Beyond Bedruthan: The Best Things To Do in Cornwall With Kids

Published 14 May 2026

Written by Meaghan Barron-Cutts

Spectacular Cornwall Adventures Beyond Your Stay

Cornwall is one of the best holiday destinations for family activities. Whether you’re chasing waves, looking for a rainy day plan, or seeking free outdoor thrills, this guide covers the best things to do in Cornwall with kids, so you can plan your stay without the guesswork.

Beach Activities & Surfing in Cornwall

With hundreds of beaches ranging from sheltered coves to open surf breaks, there’s a perfect stretch of sand for every family.

Mawgan Porth Beach

Mawgan Porth is perfect for toddlers to paddle to their hearts’ content. KingSurf Surf School operates from the beach and offers lessons for all ages, including family sessions. After a morning in the water, stroll back to Bedruthan for lunch at The Wild Café or Ogo.

Watergate Bay

Watergate Bay offers two miles of wide, open sand with consistent waves. The beach café and restaurant are excellent for fueling up before or after, and the wide, flat sands make this one of the best beaches for a proper family day out.

Rock Pooling at Treyarnon Bay & Porthcothan

Treyarnon Bay and Porthcothan are among the best spots for rock-pooling. At low tide, several pools are revealed. Great for crabbing! Pack a bucket and a net; you’ll lose an entire morning

Gardens & Outdoor Adventures

The Eden Project, St Austell

The Eden Project near St Austell has two giant biomes housing the world’s largest indoor rainforest and a vast Mediterranean environment. A full day here is very easy to fill.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan, near Mevagissey

The Lost Gardens of Heligan is a magical place, particularly in spring and summer, with towering bamboo, sculptures and wildlife.

The Camel Trail (Cycling), Padstow to Bodmin

The Camel Trail is one of the best family cycling routes in Britain. Following a disused railway line from Padstow along the Camel Estuary to Bodmin, it is almost entirely flat, off-road and traffic-free, perfect for children who have just mastered two wheels or for pulling along in a buggy trailer.

Wildlife Encounters & Animal Attractions

Cornwall has some of the best wildlife attractions for families.

Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Gweek

Cornish Seal Sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates over 70 grey seal pups every season. Children can watch the seals and sea lions in their pools, and the talks and feeding sessions bring the whole experience to life.

Best of all, your visit directly funds the rescue work, giving the whole day a genuinely feel-good purpose.

Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay

Blue Reef Aquarium is home to reef sharks, loggerhead turtles, a giant Pacific octopus, pufferfish and a rainbow of tropical species. Daily talks and feeding sessions are timed throughout the day.

Newquay Zoo

Newquay Zoo offers plenty to keep everyone engaged. From armadillos and meerkats to big cats and the tropical house packed with creepy crawlies, the variety is excellent.

Historic Attractions & Culture for Families

Tintagel Castle

Tintagel has a medieval castle connected to the mainland by a footbridge. The English Heritage has done an excellent job of bringing the history alive for children through interactive exhibits and storytelling.

St Michael’s Mount, Marazion

St Michael’s Mount is located on a tidal island in Mount’s Bay. At low tide you walk across a cobbled causeway; at high tide a small ferry takes you across. The National Trust-managed castle has a children’s trail, and the sub-tropical gardens are beautiful.

Lappa Valley Steam Railway, near Newquay

Lappa Valley runs three miniature railways through a woodland conservation area, with a full day of activities included in the admission price: adventure golf, disc golf, pedalo swans on the lake, a toddlers’ maze, trampolines and outdoor adventure play areas. It’s the kind of place that younger children want to return to again and again.

Rainy Day Activities in Cornwall with Kids

Cornwall and rain go together sometimes. But the county has excellent options for indoor and all-weather family days out.

Craft Workshops & Kids’ Club

Bedruthan runs a full daily programme of craft workshops for children throughout school holidays, including painting, clay modelling, storytelling and more. The Play Space Crèche provides supervised play for under-5s, giving parents genuinely free time.

Camel Creek Family Theme Park, near Wadebridge

Camel Creek has over 45,000 square feet of indoor play alongside outdoor rides and animal encounters, making it one of the best all-weather theme park options in North Cornwall. The mix of family attractions means it works across a wide age range.

Treasure Trails Cornwall

Treasure Trails offer self-guided scavenger hunt trails across dozens of Cornish locations. Simply download or print, head to the starting point and start exploring. It's brilliant for digital detox and brilliant for keeping children engaged while you discover somewhere new.

Stay at the Heart of It All: Bedruthan Hotel & Spa

Overlooking Mawgan Porth Beach on the North Cornish coast, we’ve been designed with family holidays in mind, from spacious family rooms to a full daily activity programme for children of all ages and a Play Space Crèche for the littlest ones. We’re within easy reach of everything in this guide.

Explore our family rooms and start planning your Cornwall family adventure.