Top 8 Things To Do In Padstow With Kids

Most visitors will know Padstow for its famous resident chef Rick Stein and his myriad of eateries, but there is so much more to this charming Cornish harbour town than just fine food and wine. Here’s our guide to the best things to do in the seaside town of Padstow with kids.

THINGS TO DO IN PADSTOW WITH KIDS

1. EXPLORE THE HARBOUR

Padstow is very much a working harbour. Wander the harbour walls and see the boats and fishermen at work. Buy a crabbing net, perch on the harbour wall and try your hand at catching a crab. The small harbour adorned with fishing boats and sailing yachts is the centre of this small Cornish town. Here you’ll find the main tourist souvenir shops, cafe’s, ice creameries and pasty shops.

2. WANDER THE STREETS OF THIS PRETTY SEASIDE TOWN

Beyond the harbour it is worth having a wander to find the true heart of Padstow with its independent bakeries, craft shops and traditional Cornish pubs.

3. ENJOY AN ICE CREAM OR PASTY: A MUST WHEN IN CORNWALL

There are many options for ice cream or pasties in Padstow. Our favourite for ice cream is Harbour Ice, the best taste and flavours we’ve found. For pasties head to The Chough Bakery, an award winning family run craft bakery.

4. CYCLE THE CAMEL TRAIL

The Camel Trail is a seventeen mile traffic free route based on an historic railway track. It is a great ride for all the family. Being an old railway line the route is extremely flat, meaning it is a very comfortable ride for people of all ages and levels of fitness. It is completely pedestrianised so it’s very safe for children. This section of the route between Padstow and Wadebridge is five miles in length. Why not take a picnic and stop at one of the many scenic resting spots along the way, admiring the fine views across the Camel Estuary? Bikes can be hired from a number of shops located near the start of the trail.

For more on the Camel Trail read: Cycling the Camel Trail in Cornwall

5. TAKE ABOAT TRIP TO ROCK

Rock is a pretty place on the other side of the Camel estuary, with a spectacular sandy beach. Catch the 20 minute ferry boat ride from Padstow for only £3 for adults and £2 for children return. Once in Rock stroll around the harbour and have a drink at one of the many beach front bars or cafes. There are great views of Padstow and its surrounds. Rock has gained the nickname “Little Chelsea” as many people from the capital holiday here. Alternatively, take a walk along the beach or spend some time building sandcastles or splashing in the sea. This is a beautiful beach which stretches for many miles around to Daymer Bay.

6. WALK TO ST. GEORGE’S BAY

For more beautiful beaches stroll along the coastal path to one of the beaches alongside the Camel Estuary, about twenty minutes walk from Padstow. The views are picturesque, across to the sand and dunes at Rock and Daymer Bay. St. George’s Bay has a lovely sandy beach and in the sunshine, azure sea. Take a picnic lunch and watch the sailing boats leave Padstow and Rock harbours. This beach is particularly quiet despite its proximity to the town and is well sheltered from the usual winds along north Cornwall’s coastline.

7. TRY SOME OF THE FRESHEST SEAFOOD AROUND

You can’t mention Padstow without talking about its most famous resident, Rick Stein and his passion for local seafood. Padstow is the place to try some of the freshest locally caught seafood around. There are many options to suit all budgets within the Rick Stein empire!

The Seafood Restaurant, his flagship restaurant and most well known, with a reputation for the very freshest fish and shellfish, often landed on the doorstep. If you are looking for quality then this is the place to go, but it does come at a price. For dinner it is advisable to book several months in advance. Lunchtime may be a better option if you haven’t booked in advance. The restaurant is child friendly although they don’t accept children under the age of three. Our children were treated like VIP’s with live crabs and lobsters being brought to the table!

Stein’s Fish and Chips boasts both a restaurant and takeaway. You’ll find a menu of cod and haddock together with a large range of local fish like hake, plaice, John Dory and lemon sole, which is often landed in Padstow. We would highly recommend this place, queue up to eat inside or order takeaway fish and chips to eat on the harbour front. Simply the best.

Stein’s Seafood Bar, a casual seafood bar, sitting alongside the fish counter, where you can soak up the atmosphere of a working local fisheries, whilst tucking into some of the best seafood from our shores and some great wines too.

Find details of all Rick Stein’s Padstow restaurants here.

Rick Stein may be the most famous chef in Padstow but he has some serious competition from ‘Great British Menu’ Chef Paul Ainsworth at his restaurant Number 6. Another great local restaurant serving local produce.

8. VISIT THE NATIONAL LOBSTER HATCHERY

The National Lobster Hatchery is a fun and informative centre dealing with all things ‘lobster’. Their primary aim is to help conserve the vulnerable lobster populations and preserve coastal marine biodiversity. They are best known for their lobster stock enhancement programme where they grow baby lobsters from eggs, through the most vulnerable stage of their life cycle and release them back into the wild around Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. In 2014 alone, they released 53,000 juveniles back into the wild. Children will thoroughly enjoy a tour of the centre learning about all things lobster and the marine environment.

ADVICE FOR VISITORS

Padstow is a small seaside town with limited parking. There is paid parking on the harbour side but consider catching the ferry from Rock or even cycling along the Camel Trail from Wadebridge, to avoid the parking problems.

Have you been to Padstow? What were your experiences of Padstow with kids?

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