Explore the best things to do with kids in Cornwall

The county of Cornwall is located on the southwestern tip of England and features a long coastline of scenic cliffs and gold-sand beaches popularly known as the Cornish Riviera. Here you can find tons to do on days out with the kids in Cornwall, including visiting quaint and traditional fishing villages, hitting museums and art galleries, walking historic castle ruins, visiting theme parks or just lounging in the sun. Attractions in Cornwall for families abound, and you’re sure to find the perfect spot to make memories of a lifetime.

Visit animals at zoos and sanctuaries

If you’re looking for the best attractions in Cornwall for families, it’s hard to go wrong with a visit to an animal sanctuary or zoo. Kids love to get up close and personal with animals of all varieties. In Cornwall, they can visit everything from seals and otters to birds of prey and farm animals. The options abound and range from rescue and rehabilitation facilities to working farms where kids can learn all about animal ecology and care. Check out one or even several of these places and you’ll find that the kids will keep talking about their experiences here for years to come.

Check out the Blue Reef Aquarium

Located in Newquay, the Blue Reef Aquarium offers colourful tropical fish species in hundreds of varieties and 40 different habitats including a living coral reef. Here you can see beautiful undersea life from anemones to jellyfish, turtles, sharks and even an octopus. This Cornwall family attraction is located right along the seafront and gives you a sense that you’re visiting an entirely alien world beneath the crashing waves. This can also be an ideal option for those looking for something to do on a rainy day to get out of the weather.

See a farmland adventure park at Dairyland Farm World

Dairyland Farm World is a paradise for little kids and can be a fantastic option for days out with the kids in Cornwall. This place offers a variety of Cornwall family attractions that go beyond animals. You can take a tractor ride through the farm, learn to milk a cow and learn Cornish history all at once. You can also enjoy a mini museum, take a walk along a nature trail or let the kids just run and jump in the play area. This is a place that offers just about all the kid-themed fun you could want in one attraction.

See over 1,000 native, rare and exotic animals at the Newquay Zoo

The Newquay Zoo is an exciting and educational experience for adults and kids alike. Here you can visit more than 1,000 animals ranging from native species to those from the farthest corners of the world. You can see entire exhibits of creepy, crawly bugs, then head for the paddocks to see gorillas or great cats. The zoo offers sea lions, otters and seals. This award-winning animal attraction also has a children’s play area and activity trails that will entertain you while offering fun and educational facts on the life and ecology of the animals you’ve seen.

See hawks and falcons at the Cornish Birds of Prey Centre

The Cornish Birds of Prey Centre in St Columb Major is an educational and rescue sanctuary focused on birds of prey that makes for a great children’s attraction in Cornwall. Here you can explore a waterfowl lake and see tons of native species of birds pop in for a drink. Kids get super excited to be up close to hawks, falcons, owls and other birds. When they’re done, they can head for the kids’ play area. If you’re hungry, you can stop at the on-site cafe for a quick bite to eat. Be sure to check out the gift shop for a souvenir.

Head for the Paradise Park and JungleBarn wildlife sanctuary and play centre

Paradise Park and JungleBarn should be on everyone’s list of things to do with kids in Cornwall. First, it’s a wildlife sanctuary that houses over 130 species of birds from local Cornish natives to exotic fowl like toucans and flamingos. The zoo also has farm animals to visit and endangered species like adorable red pandas on display. When you’re done with the animals, you can visit the indoor play area. This place is great for the little ones as well, because there’s a toddler zone just for kids under 5.

Enjoy outdoor adventures from trails to fun parks

There are few things kids love more than running and playing outside, and you can find a wide range of adventures on trails, in nature reserves and in other open spaces on your days out with the kids in Cornwall. Whether it’s an outdoor adventure park with extreme activities like zip lining and rock climbing or it’s just a serene walk along a hiking trail in a public park, you’ll find attractions in Cornwall for families to make for endless days of fun outside.

Climb, jump and soar at Cornwall FootballGolf Park

Cornwall FootballGolf Park in St Austell is a crazy golf experience that combines traditional mini-golf with football. Instead of using a golf club and a tiny white ball, you’ll use your feet to kick a football around an obstacle course, solving puzzles and attempting to meet or beat par. It’s billed as an attraction that’s great for ages 5 to 80, but it also offers a special small play space for kids under 5. You can enjoy an indoor clubhouse and picnic areas all over the area to enjoy a break or a bite to eat. It comprises 2 courses of 18 holes each, the Parkland flat course and the Hillside course on rolling hills.

Take a walk along clifftop paths at Land’s End

Land’s End in Penzance is a popular visitor attraction among things to do in Cornwall for families, with endless stretches of clifftop walking paths where you can look out over the deep-blue ocean waters and ending at a famous landmark signpost where you can get your photo taken. Other attractions along the way that are part of the experience include the Grand Experience from Aardman Animations, which allows you to meet famous cartoon characters and enter their workshop, a 4D cinema and interactive adventure walkthrough experiences.

Explore the attractions at Lappa Valley Steam Railway

Lappa Valley Steam Railway is an iconic place among Cornwall family attractions because it’s so much more than just a ride on an authentic, historic steam railroad. The railroad runs through a wildlife conservation area with dozens of animals to view. Additionally, you can enjoy nature hikes, rides for children and even a play area just for toddlers. You’ll find plenty to do here to delight grown-ups and kids alike.

Spend a day hiking along the 18-mile Camel Trail

The Camel Trail encompasses 18 miles of largely paved hiking, cycling and walking paths between Padstow, Wadebridge and Bodmin. It follows an old, decommissioned railway track alongside the River Camel for which it’s named.

If you don’t want to take the entire trail, you can find plenty of opportunities to explore smaller sections with expressly family-friendly walks and rest points. When you hit this area for days out with the kids in Cornwall, they’ll have all the open space they can handle to run and play while you’ll get breathtaking views of the surrounding wilderness.

Check out the Eden Project adventure park

The Eden Project adventure park and biodome experience offers so much to do that you can easily spend an entire holiday here seeking out new attractions in Cornwall for families. It begins with the global garden inside enormous biodomes that house one of the largest indoor rainforests in the entire world.

While you explore, you can experience interactive, hands-on exhibits and activities, visit a sensory garden and view species of flora from all over the globe. Outside, you can explore a full adventure park with lightning-fast zip lines, free-fall stuntperson experiences and more. You’ll find activities here for kids of all ages.

Spend your days out with the kids on Cornwall beaches

Cornwall is famed for its many beaches, and the long stretches of shoreline along the coast are known as the Cornish Riviera. You can enjoy golden sand that stretches as far as the eye can see and clear blue waters that can be serene and peaceful for sunbathing and swimming, as well as the kind of crashing waves that surfers love to ride. It just depends on which beach you choose.

Visitors to Perranporth, for example, enjoy walking the quaint seaside village with its cafes, shops and neighbourhood pubs. Marazion Beach lets you view the iconic St Michael’s Mount and reveals the causeway to its access. Porthmeor is the local surfer’s paradise, while Kynance Cove offers a quiet inlet of turquoise water and scenic, rocky surroundings. Whatever kind of beach days out with the kids in Cornwall you want, you’re sure to find something to fit the bill.

Try an amusement or theme park adventure

There are few things you can do to excite a child more than taking them to a theme park, whether it’s a classic amusement park or a more specifically themed entertainment experience. When you’re looking for things to do with kids in Cornwall, it’s hard to beat a roller coaster or thrill ride, a 5D theatre or a vast jungle-gym play area. Check out the many options for theme park adventures in Cornwall for your entire family and give the kids a holiday they’ll never forget.

Ride the coasters and thrill rides at Flambards Theme Park

Flambards Theme Park near Helston offers the full amusement park experience. You can enjoy several different roller coasters and a wide range of thrill rides, including one that rockets at 70 mph.

For younger kids, there’s a kid zone with more sedate and gentler rides. The park also features a selection of classic amusement park skill games, takeaway food booths with everything from chips to cotton candy and a constantly festive atmosphere. You can even take a walk through an authentic Victorian village and experience what life was like over 150 years ago.

Visit a 5D theatre and indoor-outdoor play areas at Camel Creek

The Camel Creek Adventure Park replaces a park that formerly occupied the same site. It offers just about every kind of entertainment you could want for family days out with the kids in Cornwall, all in one place.

The kids will love interacting with the costumed characters that flit about throughout the park. You can enjoy plenty of theme park-style thrill rides here including water rides, roller coasters and circular rides. You can also visit a 5D theatre that will engage all of your senses on wild adventures that change on a regular basis. A small zoo area lets the kids get up close with animals, while indoor and outdoor play areas for the younger ones ensure that they’re kept entertained all day.

Navigate an inflatable obstacle course at Retallack Aqua Park

Retallack Aqua Park is part of a larger resort near Padstow that offers as a primary attraction a wild obstacle course made up entirely of inflatable challenges. You and your whole family can compete to see who can get the farthest before being hurled into the water.

You can also hit the Retallack FlowRider while you’re here, which combines the experiences of snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing all in one attraction, and you won’t even need to be out on the ocean to make it happen. This classic water park is the way to cool off the entire family on a hot summer day.

Travel back 300 years in time at the Pirate’s Quest

The Pirate’s Quest interactive theme park in Newquay lets you journey back to the 17th century and the Golden Age of Piracy. In this walkthrough attraction, you will be surrounded by authentic buccaneers, smugglers, pirates and even mermaids. As you learn about the days of piracy on the high seas, the kids can follow interactive treasure maps to find pirate booty – after unlocking the secret code, of course! Costumed performers and high-end production values and effects make this family attraction in Cornwall a must-visit.

Visit historic and heritage Cornwall family attractions

Like in many places in the United Kingdom, you can find plenty of family attractions in Cornwall that will connect you to the historic heritage of this county, which goes all the way back to prehistoric times. You can visit museums tracing the archaeological history of the county, walk the ramparts of a castle once occupied by Henry VIII or see the ruins of a place tied directly to Arthurian legends. All of that and more make for educational and exciting things to do with kids in Cornwall.

Visit Pendennis Castle, Henry VIII’s shoreline fortress

Pendennis Castle in Falmouth was in its day among the mightiest fortifications built by King Henry VIII. It was designed as a coastal defence against invasion by sea. It was so powerful that it still stands complete today.

In fact, it was even used during the Victorian era and in World War I for purposes similar to its original one – to protect England against foreign invasion. Today it’s a great option for days out with the kids in Cornwall with interactive exhibits, tours, a gift shop and a cafe where you can grab a bite to eat.

Walk the medieval paths of St Michael’s Mount

If there’s anywhere in Cornwall that’s like stepping into another world, a world of the past, it’s St Michael’s Mount. At this iconic location, you can walk a stone path that dates back hundreds of years and only appears during low tide. As you navigate the cobblestones, you can reach a hilltop castle with free tours that educate you about the history and purpose of the mount.

While you’re here, you can grab a bite at the cafe and find a souvenir at the shop. If you’re here during high tide, no worries. A ferry boat will still get you here to make it a fun and educational thing to do with kids in Cornwall.

Learn about maritime history at the National Maritime Museum

The National Maritime Museum is a brilliant choice for days out with the kids in Cornwall because it’s rated as among the most family-friendly museums in the county. It traces the entire history of the island and the maritime industry that’s been so important to the settlement over thousands of years and is spread among 15 galleries. The museum offers both permanent and rotating exhibits, and in the past it has had engaging exhibitions of Viking artefacts among others.

See the birthplace of King Arthur at Tintagel Castle

Tintagel Castle is an important place in the history of the United Kingdom with a legendary past. It’s the reputed birthplace of King Arthur, and supposedly is just steps away from the cave of Merlin. Today it stands in ruins, but you can take a tour to learn all about its historic origins and its connection to the ancient legends. Kids will enjoy hearing and experiencing a new take on these old tales, and adults will enjoy discovering the point where history and legend come together.

Explore the preserved 18th-century Geevor Tin Mine

The Geevor Tin Mine makes a fascinating outing when you’re looking for Cornwell family attractions. It’s one of the oldest preserved tin mines in the UK and dates back to the 18th century. You and the family can take a complete underground tour that allows you to get hands-on and pan for gems as well as engage in a wealth of other family educational activities.

If you want to see the actual workings of the mine as they were hundreds of years ago, you can do so with modern technology. An Oculus headset allows a virtual reality tour of the mine the way it once was.

Visit the Porthcurno Telegraph Museum

The telegraph was one of the earliest forms of mass communication, and the first means we had to send messages across continents. The Porthcurno Telegraph Museum is a family-friendly Cornwall attraction that allows you to trace the entire history of this wondrous advancement. It discusses how cables were run under the sea to allow cities from continents away to communicate during the days of the British Empire.

After a major refurbishment in 2014, the museum now offers even more family-friendly and hands-on exhibits aimed at toddlers. Best of all, admission is free to everyone under 16.

Discover ancient and modern history at the Royal Cornwall Museum

The Royal Cornwall Museum is in Truro and tracks the entire history of Cornwall from the Stone Age all the way to the modern era. Here you can learn about ancient explorers and early inhabitants, see an Egyptian mummy, view arts and crafts displays from the Middle Ages through the Victorian Era and get hands-on with family-friendly interactive exhibits and rotating displays. As with other museums in Cornwall, it’s also free for kids under 16.