The summer holidays are here! And like us I’m sure you are wondering what I can do for free in Cornwall and still have a great day! If you’re local or visiting during the school holidays, there are so many free things to do in Cornwall for families. From beaches and castles to woodlands and museums, this guide brings together the best family-friendly activities across the county — all without breaking the bank! Let’s explore the very best Cornwall has to offer in 2025, for families seeking fun, free days out, with the best places to visit!
The Great Flat Lode, Near Redruth
Best Free Beaches and Coastal Activities in Cornwall
Portreath Beach
Rock Pooling and Low Tide Explorations
Cornwall’s coastline is perfect for free family adventures. When the tide goes out, you’ll find incredible rock pools teeming with marine life. It’s one of the best free things to do with kids.
Top spots for rock pooling:
- Sennen Cove – A great place for low tide discovery and beach walks.
- Polzeath Beach – Known for surf, but also brilliant for families and rock pooling.
- Gyllyngvase Beach – A great family-friendly beach with accessible facilities and calm waters.
Pack a bucket, net, and snacks for a day of exploration by the Atlantic Ocean for the whole family!
Sunset Beaches and Seal Spotting
Cornwall is known for its spectacular sunsets. Head to:
- Fistral Beach (Newquay) – Ideal for an evening stroll. One of favourite beaches!
- Perranporth – One of Cornwall’s longest beaches, with huge sand dunes to explore and a very cool tidal pool!
- Seal Watching at Godrevy
- Bedruthan Steps – While the steps leading down to the beach are currently closed due to a rockfall, the clifftop views are great for dramatic views and stargazing on a clear night
Bude Sea Pool
Popular with families, the pool is a safe space to swim away from the tides. The pool is large, and children are also welcome to bring inflatables, snorkels and surfboards.
Free Coastal Walks and Nature Trails
South West Coast Path Adventures
Walking the South West Coast Path is a fantastic way to enjoy nature, views, and exercise as a family. Try these accessible sections:
- St Ives to Carbis Bay – Gentle and scenic, ideal for buggies and young walkers.
- Tintagel to Trebarwith Strand – Great views of the coast and myth-filled cliffs.
- The Lizard Peninsula – Stunning views and possible wildlife encounters.
Bring a picnic, enjoy the coastal breeze, and soak up the fresh Cornish air.
Inland Nature Walks and Woodland Trails
If you fancy a day away from the coast, head inland to explore:
- Golitha Falls – A magical waterfall trail on Bodmin Moor with picnic spots.
- Tehidy Woods – Family-friendly woodland walks with wildlife, ponds, and flat paths.
- St Nectan’s Glen – Walk through enchanted woodland to a 60ft waterfall. The lower cascades are free to view.
- Cardinham Woods, Bodmin – A Stick Man activity trail and Forest Walkies with Wallace & Gromit!
For something fun and interactive, download the iWalk Cornwall app, which offers family-friendly trails and treasure hunt-style walks across the county.
Mount Edgcumbe Country Park
You can explore the 865 acres of parkland for free. The Tree Trail and the Landscape Walk are both particularly popular with families and they’ll take you to some of the best viewpoints around the grounds.
Lanhydrock Cycling Trails
The cycling trails around the National Trust property of Lanhydrock are free to explore. The green trail is great for little ones, while the blue and red trails are more of a test. There’s also a skills area to explore.
Free Playgrounds and Adventure Parks
Boscawen Park in February!
Play Areas
Cornwall has many well-equipped and free adventure playground. Here are a few local favourites:
- Boscawen Park (Truro) – Perfect for toddlers and older children with a great play park area, including zip wire and sandpit. Over the road is a small duck pond to walk around.
- Trenance Park Playground – next to Newquay Zoo. It has a sandpit, zip wire and more!
- Atlantic Road Playground (Newquay) – Zip line, Rope climbing frame, Separate young children’s play area
- Coronation Park – children’s play area at Helston Boating Lake
- Kimberley Park, Falmouth – Recreational green space offering scenic walking trails, grassy lawns, gardens & a playground.
These are brilliant for an afternoon out with the kids, especially during the summer months.
Family-Friendly Beaches and Hidden Coves
Beach Day Essentials for Families
For a classic Cornwall beach day, bring suncream, beach shoes, towels, buckets and spades, and enjoy these favourites:
- Widemouth Bay (Bude) – Long, sandy beach with great views and family-friendly facilities.
- Fistral Beach – Great for bodyboarding and wave watching.
- Porthcurno – Calm waters and dramatic cliffs make it a stunning and safe spot for families.
Many beaches have free parking nearby, especially early in the day or out of peak season.
Fistral Beach
Hidden Gems and Lesser-Known Spots
Try exploring some of Cornwall’s quieter treasures:
- Polly Joke Beach – A peaceful cove where seals often rest nearby.
- Trevaunance Cove (St Agnes) – Quieter than most beaches, ideal for shell collecting and rock pooling.
- Boscastle Harbour and Blowhole – Explore the rugged cliffs, harbour paths, and coastal rock formations.
- The Great Flat Lode (Redruth) – Perfect for walking and exploring our Cornish mining Heritage right up close!
The Great Flat Lode
Free Family-Friendly Museums and Cultural Attractions
Free Entry Museums
Cornwall Gold
Cornwall is rich in history and local culture, with several museums offering free or low-cost entry:
- Falmouth Art Gallery – Hosts regular family activities and interactive exhibits.
- Museum of Cornish Life (Helston) – Explore thousands of artefacts covering everyday Cornish life.
- Royal Cornwall Museum (Truro) – Under-18s go free, with exhibits on geology, Cornish history, and natural science. A good option for a rainy day!
- Cornwall Gold (Redruth) – Free entry & free parking. Award-winning family fun & food, plus the unique Tolgus Mill heritage site, panning for gold & free interactive exhibition
- Liskeard Museum – A great place to learn about local history, and it frequently hosts free workshops and activities for families.
- Penryn Museum – Located in the centre of the town, it is free to enter and covers every aspect of Penryn’s history.
These are great options for rainy days or if you’re looking for something educational and engaging.
Historic Sites and Local Heritage
Explore iconic locations without spending a penny:
- St Michael’s Mount – Walk the causeway at low tide for free and enjoy views of this island castle. It’s a special place of mine. Check high tide times as the causeway won’t be accessible.
- Tintagel Castle – You can explore the surrounding cliff paths and Merlin’s Cave without entering the paid castle area.
- Carn Brea (Redruth) – Neolithic hillfort and panoramic views. A peaceful, historic walk suitable for older kids.
- Truro Cathedral – Wander around the stunning cathedral for free.
- The Castle Bude – Containing a heritage centre, art gallery, café and shop; The castle and outside areas are also the venue for many family-friendly events throughout the year. Free admission and is open daily from 10am.
Looking towards Carn Brea Monument
Nature Reserves and Wildlife Watching
Marine Life and Seal Spotting
Cornwall’s coastal and marine life is rich and varied, and there are lots of free ways to enjoy it:
- Newquay Harbour – Seals often gather here, especially in the evenings.
- National Lobster Hatchery (Padstow) – Entry is low-cost and under-5s are free. Learn about marine conservation.
- Cornish Seal Sanctuary (Gweek) – While full entry isn’t free, walking nearby river trails offers great views and maybe a seal sighting.
Pack binoculars and see what you can spot on your next family walk.
Birdwatching and Bug Hunts
Cornwall is a haven for wildlife lovers:
- Loe Pool and Penrose Estate (Helston) – Great for birdwatching and buggy-friendly trails.
- Nature reserves like Marazion Marsh and Hayle Estuary – Ideal for spotting birds and bugs.
Free Places to See Animals In Cornwall!
- Bolenowe Animal Sanctuary – Open Sundays. Bring the whole family to meet resident horses and donkeys, plus a small collection of other animals that live on the farm
- Flicka Foundation Donkey Sanctuary – Mabe Burnthouse, Penryn. Home to over 100 donkeys and horses all of whom have been rescued from abuse, neglect and abandonment.
- Trevaskis Farm welcomes visitors for free exploration, featuring friendly animals to meet and orchards to explore.
- Roskilly’s Farm – An award-winning ice cream-making farm near St Keverne on the Lizard peninsula near Helston. Visit free of charge and meet the animals and take a stroll around the meadows.
- Mevagissey Aquarium – See various local species and appreciate the diversity of local marine wildlife. Money collected from the initiative is put towards the maintenance of Mevagissey Harbour. Entry is free but a donation is appreciated.
- Healey’s Cyder Farm – Head down to the courtyard to see what furry friends can be met along the way. Paid activities include vintage tractor rides and guided tours.
These areas make excellent free options for nature-based learning.
Flicka Foundation Donkey Sanctuary
Free Events and Local Family Festivals
Seasonal Festivals and Family Days
Throughout the year, Cornwall hosts family-friendly events with free entry:
- Truro’s Children’s Day – A highlight in the city’s summer events calendar, full of free family activities -Saturday 21st June 2025
- Local village shows and fairs – These are often free to attend and full of local charm – Some options include: Porthtowan summer bazaar Saturday 26th July 2025, Boconnoc Steam Fair Saturday 26th July 2025
- St Ives September Festival – Features open-air performances and art displays – Saturday September 13th until Saturday September 27th 2025
Check Cornwall’s Family Information Service for an up-to-date list of free and cheap family events.
Castles, Ruins and a Stately Home to Explore!
Explore for Free or With Memberships
Many heritage sites offer free or low-cost ways to enjoy them:
- Pendennis Castle (Falmouth) – The grounds and coastal walks nearby are free to explore.
- Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens – Free to access café and outer trails down in west Cornwall.
- Pencarrow House & Garden – The gardens are free to explore for under 16s!
Free Ruins in Cornwall To Explore
These locations are open year-round and free for everyone to enjoy.
Caer Bran – Sancreed, Penzance
Carn Euny – Sancreed, Penzance
Castle an Dinas – St Columb Major
Duloe Stone Circle – Duloe
Dupath Well – Dupath Well, Callington
The Hurler Stone Circles – Hurlers Stone Circles, Minions
Lammana Chapel – Hannafore, Looe
King Doniert’s Stone – South-east of Bodmin Moor
Sancreed Beacon – Sancreed, Penzance
St Breock Downs Monolith – St Breock Downs, Rosenannon
St Cleer Holy Well and Cross – St Cleer, Liskeard
Tregiffian Burial Chamber – Penzance
Trethevy Quoit – Nr Darite, St.Cleer
Trevanion Culverhouse – The Culvery, Wadebridge
Treffry Viaduct – St Austell
Tregonning Hill – Balwest, Helston
Warbstow Bury – Warbstow, Launceston
Consider an annual National Trust membership or English Heritage pass for full access to multiple sites across Cornwall. A National Trust Membership is worth its weight in gold here in Cornwall, as many beach car parks are ran by the National Trust and therefore parking is included.
Off-the-Beaten-Path Gems and Quirky Attractions
Local Secrets and Fun Discoveries
Add something unexpected to your itinerary:
- Bude Tunnel – A surprisingly popular and quirky free attraction – perfect if you need to go to Sainsbury’s!!
- Jamaica Inn (Bodmin Moor) – Explore the grounds of this famous smuggling inn.
- Trelissick Estate Gardens – While formal gardens require entry, many of the outer trails and woodlands, including the walk down to the beach, are free to explore. Great for nature lovers!
Trelissick Estate
These lesser-known spots often provide quieter, more relaxed alternatives to the big-name attractions.
Budget-Friendly Food and Treats
Cheap Eats for the Family
You don’t have to dine out expensively to enjoy Cornwall’s local flavours:
- Fish and chips on the beach – A Cornish classic that kids and adults love.
- Pasty sampling – Pick up from different bakeries and find your family’s favourite.
- Ice cream at the harbour – Affordable and a perfect way to end a sunny afternoon.
- Picnics – There are many picnic spots around Cornwall, so just take your own food!
Treats like these make your family day feel special without a big bill.
Top Tips for Saving More on Your Family Days Out
Here are a few money-saving tips to make the most of your family trip:
- Check for under-5s go free offers at attractions and events.
- Bring a packed lunch and enjoy it in the many picnic areas available.
- Download free apps like iWalk Cornwall to discover family-friendly walking routes.
- Use local transport offers or park-and-ride schemes in towns like Truro and Falmouth.
- Look out for community-led events in local parks and village halls.
- Pop into a supermarket and find the Local attractions leaflet stand – many include a discount book with money off vouchers.
Final Thoughts: The Best Free Things to Do in Cornwall for Families
So as you can see, there are plenty of free things to do in Cornwall! If it’s a summer holiday, weekend trip, or spontaneous day out, Cornwall is bursting with free and family-friendly fun. From rock pooling and beach walks, to playgrounds, museums, and woodland trails, there’s something for every kind of family.
With a little planning (and maybe a picnic!), you can enjoy the very best of Cornwall’s coast, culture, and countryside — all for free and cheap days out!
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Pascoe’s Shaft on The Great Flat Lode