MAKE THE MOST OF SENSATIONAL CORNWALL

Walk around the narrow waterside lanes and alleyways of Falmouth and you can almost smell the rich, maritime history of the town seeping from the cobblestones and the granite quays. This heritage stretches back centuries, and in 2003 the National Maritime Museum Cornwall was opened on Falmouth’s harbourside Event Square, on the site of a stretch of boat builders’ sheds, to entertain, educate and proudly display exhibitions that highlight the town’s fascinating connection with seafaring (the wonderful ‘Pirates’ exhibition is open for summer 2024!). This is a must visit!

Music fans will fall in love with this now iconic venue right in the middle of Falmouth’s town centre, where you can see performances from a diverse range of artists from across the globe, some world-famous and some up and coming. Though you can grab a delicious bite to eat and locally brewed drink here, the focus is really on the music with an incredibly eclectic roster of bands from every conceivable genre, at a venue that is popular with both the young and not-so-young.

Taking place in October, the Falmouth Oyster Festival is a celebration of the ‘mighty mollusc’ and offers live music, cooking demonstrations, the famous annual ‘Working Boat’ races, incredible food, a range of stalls by local traders and of course world-beating fresh oysters. Everything is undercover in a huge waterfront marquee so, rain or shine, you can happily spend a weekend browsing, tasting and partying.

Ok, so it’s a little drive from Meudon (around 45 minutes) but the fantastic, world famous Eden Project is well worth the trip. A huge, global garden sited in a former clay mine, Eden features vast, covered ‘biomes’ that house plant life from across the planet including a rainforest and a fragrant, warm Mediterranean biome, as well as outdoor gardens and incredible café. Eden project is all about education and awareness of our environment, with a big emphasis on preservation, and is a truly magical place to visit for the whole family. Keep an eye on events that take place throughout the year such as the massive Eden Sessions gigs in the natural amphitheatre space, and an ice rink in the winter months!

Down the road in the riverside village of Gweek, is the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, a charity that rescues and rehabilitates grey seal pups from around the Cornish coastline and provides a permanent home to animals that need special care from their team of marine animal experts. Prepare to have your heart melted as you get up close to these intelligent, brave and, let’s face it, incredibly cute creatures that were fortunate enough to be rescued by the wonderful Sea Life Trust and brought to this safe haven by the idyllic Helford River.

The Poly is a vibrant, multi-purpose art centre and community hub with an 164 capacity theatre, a state-of-the art pottery, a variety of exhibition and meeting spaces, a fully licensed cafe/bar - as well as a shop featuring the best in local art and design. Founded in 1833 and ,thankfully, recently rescued from closure, the Cornwall Polytechnic Society is a historic organisation and the building is a wonderful place to watch a live show, or catch an obscure arthouse movie that you may not see in mainstream cinemas.

If you’re the type that’s tempted by the word ‘adventure’ then you won’t be put off by a little inclement weather, and Kernow Adventure Park is open most of the year, rain or shine. Located on the site of an old quarry, with a crystal clear lake, this is Cornwall’s hidden activity centre offering a super-fun, inflatable aqua park, wild swimming, wakeboarding and paddleboarding. Perfect for an energetic family that likes getting wet! Just a 17 minute drive from Hotel Meudon.