Activities for less than £5 – Discover Affordable Easter Fun Across Cornwall

Published On: 29 March 2024Last Updated: 29 March 2024By CornishStuff

It’s Easter in Cornwall, and there is an array of activities for families and visitors this Easter, with plenty of fun to be had for free or for under £5. The county boasts a variety of events and sights, ensuring no one misses out due to budget constraints. Attendees are advised to confirm with activity providers ahead of time, particularly in inclement weather.

Cornwall Council have provided a list of activities you can take part in for less than £5!

West Cornwall, including Camborne, Hayle, Helston, Penzance, Pool, Redruth, St Just, St Ives

Tanglewood Wild Garden

Tanglewood Wild Garden is a natural garden and woodland boasting four ponds across its 9 acres. £ 3.00 for children 5 and over, under 5’s are free and adults are only £6.00. Open daily except Wednesday. Find out more here

Walk to St Michael’s Mount

Taking the causeway to the Mount and back is an exciting walk with one of Cornwall’s most famous views, especially exciting if the tide is coming in or soon will be. Find out more here.

Anima Mundi Gallery in St Ives –One of the largest galleries outside of London, working with international artists in all media. Find out more here.

Bolenowe Animal Sanctuary

Open Sundays. Free. Explore and meet beautiful animals. Find out more here

Castle Brea Farm

Only £2.50 each. Meet and greet the animals. Find out more here

The Flicka Foundation Donkey Sanctuary

Free entry. Over 100 donkeys and horses. Find out more here

Other galleries in St Ives include: The Art Space Gallery, St. Ives Gallery, Jon Tremaine, Wildlife Artist Studio, Salthouse Gallery, New Craftsman Gallery, Wills Lane Gallery, The Blue Bramble Gallery, and the Penwith Gallery

Roskilly’s Farm

An award-winning ice cream-making farm near St Keverne on the Lizard peninsula near Helston. Visit free of charge and meet the animals, stroll around the meadows and sample ice cream. Daily milking starts at 4pm. Find out more here.

Stargazing

Watching the stars and the planets in the night sky is fun, relaxing, awe-inspiring, and an exciting night-time activity for kids. Cornwall has some of the best locations in the UK for stargazing. Inland on The Lizard is considered one of the best, with lowest light pollution, while the skies above West Penwith are officially recognised with International Dark Sky Park Designation by the International Dark-Sky Association.

Beach cleans

Cornwall’s beautiful beaches only remain that way due to beach clean operations. Joining in on beach cleans can be great fun and give you a good feeling that you have helped make things better. Beach cleans are organised by The National Trust, Surfers against Sewage, and others.

Walk a beach at low tide

Very low tides can reveal another beach landscape rarely seen and can be a special adventure. Be careful not to be cut off by the tide. Find tide times here and here.

Hit the beach

Cornwall has beaches that people from elsewhere in the UK come to on their holidays to experience! From picturesque small coves to epic wide open bays, from surfing beaches to great places to paddle with the kids. Possible activities include making sand castles, padding, rock-pooling, walking or jogging the length of the beach at low tide, beach games or making large scale beach art! Marazion, Porthcurno, Sennen Cove and Whitesand Bay, the beaches of St Ives, Carbis Bay and Gwithian are highlights around this part of Cronwall. West Cornwall Beaches

Beaches around St Ives include Porthminster Beach, Porthmeor Beach, Carbis Bay Beach, St Ives Harbour Beach, Porthgwidden Beach, and Porthkidney Sands. It is recommended that you only swim between the flags and when there are lifeguards present. Remember to stay safe around the coast and abide by the safety signs.

Hayle Heritage Centre

With rooms and an outdoor area dedicated to displays about all aspects of Hayle’s past, they also run a variety of workshops, temporary exhibitions, guided tours and community events. Entry is free. Find out more here.

Climb a hill

Cornwall has some epic hills with epic views at the top, including Carn Brea towering above Redruth, Pool and Camborne and the various high points across the landscape around St Ives, Penzance, Sennen, St Just and Land’s End. Find out more here.

Walk the coast path

Cornwall’s coast path gives you a chance to get fit, clear your mind, tire out the kids, and see some epic views and great beaches along the way – please stick to the official paths and keep well away from the cliff edges. The coast path between St Ives and Penzance is about as epic on the eyes and hard on the legs as anywhere in the UK gets. Find out more here.

The Merry Maidens, near Penzance

One of England’s best-preserved and complete ancient stone circles consisting of 19 granite stones that form a perfect circle nearly 78 feet in diameter. Find out more here.

Lanyon Quoit, near Penzance

A striking rock structure that used to cover a burial place, it’s one of the best examples of a quoit of it’s kind. It’s ‘quoit nice.’ Find out more here and here.

Boscawen-un Stone Circles, near Penzance

A stone circle. Ancient people may have used these circles for spiritual purposes, and some people still go there to try to pick up on the energies. Do you feel anything? Find out more here and here.

Men-an-Tol, near Penzance

A famous ancient rock structure – the rock with the hole in it. Many of these stone structures are in wild windswept locations, so finding them, not getting lost, and enjoying the entire landscape is half of the fun.

Moseley Heritage Museum

Free parking. Free museum. Free little train rides. Find out more here

Nine Maidens

On wild windswept ancient moorland, bronze and iron age stone circles. Said my many to be very hard to find. Can you find it without getting lost? Or do you have to get lost, in order to find it? Find out more here.

Minack Theatre visit

The famous theatre on the cliff edge has free admission for residents of TR19. Find out more here and here.

Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, near Penzance

One of the largest purpose-built art galleries in Cornwall, with exotic plants and inspiring art by internationally renowned artists. Find out more here and here.

Coronation Park, Helston

A great place for the whole family to spend a relaxing afternoon, the park includes a boating lake, a play park for children, a skate park and you can feed the ducks in the lake. Find out more here.

Go to the woods

Walking in woods can help sooth your mind, as well as get your body fit, and it’s an instant adventure for the kids. Find out more here.

Visit a Library

Libraries offer many free activities to choose from. Find out more informaiton about what your local library offers by clicking on your town: Camborne Hayle Helston Penzance Redruth St Just St Ives

Museum of Cornish Life, Helston

Displaying artefacts and objects, it’s a great way to learn about the region’s recent history. The museum houses one of the largest social history collections in England, has a play area for Under-5s, and is free to visit. Find out more here.

Trevaskis Farm

Free to look round. Strawberry picking is a cheap activity. Find out more here

Sea Life Soft Play

Penzance are doing lots of free sessions this summer. Find out more here

St Ives Skatepark Project

Free lessons. Message them to book. Bring equipment but they do have spare if you ask. Find out more here

Free panning for gold at Cornwall Gold

Cornwall has a proud history in mining, and gold is still to be found! At Cornwall Gold, you and your children can pan the Tolgus Stream to reveal gems and hidden treasures. This activity is done under cover, so it’s a great option – whatever the weather is doing. Available daily from 10.00am – 3.30pm. Find out more here.

Mid Cornwall, including Clays Country, Falmouth, Fowey, Lostwithiel, Newquay, Penryn, Perranporth, St Agnes, St Austell, Truro

Hit the beach

Cornwall has beaches that people from elsewhere in the UK come to on their holidays to experience! From picturesque small coves to epic wide open bays, from surfing beaches to great places to paddle with the kids. The Newquay area alone has 11 beaches. Possible activities include making sand castles, padding, rock-pooling, walking or jogging the length of the beach at low tide, beach games or making large scale beach art! North Cornish Coast Beaces and The Lizard and Falmouth Beaches

Beaches in the Newquay area include: Fistral Beach, Watergate Bay, Porth Beach, Holywell Bay Beach, Polzeath Beach, Tolcarne Beach, Lusty Glaze, Towan Beach, Great Western Beach, Newquay Beach, Whipsiderry Beach, and Newquay Harbour. It is recommended that you only swim between the flags and when there are lifeguards present. Remember to stay safe around the coast and abide by the safety signs.

Beach cleans

Walk a beach at low tide

Very low tides can reveal another beach landscape rarely seen and can be a special adventure. Be careful not to be cut off by the tide. Find tide times here and here.

Falmouth Art Gallery

Free to enter, take a look at the art and join in their free activities for kids. Find out more here.

Callestick Farm

An ice cream-making farm near Truro who use fresh milk all from their own grass fed herd of Jersey x Friesian cows, local cream & then add the finest fruits & confectionery to create ice cream! Find out more here.

The Flicka Foundation Donkey Sanctuary

Not an attraction, but a working sanctuary in Penryn that spends seven days a week rescuing and rehabilitating donkeys from cruelty, neglect and abandonment. If you love animals and want to see a lot of contented donkeys and ponies living in peace and tranquillity, they’d love to see you. Find out more here.

Truro Cathedral

The Cathedral is one of Cornwall’s most impressive-looking places, both outside and in, especially during the day with the light coming through the stained-glass windows. No noise or walking about exploring is allowed during Evensong or other ceremonies or events, but try to get there during an afternoon when choir practice on, when you can walk around, make a little noise if you have to, and hear some epic choral music as accompaniment. Find out more here.

The Royal Cornwall Museum

In the centre of Truro, there are all kinds of amazing artefacts and displays from all era of history, and it’s free for under-18s. Find out more here.

Go to the woods

Walking in woods can help sooth your mind, as well as get your body fit, and it’s an instant adventure for the kids. Find out more here.

Climb a hill

Cornwall has some epic hills with epic views at the top, including St Agnes Beacon. Find out more here.

Walk the coast path

Cornwall’s coast path give you a chance to get fit, clear your mind, tire out the kids, and see some epic views and great beaches along the way – please stick to the official paths and keep well away from the cliff edges. The coast path past St Agnes takes you to one of the most famous images of Cornwall, the mine house on the cliff’s edge at Wheal Coates near Chapel Porth. Find out more here.

Stargazing

Watching the stars and the planets in the night sky is fun, relaxing, and awe-inspiring, and an exciting night-time activity for kids. Cornwall has some of the best locations in the UK for stargazing. Find out more here

Visit a Library

Libraries offer many free activities to choose from. Find out more informaiton about what your local library offers by clicking on your town: Falmouth Fowey Lostwithiel Newquay Penryn Perranporth St Agnes St Austell Truro

Fowey Museum

Packed full of artefacts relating to the history of Fowey and located in the riverfront by the quay, adult admission is £1. Find out more here.

Duchy of Cornwall Nursery

A nursery and garden centre in Cott Road, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0HW, it is a specialist in fuchsias, camellias, conifers, trees, shrubs and perennials and is a plant lover’s paradise. Find out more here.

Mevagissey Aquarium

See various local species and appreciate the diversity of local marine wildlife. Money collected from the Mevagissey Aquarium initiative is put towards the maintenance of Mevagissey Harbour. Entry is free but a donation is appreciated. Find out more here.

Charlestown Harbour

Charlestown is the last open 18th Century Georgian harbour in the UK and is a UNESCO world heritage site. The harbour is often used as a backdrop for movies. Find out more here and here

Roche Rock and Hermitage

A rock outcrop with a castle on top, it is great place to take photos and enjoy the views. Find out more here.

Cscape Art, Charlestown

An art gallery in picturesque Charlestown. Find out more here.

King’s Wood walk

A circular walk through the King’s Wood Woodland Trust reserve to the lost port of Pentewan, along the trackbed of horse-drawn tramway that once carried china clay to the busy port and via the old system of reservoirs and sluices. Find out more here.

Atishoo Gallery, Charlestown

Full of, original art, prints, cards, jewellery, pottery and glassware, in the historic village of Charlestown, it has a reputation for an eclectic range of giftware all designed or made in the UK. Find out more here.

Boscawen Park in Truro

A children’s play area with swings, slides, climbing equipment and sandpits as well as perfect place for small children to cycle and enjoy the open space. If you walk along the river under Pines to Malpas, the footpath goes on and on into the wilds, muddy paths, trees, even a lake if you can find it. Find out more here and here.

Victoria Gardens in Truro

A quiet park in the centre of Truro with a kid’s play area. Find out more here.

Falmouth Seafront Promenade

With great views, Falmouth Seafront is great place to go and take a look around. Find out more here.

Falmouth Lifeboat

Falmouth Lifeboat Station is open to visitors for most of the year, subject to operational requirements. A team of volunteers provide free guided tours of the station’s B class Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat and Severn class all-weather lifeboat. There is no need to book, just go into the lifeboat shop attached to the station. Visits are available Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 3pm. Group visits can be booked in advance. Find out more here.

Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth

Falmouth’s sandy beach is a popular spot with great walks along the seafront in every direction. Find out more here.

Queen Mary Gardens, Falmouth

Beautiful gardens right behind Gyllyngvase beach in Falmouth. Find out more here.

Fox Rosehill Gardens, Falmouth

Quiet gardens with well-maintained paths that are both wheelchair and pushchair friendly. There are benches so you can sit and enjoy the tranquility, beautiful trees, plants and birds. Find out more here.

Penryn Museum

Located in the centre of the town, it is free to enter and covers every aspect of Penryn’s history. Find out more here and here.

The Golitha Falls

A series of waterfalls along the River Fowey near Draynes Wood. At the right time of the year bluebells form the perfect backdrop for photos of the falls. Find out more here.

Trenance Gardens, Newquay

Large, well-maintained gardens in Newquay with a range of attractions including a miniature railway, bowling green, tennis centre, crazy golf, pitch and putt, children’s playground and Waterworld swimming pool. It’s won many awards and is perfect for a quiet stroll, picnic or chit chat with friends. There is no entrance fee to the park, and there is plenty of free parking along the main road, beside the lake. Find out more here.

North Cornwall including Bodmin, Bude, Camelford, Launceston, Padstow, Tintagel, Wadebridge

Bude Sea Pool

Popular with families, the pool is a safe space to swim away from the tides. The pool is large and children are also welcome to bring inflatables, snorkels and surfboards. However, serious swimmers do use the pool for training. Changing facilities are also available. Find out more here.

Lanhydrock Cycle Trails

The cycling trails around the National Trust property of Lanhydrock are free to explore. The green trail is great for little legs, while the blue and red trails are more of a test. There’s also a skills area. Find out more here.

Walk along the Camel Trail

The Camel Trail is popular with walkers and cyclists alike, a mostly-flat 18-mile trail through the Camel Valley. There are shorter routes if you have kids with you, such as the section from Wadebridge to Padstow. Find out more here.

Padstow Harbour

A busy, bustling harbour full of life and activity. Find out more here.

Cardinham Woods near Bodmin

The perfect location to recharge and relax, Cardinham Woods is a diverse woodland full of secret glades and stunning views. There is a charge for parking, £2 for two hours or £5 for the whole day. Find out more here.

Bude Canal Walk

This circular walk starts by the canal and then winds through the fields to Widemouth Bay, with great views. Find out more here.

Your Local Library

Libraries offer many free activities to choose from. Find out more informaiton about what your local library offers by clicking on your town: Bodmin, Bude, Camelford, Launceston, Wadebridge.

Homeleigh Garden Centres play areas

Free soft play for children in the Bude as long as adults purchase an item from the restaurant. Outdoor playground and soft play at Launceston store £2 per child. Find out more here

Bodmin Moor

Bodmin Moor is 208 km area of rugged beauty. Much of it is open access land so visitors have the right to activities like walking, climbing and running. Find out more here

Climb Rough Tor

Take in spectacular views of the North Cornish Coast and climb to the top of Brown Willy (Cornwall’s highest point) Find out more here

Visit a museum

North Cornwall is home to free Museums for those that have an interest in engaging with the local history.

The Castle Bude- Welcome to The Castle Bude – The Castle Bude

Lawrence House Museum- Lawrence House Museum, Launceston, Cornwall

Wadebridge Museum- Wadebridge Museum

Hit the beach

Explore the stunning North Cornwall Coast with a huge range of beautiful beaches to explore including Daymar Bay, Harlyn Bay, Summerleaze Beach and Sandymouth Beach.

Tintagel Castle

Although charges apply to go inside, visitors can view the iconic and breath-taking Castle for free from the outside. Find out more here

Merlin’s Cave

Explore the cave where if legends are to be believed was the home to Merlin the magician. Find out more here

Visit Port Isaac

Explore the famous fishing village known which has been used as a location for a number of films and television series. Find out more here

The Endeleinta Make Club: For Children and Families

£5.00 per family. All sessions are held in the Stone Barn. The Make Club is a fun space to explore, create and get messy! Each workshop is led by an inspirational artist and/or maker, there are materials available for parents and children to get involved – fun for the whole family. Spaces can be booked via the website: www.endelienta.org.uk

The Venue Bude soft play

4 level soft play area for families with young children Find out more here

Junior Cricket Club

Cornwall Cricket are very excited to announce a free cricket summer programme called All Stars and Dynamos Intros. All Stars (for 5-8 year olds) and Dynamos Intros (for 8-11 year olds) are specifically designed for disadvantaged children who wouldn’t necessarily have this opportunity if it were a ‘paid-for’ offer (e.g. children who qualify for Free School Meals) or those struggling with the current cost of living crisis. Find out more here

Bodmin Keep

Great mixture of low-cost, hands-on, and creative activities. Find out more here

East Cornwall including Callington, Liskeard, Looe, Millbrook, Saltash, Torpoint

Mount Edgcumbe Country Park

You can explore the 865 acres of parkland for free. The Tree Trail and the Landscape Walk are both particularly popular with families and they’ll take you to some of the best viewpoints around the grounds. Find out more here.

Go to the woods

Walking in woods can help sooth your mind, as well as get your body fit, and it’s an instant adventure for the kids. Find out more here.

Golitha Falls

Free parking. Free entry. It is one of the best known beauty spots on Bodmin Moor. Find out more here

Stargazing

Hit the beach

The East Coast of Cornwall has some wonderful beaches to explore, here are a few examples.

Millendreath Beach – Close to the town of Looe, a beach with soft sand and numerous rock pools.

Looe Beach – This beach sits in front of the old town in East Looe. A lovely family beach with something for everyone.

Hannafore Beach – Hannafore beach is a shingle beach with coarse sand and some fantastic rock pools.

Plaidy Beach – A small sand and shingle beach. Situated next to Millendreath beach and just around the corner from Looe.

Lantivet Bay – One of three small coves looked after by the National Trust and located between Polruan and Polperro.

Polperro Beach – Located on the south coast of Cornwall is Polperro, a lovely picturesque fishing village, which has a small beach sheltered by the cliffs.

Talland Bay – Situated midway between Looe and Polperro. This section of the Cornish coast has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Beauty.

Seaton Beach – Located by the river Seaton which meanders across the beach making a nice safe place for children to play.

Downderry Beach – A sheltered beach with grey sand and shingle, which has rock pools at low tide.

Portwrinkle Beach – A small fishing village on the western edge of Whitsand bay.

Whitsand Bay -Located between Rame Head and Portwrinkle is a lovely stretch of beach. Whitsand bay is 4 miles long. It is made up of a few beaches including Sharrow Beach and Freathy Beach

Kingsand Beach and Cawsand Bay sheltered bays that overlooks Plymouth Sound and is generally safe for swimming. The beaches are both sand and shingle and has many rock pools.

Climb a hill

Cornwall has some epic hills with epic views at the top. Find out more here.

Walk the coast path

Your Local Library

Libraries offer many free activities to choose from. Find out more informaiton about what your local library offers by clicking on your town: Callington, Liskaeard, Looe, Saltash, Torpoint.

Hurlers Stone Circle

Why not visit this fascinating stone circle on Bodmin Moor – English Heritage say ‘The close grouping of three Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age stone circles is extremely rare in England, but a grouping of three such regular circles is unique’. Find out more here.

Waker Quay

Located in the Tamar Valley, Wacker Quay provides stunning and free public access to the river Lynher. Find out more here

Penlee Battery

Penlee Battery enjoys stunning panoramic views of Plymouth Sound and is made up of woodland and coastal grassland. A little further on, is Penlee Point and Queen Adelaide’s grotto. The grotto was originally a lookout point over The Sound and is a great place to watch the coming and going of ships and boats. Find out more here

Rame Peninsula

The Rame Peninsular, often known as ‘Cornwall’s forgotten corner’ is just over the boarder from Devon. It is home to twin villages Kingsand and Cawsand which both have beaches to explore. Find out more here Rame Head is also popular to explore

Antony Passage

Antony Passage is a small Cornish village, three miles west of Torpoint. It is a historical village with a tidal mill pond, an old mill and a tiny harbour. From here you can access the public foot path which takes you through the dense and varied woodland along the river Lynher. Find out more here

Portwrinkle

Port Winkle, traditionally a fishing village, is based 5 miles south-east of Saltash. It is situated close to the popular beach, Whitsand Bay which is a beautiful fine sand beach that spans 4 miles. The village has a harbour and two car parks. There is also a beach car park café. Find out more here

Kit Hill –

With its 400 acres (152 hectares) for public enjoyment, Kit Hill Country Park is an ideal place for a wide range of activities including bird watching, kite flying and picnics. Find out more here

Seaton Velley Country Park

Formerly, a derelict caravan park. Seaton Valley Countryside Park was owned and managed by Caradon District Council then Cornwall Council since 1995. It covers 53.8 hectares in the bottom of a steep-sided wooded valley. – Find out more here

Junior Cricket Club