

Days out for families in Cornwall
Days out for families in Cornwall may seem out of reach during the winter. But they shouldn’t be. This county is a playground all year round, with plenty of days out for families to make the most of the season.
Springfields Fun Park and Pony Centre, St Columb
Springfields Fun Park and Pony Centre is a great day out for all the family. You’ll discover lots of attractions, from fairground rides, to rowing boats, to pony rides, entertaining families with kids of all ages. You can also meet the animals!
Open Saturdays and Sundays, 10am to 5pm.
Eden Project, St Austell
Incorporating education, nature, arts, culture, sustainability and community into one immersive experience. Eden Project is a must for families interested in a brighter future.
Click here for current opening times.
Oasis Fun Pools, Newquay
The Oasis Fun Pools in Newquay is the perfect all-weather attraction for the whole family. There is a choice between two fabulous, family friendly swimming pools. These include three water flumes, a river rapid ride, a water cannon and geyser, plus a giant tap, fountains and even waterfalls!
Click here for current opening times
Newquay Trampoline and Play Park
With a huge main jump arena and a soft play park for little ones, Newquay Trampoline and Play Park is another superb all-weather day out. With areas dedicated to all ages of children, young families will find lots to keep them busy.
Term time opening hours
Monday, Thursday and Friday, 9.30am to 1pm (soft play only).
Saturday and Sunday, 9.30am to 4pm.
Newquay Zoo
Discover hundreds of the world’s most amazing creatures living among the beautiful gardens at Newquay Zoo. This is a place to roam, to learn and to get in touch with nature.
Open 10am every day (apart from Christmas Day). Closing times vary throughout the year. Check the website for the latest ‘last admission’ times.
Polperro Model Village
Want to be a big cop in a small town? Polperro Model Village is Polperro, in miniature! In existence for more than 60 years, this attraction continues to delight visitors of all ages.
Open Sunday to Friday, 10.30am to 5pm. Closed on Saturdays. The owners always recommend calling to double check that the attraction is open.
Pendennis Castle, Falmouth
Originally built by King Henry VIII, Pendennis Castle has defended Falmouth for centuries. Hear the roar of real guns, scan the horizon for enemy ships, and discover what life was like for soldiers stationed here during multiple wars. As well as historical discovery in abundance, fun family trail and soft-play room provide entertainment for all ages.
Click here to check current opening times.
National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth
Celebrating our relationship with the sea, National Maritime Museum Cornwall aspires to bring new and diverse perspectives to maritime issues. Its exhibitions curate rare objects from around the world, telling stories from near and afar.
Open every day from 10am to 5pm, excluding Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Cornwall Gold, Redruth
Looking for award-winning family fun and food? Or the chance to visit Cornwall’s last working Victorian tin mill? Or the opportunity to pan for gold, create and paint your own pottery, and play Krazy Golf? At Cornwall Gold, you’ll find all of this and more.
Open every day from 10am to 4pm, excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Sunday.
The Tide Climbing Centre, Wadebridge
This is a social space where everyone and their dog can get involved! Inclusive for all abilities, Tide Climbing Centre promotes wellbeing through a variety of sessions and courses. Oh, and the team also offer handmade pizzas!
Open 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday, then 9am to 8pm Saturday and Sunday.
Escape Time, St Ives
With 60 minutes on the clock, will you and your team find the clues and solve the puzzles to escape the room on time? With two games to choose from, especially on days when the weather’s inclement, what better way to engage in some family team work than in an escape room?
Open Monday to Sunday, 10am to 9.30pm.
Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay
Also superb on days of mizzly weather is the Blue Reef Aquarium. Embark on an undersea adventure through the world’s seas and oceans. Marvel at more than 40 naturally themed displays, and wander from Cornwall’s rocky shores to exotic coral reefs.
Open every day from 10am, excluding Christmas Day. Be sure to call ahead to double check daily changes to opening times.
The SEA LIFE TRUST The Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Gweek
This charity rescues and rehabilitates grey seal pubs from around the Cornish coastline. As well as the seals, visitors can meet a host of other critters, including southern sea lions, beavers and more! Add to this play areas, places to grab a bite, a gift shop and a beautiful setting overlooking the Helford River.
Open Saturday to Wednesday, 11am to 4pm, with final admissions at 3pm. Closed on Thursdays and Fridays until February Half Term.
Click here to book your tickets online.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, St Austell
Lost to the brambles of time since the outbreak of World War 1, Heligan now offers 200 acres of paradise to explore. There’s something to delight everyone, from 60 acres of woodland, to the renowned, luxuriant foliage of the Jungle. Visitors of all ages will love meeting the residents of Heligan Farm.
Click here to view the latest opening times.
Trebah Garden, Mawnan Smith
Trebah is so much more than a beautiful Cornish garden, although it is certainly that. It also plays host to a variety of performances throughout the year. Dogs are always welcome, and kids will love the site’s dedicated Adventure Play Areas, including Tarzan’s Camp, Fort Stuart and The Paraglide. There’s a stunning beach at the bottom, too – the perfect spot for an ice cream!
Open Saturday to Wednesday from 10am to 4pm. Closed on Thursdays and Fridays.
Paradise Park, Hayle
This award-winning wildlife sanctuary offers so much for a family day out. You’ll meet amazing wildlife, from rare parrots and flamingo, to red-billed Cornish choughs, eagles and more! There are also beautiful gardens, and the JungleBarn indoor play centre is perfect on days of bad weather.
Click here to see the latest seasonal opening times.
Healeys Cornish Cyder Farm
Adults can test their senses at the sampling counter with free guided tastings of every cyder and gin. The kids, meanwhile, can sample the soft drinks! Afterwards, take the kids to visit the farmyard family, including Cornish black pigs, shire horses, donkeys and pygmy goats. And what Cornish day out would be complete without a traditional Cornish cream tea?
Open all year round, except for Christmas and Boxing Day. Click here to check seasonal opening hours.
Lanhydrock Estate
Covering 900 acres, there’s lots to do and plenty of adventures to be had at Lanhydrock. Explore the parkland, ancient woodland and riverside walks. Go for a bike ride on one of the exciting cycle trails. The house itself is a Victorian family home in a Jacobean mansion, once home to the Agar-Robartes family, and the formal garden is stunning. Full of colour all year round, it is famed for magnolias and includes the Parterre and herbaceous borders. There is also a cafe and tea room on site, perfect for refuelling the whole clan!
Click here to see current opening times.
Bodmin & Wenford Railway
Discover Cornwall’s railway heritage at its best. Experience the excitement and nostalgia of steam travel with a journey back in time aboard the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. This is Cornwall’s only full-size railway still operated by steam locomotives, with lots of events taking place over the course of the year.
Click here to see the latest timetables and fayres
Rock Pooling
Rock pooling is a fantastic way for kids and adults alike to see for themselves the variety of life that make a home on Cornwall’s shoreline. Approach a pool quietly and try not to cast a shadow over it. Observe carefully what you can see in the pool and on the surrounding rocks. Turn over a stone and see what’s hiding underneath, or dip a bucket and see what organisms you bring back up in the water. Take photographs, record your finds and identify them. It’s a fascinating and educational pastime, especially for little ones. Always return your specimens to the pool, and never leave them in the bucket for too long.
Great places to try rock pooling include Hannafore Point, Talland Bay, Polzeath, and Duck Pool beach. Sheep’s Pool on Gwithian beach is a deeper pool, great for those who want to see larger fish.
Click here for guidance on how to go rock pooling.
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