Cornwall with kids advice

[Cupofteaandbiscuits]

We are in a funny position! DSD is Cornish and we exhausted all entertainment for her in cornwall when she was little. She is now fully grown up and we have two (non Cornish) DC of our own now so are out of touch with what to do in Cornwall.

Can I have recommendations for soft play and adventure play parks for 9 and 8 year old please?

Whereabouts in Cornwall? If west, then Flamards or Paradise Park.

Cornwall is a huge place. I assume what you mean is you'll be coming to visit (your DSD?) and you want something to do. Honestly, if you're coming all the way down here, I'd get out an enjoy something other than soft play, which is often pretty grim as less investment and infrastructure than in many places in the UK, so a lot of places are pretty ratty.

If you really want an indoor play centre, Trethorne Leisure park is very good for a day when it's raining - there is the whole play centre, but also bowling and dodgems and there's a cafe and a licensed restaurant. Bude also has an indoor play centre. I think it even has a swimming pool/wave pool. There is also Dingles Fairground Centre, which is actually closing at the end of the summer. It has vintage fairground rides and amusements and is all under cover. These are all in Northwest Cornwall though (Dingles is technically in Devon).

National Trust is great as well as we have lots of NT places and quite a few beach car parks are free for NT members.

Thank you. Yes we are visiting DSD with our DC but are now out of touch with kids activities as it’s been a while.
Soft play is a back up activity.

I would love to find some amazing outdoor play parks for them though!

Aren’t they a bit old for soft play?

The beach is an amazing outdoor play park!

But if it's paid for stuff you're after, then I second Paradise Park in Hayle. There's also a go-karting place nearby.

Apparently not. Mainly due to the area we live in..all soft plays near us have never opened again after COVID and so now our kids thing it’s some amazing treat to go! I thought my soft play days were over! 🤦🏻‍♀️

There's also a soft play in Penryn, called Raze the Roof, which also has a laser quest thingy.

Oh yes! Raze the Roof is ace (as far as soft plays go)

Jungle jacks in Newquay for soft play, and they serve decent coffee. 😂

My 7 year old begs me to take her to Geevor to pan for gems. (Free entry for Blue Peter badge holders).

The Eden Project is a nice day out. (Take the kids to parkrun at 9am on a Saturday and you'll get in free).

Bodmin Science Museum is not worth the entry price despite their lovely video adverts.

If you're National Trust members then St Michael's Mount is nice.

Depending on when you visit, the Minack can be a fun day out. Or if you're happy to pay quite a high price for tickets, KidzRUs shows in St Ives are popular.

SK8 Penzance do a lot of roller skating sessions with skate hire.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan have a brilliant outdoor play area now.
I've not got little ones myself but it looks really good and popular each time we go.

We loved the Hidden Valley when we went. If you like puzzles and quizzes then it's great. Train ride and playgrounds, and puzzles for all ages. But different to the usual days out.

Agree Paradise Park is fab, Eden Project a must.

Lanhydrock House has great cycle trails where you can hire bikes.
Football Golf near St Austell is good fun.
If they like Treasure Hunts, Hidden Valley near Launceston is really good.

I don't think Cornwall is particularly huge is it (at least not compared to Yorkshire, Lincolnshire or Devon)? But It's a bugger to get from A to B because of shite roads. Eden project. 2nd Lanhydrock. Godolphin is my favourite NT property, the garden is magical. The seal sanctuary at Gweek is worth a visit. Truro is a pleasant enough city. The Minack theatre (depending on when you are going) is awesome.
St. Michael's mount is cool.
St. Ives has a Tate gallery and funky art work of Barbra Hepworth on display if sculpture is your thing.
Looe has a brilliant golden sand beach, a quay where you can go crabbing, fantastic walks and if weather rubbish an arcade.
Tintagel has a castle with amazing views and lovely architecture which uses delabole slate, boscastle is also a funny little place and has a fascinating 'blowhole' geological feature, which you can see from the end of the harbour wall.
A few years ago there was some talk of reopening goonhilly, but I don't know if it ever happened, if it has reopened is worth a visit if your kids are into space.

I mean the village of tintagel has delabole slate, the castle is largely a ruin.

Lappa Valley is one of our favourites

Seconding Hidden Valley & Dingles. Depending where you are, it's worth popping over the border to The Milkyway.

I'd also recommend Dreadlock & Housetrap escape rooms which are bloody brilliant