About Falmouth
Falmouth is an historic town and port on the south coast of Cornwall brimming with arts and culture, food and shopping and ships and history. Built around the huge harbour (the third largest natural harbour in the world), it was once a stalwart of trade for the British Empire and now provides the perfect port for sailing and pleasure boats, fishing and cargo vessels.
The Maritime Museum, opened in 2003, documents the rich maritime heritage of the town and of Cornwall and the award winning Falmouth Art Gallery is also worth a visit.
Falmouth’s geography is part of what makes it special. The Truro River and the Fal River meet, winding their way down into the large estuary where the vast harbour is tucked safely away from the English Channel. With countless little inlets and coves the area is stunningly beautiful and just waiting to be explored. At the mouth of the vast estuary the mighty Pendennis Castle stands guard. Built around 1540 by Henry VIII this castle has been described by Historic England as "one of the finest examples of a post-medieval defensive promontory fort in the country".
Why visit Falmouth?
- Fascinating maritime heritage
- A choice of four beaches; Castle beach, Gyllyngvase beach, Swanpool beach and Maenporth beach, brilliant for families
- Watersports including surfing, windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling, diving
- A working port with the world's third largest natural deep-water harbour
- Located next to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty along the Helford and Fal Rivers
- A variety of festivals and events calendar all year round
- Creative buzz: art galleries, exhibitions, independent shops
- A huge array of things to see and do, such as eight gardens nearby, four main beaches and over twenty family attractions
- A foodie's paradise: eat freshly-caught seafood, visit delicious delis, great food festivals, beachside restaurants, traditional pubs
- Beautiful walks and trails nearby
