5 places to visit in Cornwall

Did you see the last post in my staycation series? I listed my recommendations of five things to do in Cornwall (based upon what we got up to, so perfect if you’re travelling with kids). Well tonight, I thought I’d share five places to visit.

While we stayed in Newquay, you won’t see me list it here – although I’ll be doing a post on the hotel as it was family-friendly and perfect for what we were after. While Fistral beach was lovely, as well as the Headlands and Pentire, the town centre really wasn’t all that… but let me tell you, it wasn’t as bad as Penzance! Anyway, where do I recommend? Read on to find out…

Padstow

Of all the places we visited, I think I have to say that Padstow was my favourite. The harbour was lovely, especially in the sunshine. There was just a really nice vibe as you wandered around – you could lose yourself down the streets with their little shops, restaurants and pubs. Expect all the Cornish ice cream and fudge… we bought both!

We went to Pendragon’s for our fudge, and it was honestly heavenly and among the best fudge I’ve had (the sea salt & caramel and cappuccino flavours were my favourite). We also had a drink in The Old Custom House, which had a great range of games, to keep Alfie entertained.

Of course, Padstow is well known for the famous chef Rick Stein and we had an early dinner reservation at the Stein’s pub, The Cornish Arms. I’m hoping to write about that soon, too. The deli was incredible – and I could have genuinely bought everything!

St Ives

Although it may have been a long walk from the car park down to the beach (especially with a buggy), it was well worth it. The beach at St Ives was just gorgeous – so soft and sandy, clean and spacious, so it never felt crowded. The boys set up the mini goals and played football while I was on baby watch and enjoyed watching the world go by.

We stayed for fish & chips and got a takeaway from Harbour Fish & Chips (although there’s a restaurant attached). This was a proper chippy… expect homemade sauces and menu items such as sardines, battered scallops and steamed mussels – alongside all your usual favourites. I had the salt & pepper squid, which was divine – an enjoyed on a bench overlooking the beach on our ascent back to the car.

A late afternoon/early evening wasn’t enough time to explore, in my opinion.

Falmouth

To another beautiful town with a pretty harbour and fantastic beaches. We spent a similar amount of time in Falmouth and definitely needed longer here. We headed to the popular Gyllyngvase Beach – more opportunity for beach football! The Gylly Beach Café serves a decent range of food, unfortunately for us, we arrived too late in the day to order anything from the kiosk and instead, half a pint of local Rattler cider was on the cards… very nice it was too!

I could have set there all evening and into the sunset, but dinner called. We went to Pizza Express (worked out a treat as kids ate free), but there’s a fantastic hub of bars and restaurants, directly next to the Maritime Museum – offering plenty of choice.

Oh, and from the quay, you can catch the ferry to St Mawes (a 20-minute journey).

Truro

The only inclusion that’s not on the coast, I really like Truro and we saw lots of it by foot. While we didn’t go inside, I was glad we saw the cathedral – its gothic style instantly recognisable. We walked up and down the high street and found a lovely coffee shop that sold the most amazing range of pastries (both sweet and savoury) and could quite possibly rival Gail’s cinnamon bun. Alfie then spent nearly £10 on sweets.

For peace and serenity, a walk through Victoria Gardens is a must. So many plants and flowers in bright colours, as well as places to sit and take it all in. There was even an old bandstand.

While I do like to be beside the seaside (not for the sand in between my toes, but there’s something about sea air that does me some good), I’d return to Truro, for sure.

Land’s End

Is it a place or is it a landmark? I just had to include Land’s End, if only for the “I’ve been there” statement. I was actually pleasantly surprised by how much there was to do, although let’s be honest, it’s all about those scenic views and strolls.

There were so many walking routes, not all of them buggy friendly, so we didn’t make the most of them. There was also a cute model village, a shopping village, an array of attractions (including a farm, indoor crazy golf, 4D film experience and Aardman Presents: A Grand Experience). There were plenty of food and snack kiosks, a café and even a bar-restaurant. We stopped for doughnuts.

I was most looking forward to seeing iconic signpost but was really disappointed I couldn’t get a photograph as it’s a money-grabbing opportunity. There was a huge queue of people waiting to get the signpost personalised, with their photo underneath it (and it was £10.99 for the pleasure).

Parking costs £6 all day and it can be a bit of a walk from the car park when it’s busy. I don’t think I’d return but at least I can say been there, done that.

Did I miss anywhere? Let me know in the comments or on social and I’ll make sure we visit next time.

Love, Lucy xx