Best activities to do in north Cornwall for kids

Holidaying in north Cornwall is great if you have children. There’s so much to do without even having to leave the beach. But if you fancy a day away from the sand and sea during your stay, check out the best family-friendly days out in north Cornwall.

Lappa Valley

Set in a stunning valley near the north coast, step aboard one of the miniature steam trains to enjoy a combination of fun and history in this magical location. The end destination is East Wheal Rose, a historical old mining area.

Canoes and paddle boats await you at the boating lake, with two islands to manoeuvre yourself around. Take on the Trevithick brick path maze, find your way to the centre where you’ll find a bell to ring loudly and celebrate your victory.

Fill up the rest of the day with crazy golf, play areas and nature trails. All the activities are spaced out with plenty of room for the children to run around. The is plenty of place to enjoy a picnic, or try The Old Forge Café for a light lunch.

Retallack Resort

To experience the thrill of surfing without the ocean, visit the FlowRider at Retallack Resoirt. Ideal for children aged five and over, this is a great way to start them off learning the skills. The flow rider generates a thin sheet of water that allows you to carve, turn and ride up and down the waves.

If surfing isn’t your thing, then head to the Aquapark for a ‘total wipeout’ style inflatable obstacle course. On the lake you can also try you hand at wakeboarding, stand up paddle boarding and WaterZorbs.

There’s refreshments and changing facilities onsite, with plenty of spectator spots for you to sit and watch your children having fun. It won’t be long before your itching to have a go as well.

St. Eval Kart Circuit

If you fancy having a go at being the next Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton, then St Eval Kart Circuit is where you need to be. Located on the outskirts of Newquay, this high speed day out offers fast thrills for the adrenaline junkies amongst you.  

It’s terrific fun, especially if there’s a larger group of you; find out who has the most competitive nature and who’s willing to give it their all to be number one.  

The racetrack was designed with the assistance of some of the UK’s top racing drivers.  Less powerful go karts are available for under 16’s and adults are able to drive at speeds of up to 70mph.  Giving up the day job and trying out for the Formula 1 team is unlikely, but you can compare lap times with friends at the finish with your own printout.

Blue Reef Aquarium

The Blue Aquarium, overlooking Newquay’s Towan Beach, is both a fun and educational place to visit. Showcasing marine life from around the world, from our local Cornish coastline to species as far away as the tropical waters of the Caribbean.

With 40 naturally-themed habitats, there is plenty to see. Walk through the underwater tunnel in the gigantic ocean tank to get an up-close encounter with the sea life. This spectacular coral reef has residents including reef sharks and hundreds of brightly colourful fish.

With many interactive feeding session and talks, there is plenty of exciting learning opportunities for both children and adults. 

The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic

A day out not for the faint hearted. This museum gives you an interesting insight into the witches of bygone days. Situated on the north Cornish coast in the harbour town of Boscastle, this curious attraction has the world’s largest collection of Witch artefacts and regalia. 

A weird and wonderful place to visit, beware if you have young children with you though as some of the artefacts can be a little gruesome.

Late night candlelit evenings really add to the mystery displayed here, and ghost story telling events really get your imagination going.

If you would like to holiday in north Cornwall, see our selection of holiday properties in the area here.