do day out if you’re exploring Cornwall on a UK staycation. So here’s my review of this unique day out, including everything that you need to know about what to expect, getting to and from the island, entry costs (and how to visit for free!), photos, the best places to stay nearby and the practical info that you’ll want for a family visit.

Visit: June 2021 (Updated February 2025)

Where is St Michael’s Mount located?

St Michael’s Mount is tucked away on the south coast of Cornwall, just across the water from the charming town of Marazion. You’ll find it just a short drive from Penzance, with easy parking in Marazion and lovely views across Mount’s Bay. Whether you’re exploring the castle, enjoying a picnic on the beach or just enjoying the walk across the famous causeway, it’s a unique day out for families wanting a mix of sea air, history and breathtaking scenery.

What’s St Michael’s Mount like?

What’s the story behind St Michael’s Mount?

Before I get into my review, and the details you’ll want for visiting St Michael’s Mount with the kids, here’s a little bit of the story behind this unique site in Cornwall. According to legend, the Archangel Michael appeared to local fishermen here in the 5th century – and by the 8th century it became a site of pilgrimage with a Benedictine monastery linked to Mont-Saint-Michel in France. Over the years, it’s seen battles, sieges and even pirates, later becoming a grand fortress and eventually the home of the St Aubyn family who still live there today.

Getting to the island – how do you get across to St Michael’s Mount?

St Michael’s Mount was at the top of my list of places to visit with the kids during our trip to Cornwall. A castle on an island that you have to cross the water to reach – what’s not to love?! When it comes to getting across to St Michael’s Mount – the island can be accessed by a causeway at low tide, or by boat when the tide is in, and the journey across adds to the sense of adventure and magic surrounding the island. Honestly, I think that getting to and from the island was the most exciting part of the day for Finn and Lola. We queued by a mound, which we paddled across to, and then hopped onto a speedboat to cross the water. They loved it!

It was absolutely baking hot on the day that we visited and, riding the speedboat across the gorgeous Cornish waters, you could easily have mistaken our UK staycation for a Mediterranean adventure. The queuing was the only downside on the way across. We waited quite some time for a boat, and then again when we reached the island while they checked everyone’s tickets. Aside from this it was straightforward, and we climbed the cobbled steps to explore the castle.

Who owns St Michael’s Mount – and does anyone live there?

St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall is home to a small, close-knit community. The island hosts approximately 30 permanent residents, many of whom are involved in the daily operations and upkeep of the Mount – such as managing the gardens, operating boats and maintaining the historic site. As I mentioned above, the castle itself is the residence of the St Aubyn family – it has been owned by their family since the thirteenth century but they work alongside the National Trust to ensure a smooth running of the site.

Can you go inside the castle at St Michael’s Mount?

Yes – you can absolutely have a wander inside the castle at St Michael’s Mount. The castle itself is a mix of architectural styles, reflecting its long history dating back to the medieval period. Exploring its rooms and corridors offers insights into the lives of the people who lived and worked there over the centuries. The late Queen even enjoyed a visit there too! The castle at St Michael’s Mount is small (as castles go!) and we definitely found the outside more interesting to explore than the interior.

It’s a lovely place to visit, and the views are just incredible – we found ourselves wanting to be outside in the sunshine looking across the stunning Cornish ocean. St Michael’s Mount boasts beautiful gardens that cling to the slopes of the island, providing a tranquil space to wander and take in the stunning views across Mount’s Bay. Sitting down on the grass at the bottom of the castle, the scenery is just beautiful – it’s the perfect place to rest your feet and enjoy a picnic. There’s a cafe there too, but the queue was very long so we gave up on our quest for ice-cream and had one back at the beach after our visit.

Getting back to the beach – when can you walk across the causeway?

We really wanted to experience the best of both worlds – to boat across and ‘walk on water’ across the causeway to get back to the beach – so we timed our visit with the tides. If you want to walk across the causeway, either to or from St Michael’s Mount, then you’ll need to plan ahead! The kids thought it was so cool to walk back across the cobbled path, which was still somewhat covered by the sea when we crossed. The only thing I would say is that even on a warm day the water was so cold! 😆 Our feet were numb by the time we reached the beach.

For the kids, getting to and from the island was definitely a highlight of the day – I think they probably enjoyed it more than the castle itself if I’m honest! The beach opposite is lovely too so, if you visit on a warm day, bring your swimwear and some buckets and spades for the kids, soak up the sunshine and make a day of it.

Visitor and Practical Information

What should I know before I visit St Michael’s Mount with kids?

Like Tintagel Castle, St Michael’s Mount can also be very popular with tourists, particularly during the summer months. This means that it’s worth planning your visit carefully to avoid crowds and make the most of your time on the island. Considering that we visited on a term-time weekday in June it was still really busy, so that’s definitely something to think about as I imagine it must be even more so during the school summer holidays! For visitors with young children, I’d definitely avoid taking a pushchair – it would be hard going with both the boat and the causeway, plus the steps in and around the castle would be bothersome with a buggy too.

Where should I park to visit St Michael’s Mount?

There are carparks further along the beach so, if you’re driving, it’s easy to park there and walk along the sand to where the speedboat is positioned for the trip across the water, or you can walk across the causeway if the tide allows.

How much does it cost to visit St Michael’s Mount?

Entry cost and family money saving tips:

A family ticket to visit St Michael’s Mount castle and garden is £70 (accurate February 2025) – though it varies with the time of year, so the timing of your visit to Cornwall with the kids will alter the cost. On top of this, you also need to pay a couple of quid each for the boat ride, so it’s not an inexpensive day out. However, with a National Trust membership you can visit all of their sites at no extra cost – which might be worth doing if you’ll visit other places across the UK too. Family membership costs around £10 per month, so you only need to use it a few times to make it cost effective.

For home-educating families, you can get a year’s National Trust family membership for around £50 – which can be used term-time. This can be done via email or over the phone – after a paperwork delay, I called to sort our membership and it was really quick and easy to organise. For us a year’s membership cost us less than a trip to St Michael’s Mount would have been, so it was certainly worth signing up.

Can you visit St Michael’s Mount for free?

If you already have a National Trust membership then your visit to St Michael’s Mount (including the castle and the gardens) would be included for free. With a valid membership, all you’ll need to pay is for the boat – which was £8 for our family of four when we visited – if you’re planning to get to / from the island without walking the causeway.

I always try to add some money-saving tips when I review a day out with the kids – and luckily if you’re holidaying out of season then you can access the harbour and village at St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall for free during opening hours from 01 October to 30 April. (Though this doesn’t include entrance to the castle etc, but you can visit the island itself.) This is available to everyone, even if you don’t have a National Trust Membership. For the rest of the year, though you can walk across the causeway to the island, you won’t be able to explore without a ticket. Once you get to the other side, you’ll need to show proof of a ticket to the National Trust staff in order to enter the island.

Where are the best places to stay near St Micheal’s Mount with kids?

You’re spoilt for choice on where to stay as Cornwall is definitely home to some of the best UK holiday parks to visit with kids! I’ve been looking for great kids’ activities, beach locations, swimming pools, waterslides and even luxury extras like hot tubs – as well as some quieter locations for a more relaxed holiday too. For lots of ideas, check out my article: Family holidays in Cornwall – the 15 best places to stay with kids! And, if you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Cornwall that’s near to St Michael’s Mount, here are some excellent options for a holiday park getaway with the kids:

Lizard Point Holiday Park – with indoor and outdoor swimming pools and 40 kids’ activities on offer – this holiday park is a fabulous family staycation choice just 30 minutes from St Michael’s Mount.
Haven: Riviere Sands Holiday Park – one of the most popular Haven sites with indoor and outdoor swimming pools and waterslides too – this holiday park is just a 20 minute drive from St Michael’s Mount.

Haven: Perran Sands Holiday Park – another very popular Haven holiday park with direct access to one of Cornwall’s most popular beaches, swimming pools and waterslides – just a 40 minute drive from St Michael’s Mount.
Parkdean Resorts: Newquay Holiday Park – with three outdoor heated pools, a 200ft waterslide and a splash play zone for toddlers and younger children – this one is a great option just 45 minutes from St Michael’s Mount.

Is St Micheal’s Mount worth visiting?

I hope that my review has been helpful – if you’re heading to Cornwall for a family holiday then St Michael’s Mount is definitely worth visiting with the kids. We really enjoyed our day out – helped enormously by the gorgeous sunshine that day! Make sure you check out my other articles too – to help you plan an awesome Cornish adventure – The 10 best things to do in Cornwall with kids is a great place to start with ideas for all sorts of fabulous family-friendly days out. And, if you haven’t decided where to stay yet my article: Family holidays in Cornwall – the 15 best places to stay with kids should give you some great options. Have a lovely time! 😊