Falmouth Holiday Guide for 2024

Lively town situated on a large harbour, fun for all the family

Falmouth is a vibrant town in Cornwall situated on a harbour with stunning beaches and many things to see and do around the area.

The impressive harbour is home to a vast amount of ships and activities. The town is surrounded by some stunning beaches all with their own individual charm and beauty.

The town itself is a bustling hub of different bars and restaurants as well as shops. There are some fantastic accommodation options in Falmouth and it is certainly a must-see place if you are visiting Cornwall.

Falmouth is one of the most popular towns in Cornwall and it is easy to see why. The impressive harbour is home to a vast amount of ships and activities. The town is surrounded by some stunning beaches all with their own individual charm and beauty. The town itself is a bustling hub of  different bars and restaurants as well as shops. There are some fantastic accommodation options in Falmouth and its is certainly a must see place if you are visiting Cornwall. Check out the festival calendar as well as there is always something going on.

Falmouth Town History

Falmouth dates back to the 17th century where the port was built, outgrowing the town of Penryn next to it. 2 forts were built in Falmouth by Henry VIII during the civil war IN 1642. After the war Falmouth continued to grow and when it was made the Royal packing station in 1688 it grew at pace. When the railways reached Falmouth in the 19th century it became a popular holiday destination as well as a thriving port. Falmouth played its part in WW2 and even sadly lost 31 residents due to the German bombing. With a population of 22,000 locals, today the main industry is tourism and the town certainly delivers to the many guests that visit each year.

How to Get to Falmouth

Falmouth has a train station which you can use to come from all over the country but also from Truro or surrounding towns that have a station such as Penzance so if you are staying near then check out the train timetables for easy access into the town.

Falmouth also has a bus station and again there are regular buses from surrounding areas accessing the town every day, particularly in the peak seasons.

There are car parks in the town but it’s best to use the park and ride so that you don’t have the hassle of finding a space within the town. There is some street parking but as you can imagine some are reserved for locals and it is hard to find a space especially when it is busy.

The Best of Falmouth

Accommodation in Falmouth

Beaches in Falmouth

See the source imageThere are multiple beaches in and around the Falmouth area but the top 4 are Gyllyngvase Beach, closest to the town, Castle Beach, Swan Pool and Maenporth Beach. Gyllyngvase beach is a very popular beach and a blue flag beach. There is a cafe on the beach offering local produce accompanied by acoustic music sessions, watch the sun go down here and enjoy some fresh fish and tapas. There is a car park 100 yards away so you can park really close too. Also available on Gyllyngvase beach is a selection of water sports. A great spot for the family, couples or groups of friends to spend their days. Some of our accommodation is right near this beach too. Castle beach is overlooked by Pendennis castle giving it a great dramatic look, this little gem is great for rock pooling and snorkelling. If you want something a bit quieter, walk along the coast path with stunning views to Maenporth beach, a gorgeous little haven for you to relax on. Swan pool beach also has a great water sports centre and is the perfect place for swimming. Kayaking, windsurfing and dinghy sailing are just a few things you can do here. Falmouth beaches have the whole family covered and the best thing is they are free to enjoy. Just be mindful of the dog rules on the beaches as there are seasonal dog bans in some places.

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