Cornish Coastal Magic: Our Family Day in Padstow 🦀🚲

If you’re looking for a quintessential British seaside experience that keeps the kids entertained from sunrise to sunset, Padstow is hard to beat. We recently spent a full day exploring this charming Cornish harbour town, and even with the classic British weather doing its best to dampen our spirits, we had an absolute blast!

From baby lobsters to "sugar-powered" cycling, here’s how we spent our perfect family day in Padstow.

🍳 A Proper Cornish Start

We kicked off our morning at the Link Road long-stay car park—it's nice and big, which is always a relief when you're travelling with the whole crew. After a quick stop at a local playground (even if the slides were a bit damp!), we headed for breakfast at Cherry Blossoms Café.

Top Tip: This place fills up fast! By 9:20 AM, there were only a few tables left. We tucked into pancakes and, of course, a proper Cornish pasty. The cakes in the window were "calling our names," particularly the Oreo and chocolate layer cakes—perfect fuel for the day ahead! [01:41]

🦞 Meeting the Locals at the Lobster Hatchery

Next, we headed to the National Lobster Hatchery. It was such a fantastic educational stop for the kids. We saw everything from a ginormous "blue" lobster to the "Maternity Ward," where tiny lobster larvae had hatched just that morning! [05:16] It’s a brilliant way to teach the children about marine conservation while seeing some truly unique sea life.

🚲 Conquering the Camel Trail

The highlight of our day was definitely cycling the Camel Trail. This was our first time cycling as a family of four, and we were a bit nervous, but the trail is beautifully flat and safe for children. [06:43]

• The Route: We cycled from Padstow to Wadebridge, which is about 5 miles each way.

• The Experience: It took us about 45 minutes to get there with the kids. We got caught in a few rain showers, but the views of the River Camel kept us going.

• The Reward: We stopped at the Beach Box Café in Wadebridge for ice cream. We called it "sugar power" for the ride back! [08:07]

• The Puddles: A warning for parents: Renzo made it his mission to hit every single puddle on the way back. He was soaked, but the smile on his face was worth the extra laundry! [13:21]

🍴 Refuelling at 'Burgers and Fish'

After returning our bikes, we headed to a restaurant called Burgers and Fish. It has fantastic reviews for a reason! We shared a feast of mussels (which were incredibly creamy and soft), marinara pasta, cheeseburgers, and classic fish and chips. It was the perfect way to warm up and refuel after our 10-mile round trip. [15:27]

🦀 Crabbing on the Quay

We couldn't leave Padstow without a bit of crabbing. With some bits of bacon and a lot of patience, the kids actually managed to catch a few! There’s nothing quite like the teamwork of landing a crab in the bucket before releasing them safely back into the water. [17:09]

🗺️ Plan Your Own Cornish Adventure

Padstow really is a must-visit for families. The mix of outdoor activity, educational stops, and incredible food makes it a winner every time.

How we can help you:

• Family Holiday Planning: Love the look of this trip? As Independent Travel Agents, we can help you find the best family-friendly stays in Cornwall or anywhere else in the world. We take the stress out of booking so you can focus on the memories.

• Join the Journeying Journeys Team: Do you want to earn while you travel? We’re always looking for prospective agents to join our organisation. You’ll get access to our professional booking platform and can start building your own travel business around your family, just like we have!

Check out the full video of our Padstow trip here: PADSTOW with Kids: Crabbing, Lobsters & Cycling the Camel Trail!