Half-term’s on the way and no matter which direction you travel in Cornwall you’ll come across family attractions for all ages.
Indoors or outdoors, sunshine or rain, we’ve got you covered for ideas for an action-packed school holiday.
Newquay - 1.5 mile (Yep on the doorstep!)
Blue Reef Aquarium
Perched on the edge of Towan beach, the Blue Reef Aquarium is the perfect afternoon treat. Discover familiar faces from our local rock pools alongside their more exotic cousins. With half-term events from toddler explorations to stories, there’s also a cafe for good measure. Then head down to the beach for a final run around to get that all important sand between your toes.
Newquay Zoo
Small, but oh so perfectly formed, is Newquay Zoo, surrounded by a fantastic park with skateboarding facilities - the zoo itself is perfect for every age. For little kids there’s a petting zoo, for older children there’s a chance to get hands on, and even the teenagers can’t resist the reptile room and sloths. Meet lions, lemurs and meerkats safe in the knowledge that this zoo is at the forefront of conservation and research.
Also nearby: Trerice House, Pirate Quest and Dairyland
Family attractions near Truro - 15 miles
Royal Cornwall Museum
For a full (and educational shhhhhhhh) day of wonder you could do worse than heading to the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro. Home to artefacts and factoids from nature to the rich history of the south west, this interactive museum offers activities, stories and worksheets to keep young minds busy, and older ones engaged. With a cafe attached and on the doorstop of all the city shops it’s a great way to reward the kids after some retail therapy.
www.royalcornwallmuseum.org.uk
Truro Cathedral
You may have become aware of the phrase three spires in your trip across Cornwall. Our magnificent cathedral, built between 1880 and 1910, is open to the public for free, and if you’re lucky you can sit in on one of the amazing choral services. The enormous rose window and lady chapel are a wonder of architecture and no visit is complete without standing under the spire and looking up to its dizzying heights. Half-term also offers a wealth of crafts and activities for kids.
Also nearby: Truro Bowl, St Mawes River Cruises, shops and cinema
Family attractions near St Austell - 17 miles
Eden Project
Half-term brings together a myriad of events at the Eden Project. It’s the last chance to get ‘dancing on ice’ before the skating rink disappears until next winter. Perfect your pirouettes or grab a supportive penguin and find your confidence as you whirl around the rink.
Follow up your visit with a hot choc and crepe before heading into the biome to discover the wonderful laid-back vibes of the Med, or hike through the tropical jungle. Half-term also launches a new insightful exhibition of science and art with bees at its centre.
Kidzworld
Discover indoor/outdoor play at its best at Kidzworld - a one-fee play zone of wonder. Through the doors and it will be hard to keep up with the kids as they are greeted by softplay, trampolines, roller rink, dodgems, sky wire and miniature golf… but don't worry, there are two cafes so you can sit back and relax with a latte (or two) and a slice of cake as they use up all that half-term energy
Also nearby: Wheal Martyn China Clay, Charlestown Harbour and Pinetum Lodge.
Family attractions near Redruth - 20 miles
Bombadingas and Skullduggery
Don’t be fooled by the fact you’re in the middle of an industrial estate, this area of Camborne has a wealth of activities for all ages and every member of the family.
Starting with Bombadingas and Skullduggery. To the left is soft play, but to the right is Laser Tag - 45 minutes of riotous family fun. I mean who doesn't like chasing your mum around in the dark (they always squeal don’t they)? Play against each other or in teams against other families, whilst those not taking part see the scores mounting up on the TV’s outside which also stream the action live.
Rollers Roller Rink
Disco is back and this time its got wheels! Gather up your neon leg warmers and sweatbands and get ready for some roller disco action. Perfect for an action-packed outing, the rink also features a fantastic arcade with all your favourite retro games. By now you’ll have realised no Cornish venue is complete without a cafe, so here you’ll find burgers and hot dogs as well as those of a vegan variety - so you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Jump 4
On your marks, get set, bounce! Take a top class cafe, toddlers soft play area and add trampolines, lots and lots of trampolines and you’ve got a very bouncy day out. Jump 4 is a fantastic place for teens to get out all that energy whilst still being ‘cool’ - just don't tell them that. As the ‘Jump’ zone is away from the cafe and fully monitored you can relax and unwind while the kids go mad - unless of course you fancy a go too?
Also nearby: Heartlands, King Edward Mine and Cornwall Gold.
Family attractions near Falmouth - 25 miles
Pendennis Castle
Step back in time to a land of tudor castles, fortresses and military manoeuvres. Discover how Cornwall was a stronghold and base for soldiers since before the times of King Henry VIII who had the castle built at Pendennis. Man the battery, dress up as a solider and learn all about forms of communication, or if you're brave take a tour of the tunnel’s that run beneath the castle. See the pioneering half-moon battery and its disappearing gun that help changed the future of sea defences.
www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/pendennis-castle/
National Maritime Museum
You can’t have as much coastline as Cornwall and not take sailing seriously. The National Maritime Museum celebrates all things nautical with breathtaking displays of boats past and present alongside tales from the sea.
During the half-term you’ll find stories and crafts and trails around the museum, as well as the Treasure Island Play Zone which is sure to turn any landlubber into a sea-farering expert. The museum is currently exhibiting Titanic Stories which take a poignant look into how Falmouth played its own part in the tragic tale.
Also nearby: Glendurgan Garden, Raze the Roof and Granite Planet.
