Things to do with kids in Falmouth.

The flagship maritime museum of Cornwall, on the Discovery Quay waterfront, houses a collection of small boats, interactive seamanship galleries, and a tidal observatory whose windows sit below the waterline — children press their faces against the glass to watch the harbour floor. Regular family workshops run throughout the year, particularly strong in school holidays. The rooftop lookout tower gives the best panoramic view of Falmouth Harbour. Allow a full morning or afternoon; the children's areas are genuinely engaging rather than token.

The Fal River system behind Falmouth offers some of the most sheltered and scenically extraordinary kayaking in Cornwall — ancient oak woodland comes down to the water's edge, Trelissick Garden's slopes are visible from the creek, and the upper reaches near King Harry Ferry are so quiet you are more likely to hear kingfishers than engines. Falmouth Kayaks and Canoe Cornwall both offer guided family sessions and hire. The sheltered creek environment means conditions are reliable even when the coast is too exposed for beginners.

A mile west of Gyllyngvase, Swanpool is a calmer, smaller beach backed by a freshwater lagoon that is a local nature reserve. The pool is home to swans, ducks, and the rare trembling sea-mat bryozoan in the tidal channel. Children move between the beach and the lagoon naturally, and the combination of marine and freshwater wildlife in one small area is unusually instructive. Pedalo hire on the lagoon adds an activity layer. The beach cafe is a reliable option. Dogs permitted year-round.