What makes Falmouth special?
Based around a thriving harbour, Falmouth, located on the south Cornwall coast, is gateway to the beautiful Fal River which runs through an Area Of Natural Beauty.
The town is famous for its creative buzz with many art galleries displaying contemporary works and venues showcasing independent films and live bands.
The many reasons to visit (Besides The National Maritime Museum Cornwall of course) include:
- Fascinating maritime heritage
- Four world-class beaches; Castle beach, Gyllyngvase beach, Swanpool beach and Maenporth beach, brilliant for families
- Positioned next to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty along the Helford and Fal Rivers
- Watersports – surfing, windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling, diving
- Home to the world’s third largest natural deep-water harbour
- Excellent family friendly attractions
- Great festivals and events calendar all year round
- Creative buzz; think art galleries; exhibitions; independent shops
- 8 gardens nearby, 4 main beaches and over 20 family attractions
- Foodie paradise; expect freshly caught seafood, delicious delis, food festivals, beachside restaurants, traditional pubs, a wide-range to suit all budgets
- Beautiful walks and trails nearby
Falmouth’s maritime legacy and coastal culture is a huge part of its charm boasting world class watersports on its sheltered waters including gig rowing, kayaking, diving and regularly hosting sailing events such as Falmouth Regatta, and the Pendennis Cup.
Things to do in Falmouth
- The multi award winning National Maritime Museum Cornwall houses a huge collection of boats, retells stories of intrepid explorers and provides an observation window where you can see what’s happening underwater in the harbour
- Pendennis Castle is one of the finest fortresses built by Henry VIII. Explore the restored Victorian and WWII defences complete with sounds and smells and head to the Discovery Centre where hands-on activities allows visitors of all ages to really get to grips with history
- The award winning Falmouth Art Gallery (free entry) is one of the leading galleries in the South West and is family friendly too. It has changing displays of some of the best British art with a regular programme of special exhibitions complementing works by luminaries such as Henry Scott-Tuke and Sir Alfred Munnings
- Exotic sub-tropical plants thrive in Falmouth’s mild maritime climate and at the well cared for Kimberly Park Municipal Garden you can sit amongst the immaculate oasis of ornamental trees and formal flower beds and enjoy a picnic
- Other gardens include the internationally renowned Trebah Garden, family and dog friendly with a dramatic coastal setting on the Helford River and at Glendorgan Garden, a restored National Trust garden by the sea
- Falmouth’s beaches offer surfing, snorkelling, sailing and plenty of lounging around in the sun, everyone can enjoy the area’s varied seaside activities. Spend a family day on the beach at Gyllyngvase, just fifteen minutes from the town centre, where it’s great for rock pooling at low tide, and has plenty of facilities close by including a café/restaurant. Falmouth’s other beaches include Castle beach, Gyllyngvase beach, Swanpool beach and Maenporth beach
- Explore the Fal estuary on the ferries that criss-cross the water connecting Falmouth with the charming harbour town of St Mawes and the city of Truro. The ferry runs all year round
- Falmouth is a foodie paradise, tuck into freshly caught seafood from the delicious delis, food festivals, waterside restaurants, traditional pubs and the famous Rick Stein’s Fish and Chips.
