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Planning a family holiday to Cornwall with the kids and wondering where you should visit? Or local and looking for some ideas for family days out over the summer holidays? Here are my mini reviews of 5 popular South-West attractions – honestly we had such a great staycation that I wish we’d been able to stay for longer and fit in even more fun! Here’s what we thought of Tintagel Castle, St Michael’s Mount, St Nectan’s Glen Waterfall, The Eden Project and Polperro Village. (And you can click through for full reviews, money saving tips and more info too!)
1. Tintagel Castle, English Heritage, Cornwall
On our family holiday to Cornwall, Tintagel Castle was the first place that we visited. The views online looked stunning and it didn’t disappoint when we arrived! Tintagel isn’t actually much of a castle nowadays, as it’s just the remains left now, but it’s definitely a magical place to visit. If you’re after stunning views across the Cornish coast, and a quirky family day out, then you’ll want to check it out with the kids.
After you’ve walked down hill to the entrance, the first thing that you see is this amazing bridge which takes you to the island. Once you’re across, you can wander the site through the 13th century ruins which legend says was the birthplace of King Arthur.
As a family we’re adore a good view, and the Tintagel Castle site is just beautiful in all directions! Though it is important to mention that the walk is quite cobbled and steep, with some big drops, so this outing is definitely better suited to families with slightly older children.
At the top you can get your standard tourist snap with the King Arthur sculpture – we’d been learning about King Arthur when we visited so the kids enjoyed this bit! There’s information to read about the history of the castle as you walk around the island – it’s an interesting place to explore and learn about.
Want to know more? Check out my full review here: Cornwall with Kids: Tintagel Castle Review, English Heritage. It covers everything that you need to know about the history of Tintagel, King Arthur’s legend, entry costs (and how to visit for free!), plus the practical info that you’ll want for a family visit. (And more!)
Address: Castle Road, Tintagel, Cornwall, PL34 0HE
Facilities: Cafe, toilets, picnic areas
2. St Michael’s Mount, National Trust, Cornwall
St Michael’s Mount was at the top of my list of places to visit with the kids during our family Cornish getaway – a magical island accessed only by the water was always going to be a hit! I think that getting to and from the island was the most exciting part of the day for Finn and Lola if I’m totally honest! 😂 We paddled across from the beach and hopped onto a speedboat – they loved it!
It was scorching on the day that we visited so we felt like we were exploring the Mediterranean rather than enjoying a UK staycation! Once we’d crossed the water, we climbed the cobbled steps to explore the castle.
The views across the ocean were stunning – the scenery is just beautiful. We really enjoyed our visit to St Michael’s Mount, helped enormously by the gorgeous sunshine that day! It was a unique day out and the beach opposite is lovely too so, if you visit on a warm day it’s a great spot for some family fun.
The kids thought it was so cool to walk back across the causeway, though the water was so cold that our feet were numb by the time we reached the beach. 😆 Want to know more? Check out my full review here: Cornwall with Kids: St Michael’s Mount Review, National Trust. It covers everything that you need to know about what to expect, getting to and from the island, entry costs (and how to visit for free!), plus the practical info that you’ll want for a family visit.
Address: St Michael’s Mount, Marazion, Cornwall, TR17 OHS
Facilities: Cafe, toilets, picnic areas
3. St Nectan’s Glen – the most magical Cornish waterfall
I’ve got to say, our morning at St Nectan’s Glen waterfall was absolutely fantastic, and I’m so pleased we went. We are big nature lovers, and there’s nothing we love more than a beautiful place to explore. It has an interesting history too – and it’s only a 15 minute drive from Tintagel Castle if you’re in the area.
The waterfall is stunning, and it feels as if you’re in a magical hidden world. The whole journey is just gorgeous – we enjoyed the walk through the woodland as much as seeing the waterfall itself. Our two little explorers are great walkers so they love adventures like this!
The water is freezing but the stepping stones help, and it’s worth the cold feet to get a closer look! If you love nature – I would definitely add St Nectan’s Glen to your to do list if you’re enjoying a UK staycation in Cornwall with the kids. 😊 Want to know more? Check out my full review here: Cornwall with Kids: St Nectan’s Glen Waterfall Review, Tintagel. I’ve covered everything that you need to know about what to expect, the history of the glen, entry costs (and how to visit for free!), plus the practical info that you’ll want for a family visit.
Address: St Nectans Glen, Trethevy, Tintagel, PL34 0BE, Cornwall
Facilities: Cafe, parking, toilets, picnic areas
4. The Eden Project with kids – is it worth visiting?
With it being such a unique place, we decided that we definitely had to visit the Eden Project too. As you walk down towards the domes, it all looks very exciting and we couldn’t wait to get inside. The rainforest dome fantastic – the children enjoyed exploring and the scale of it was amazing! I definitely felt like Dora the Explorer in my khaki shorts!
The environmental protection element and educational side of things was really interesting, and this dome was very interactive and engaging for the kids. The rope bridge and the waterfall were a highlight for them too.
Unfortunately, after we’d been into the rainforest dome we felt like the rest of the site was very lacking, and we didn’t stay for long after that. The Eden Project have really under catered for kids – the site is huge and there would be plenty of space for a play park, or a family trail, but there was nothing to be found!
We felt like the Eden Project didn’t really provide a day out – more like 2 hours of entertainment at the most – and it’s very expensive for such a short visit so I’m really on the fence about whether it’s worth it. But the good news is that I have a way that kids can get in for free – which makes it much better value for money – and home-educators can visit very cheaply too.
For my full review, and money saving tips, check out: Cornwall with Kids: Is the Eden project worth visiting? (Honest review!) As well as my money saving tips, I’ve covered everything that you need to know about what to expect and the practical info that you’ll want for a family visit.
Address: Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall, PL24 2SG
Facilities: Cafe, parking, toilets, picnic areas
5. Polperro Beach, Cornwall
Quite a few people, ahead of our visit to Cornwall, told us that we absolutely had to visit Polperro. And, as it turns out, the picturesque fishing village is quaint, adorable and a lovely place to have a wander. The harbour is stunning, and the beach is a fun place for the kids to explore.
Though there are lots of great attractions in Cornwall to visit, there are also lots of free adventures to be had too – it’s a gorgeous part of the country and you can easily pack up a picnic and enjoy some family fun exploring the villages, and soaking up some sun on the beaches without spending a penny.
If you’re interested in the history of the village (Polperro is well known for it’s smuggling past) then you can visit the museum for just a few pounds – making visiting this part of Cornwall a cheap and cheerful (but very interesting!) day out.
Is Cornwall worth a visit?
If you’re wondering whether to head to Cornwall with the kids for a family holiday, then I have to tell you yes – absolutely – book it! We had a really great time exploring, and wish we’d stayed for longer – there are still so many other places that we’d have loved to have seen, so I don’t doubt that we’ll venture back for round two at some point. Leave me a comment if you have any recommendations for other places that we should visit with the kids on our next trip to Cornwall!
If you’re visiting on a budget, and looking for a cheap UK staycation, don’t forget to look out for the Sun Newspaper Holidays – starting from just £9.50pp, they have lots of holiday parks available in the South West of England. Check out my article for more info: Review: Sun Newspaper Holidays – how does it work? (and the codes you’ll need for 2024!)
We stayed at John Fowler Holidays Trelawne Manor and absolutely loved it. The apartment was perfect, and the heated outdoor swimming pool was such a bonus. We were so lucky with the weather when we visited Cornwall – there was a random heat wave – so we felt like we were abroad! Take a look at my full review here:
Cornwall with Kids: Trelawne Manor Review, John Fowler Holidays, Looe
And for lots of money-saving UK getaway and school holiday tips, you’ll want to read:
Cheap days out with the kids: 20 ways to have fun on a budget in the school holidays!
Kent with Kids: The 10 best indoor attractions to entertain the kids on a rainy day!
UK family travel on a budget: 25 ways to have a cheap staycation holiday!
How can my child get a Blue Peter Badge? Enjoy over 200 UK free days out to UK attractions!
Are Butlins holidays good? Butlins Bognor Regis vs Minehead Review – and money saving tips!
Frugal family days out: The 10 best FREE places to visit in London with kids!
Kent with Kids: The 15 best FREE family days out in Kent!
Wales with Kids: Hafan y Mor Haven Holiday Park Review, Pwllheli, North Wales
How to home educate on a budget: UK discounts, freebies & homeschooling tips – cheap travel, resources, activities & days out!
Need some ideas for rainy day family fun?
Download my free, printable 30 day kids’ activity calendar for lots of ideas on how to keep the little ones busy on a budget without even leaving the house!
Natalie
