- Explore Falmouth’s fascinating nautical history in the National Maritime Museum
- Enjoy award winning fish and chips on the harbour side
- Take in the stunning views from Pendennis Castle
A pleasant coastal town nestled in South Cornwall, Falmouth is the perfect place to relax and explore during your holiday. A busy port with a rich nautical history, including being the launch pad of numerous yachting races and a crucial battlement during the time of Henry VIII, this cosy corner of Cornwall is packed with things to do during your stay, including the famous National Maritime Museum, fascinating castles and numerous ferry trips and scenic walks to be enjoyed.
Blessed with a variety of gastronomic options, from succulent medieval fare at King Arthur's Meadery to freshly caught local seafood at The Cove, Falmouth is a great place to sample both local and international cuisine. The four main beaches offer visitors a wide selection of activities, from simply building sandcastles to windsurfing and water sports. With fishing trips, golf and excellent links to the beautiful surrounding area, Falmouth represents a truly memorable break.
Food and Drink
Falmouth boasts a wide selection of culinary options from top restaurants to more traditional pubs. If it's luxury cuisine you are after, Harveys Wharf offers a delightful menu of freshly caught seafood and local delicacies, all in a picturesque quayside setting, while a short ferry ride will take you to The Cove, a charming bistro with an extensive menu. For pub grub and fine ales, a brief drive will take you to the Trengilly Wartha Inn, a charming family pub complete with its own lake.
King Arthur's Meadery offers truly scrumptious fare (including an irresistible Death by Chocolate dessert)! An aquataxi can be taken to the Inn from Falmouth harbour. A number of cosy cafes and tea shops can be found throughout the town centre for an alfresco approach to dining.
Family Attractions
Apart from the vast array of beaches that Falmouth has to offer, visitors can enjoy the numerous assets that the town benefits from. St Mawes Castle is a stunning coastal fortress that dates back to the reign of King Henry VIII, while the quayside National Maritime Museum houses amazing nautical exhibits for a family to enjoy. Parks and botanical gardens are in abundance in the surrounding area, while Falmouth Arts Centre offers a wide selection of entertainment options including film and theatre.
Visit the County's capital, Truro, a city of heritage and culture, and enjoy some fine cuisine or take in a show at the Royal Hall for Cornwall; and St Mawes on the Roseland Peninsula, one of the prettiest harbour side villages in Cornwall.
Shopping
A vast selection of shopping options awaits visitors to Falmouth. For the basics, Tesco Metro or Marks and Spencer are within the town centre, while the recently redeveloped quayside shopping centre plays host to a number of top surfing and clothing shops. The town centre itself houses a number of independent shops, including a variety of chocolate, fudge and traditional Cornish pasty bakeries, perfect for a walk around the picturesque harbour. Numerous clothing boutiques can be found throughout the town, while gift shops and picture galleries provide the perfect place to collect souvenirs.
History and Heritage
Falmouth is positively swimming in naval history, from Tudor defence castles to Tall Ships races, Falmouth has seen and hosted it all. The start or finish point of numerous nautical races, the Tall Ships race left for South Africa from Falmouth in 1998, while Dame Ellen MacArthur sailed in to complete her around the world voyage in 2005, as did Sir Francis Chichester in the 1960s.
A little further back in time, King Henry VIII had Pendennis Castle built in 1540 to protect the Carrick Roads, a battlement that was also used in the Civil War and repelling of the Spanish Armada. The port was also the main returning port for Navy ships during colonial times.
Beaches
Falmouth’s main beach is Gyllyngvase, a 200 meter stretch of sun kissed sand with numerous rock pools for the kids to explore. Close to the town centre, it boasts a restaurant, manned lifeguard posts, deck chair hire and ample parking. A brief walk from Gyllyngvase takes you to Swanpool, a pebble beach ideal for windsurfing equipped with on site dining facilities and a children’s play area.
Maenporth is a short drive from the town, boasting inviting white sand, lifeguarding and a cafe as well as pay parking. Trefusis beach is a fine white sand beach with an outlook facing Falmouth, which is accessed through a ferry from Flushing Quay.
Events and Entertainment
Boasting a recently opened multiplex cinema and a thriving local amateur dramatics theatre putting on a number of productions throughout the year, entertainment in Falmouth is easily located. A slightly longer drive will take you to the famous open air Minack theatre, where classic plays are acted against the backdrop of the crashing waves.
Falmouth Week is a fun festival with numerous activities going on throughout a week of August, while October sees the Oyster festival and the Festival of the Arts to appeal to culture buffs and foodies alike. A beer festival during October is the perfect place to sample some fine local ale.
Activities
A wide range of activities are on offer in and around Falmouth. Tee off at golf clubs in Falmouth and nearby Truro, take the ferry across to visit the Castle or take in the breathtaking views on one of the many coastal walks available. Fishing can be enjoyed on the harbour, as well as on specially chartered fishing trips departing daily from the harbour.
For the more adventurous, windsurfing conditions are perfect at Swanpool beach, while three health clubs offer a wide selection of fitness options (from well equipped gyms to Thai boxing) and heated indoor swimming pools.
Travel
Falmouth is the finishing point of the A39, and enjoys good rail and road links to nearby Truro and on to other locations in Cornwall. Bus routes run throughout the town and can take you to all the major landmarks, as well as bus routes linking Falmouth to Truro and beyond. Some of the smaller villages and the castles can be reached by numerous water taxis and ferries. Falmouth is a town perfect for walking, and some of its best views can be enjoyed this way.