Falmouth is a famous port town with a dramatic nautical history. As the nearest large harbour to the English Channel, there’s always been a fine presence of ships based here. As well as super yachts, fishing trawlers and sea shanties, contemporary Falmouth has a very visitor-friendly high street, lined with galleries, boutiques, bookshops, bakeries, cafes, bars and restaurants. Some of the best places to stay in Falmouth are close to the harbour, overlooking the water, but we have tracked down a few recommendations slightly further afield. Our favourites include a couple of spa hotels, pubs-with-rooms, a restaurant-with-rooms, and a couple of B&Bs.
Falmouth’s centre is charming, with rows of pastel-coloured stucco terraces, traditional granite houses, and more contemporary offerings with plenty of glass. It's a thriving town filled with plenty of things to see and do including spotting dolpins off Pendennis Point or simply enjoying a lazy day on Gyllyngvasse Beach (there are plenty of other lovely ones in the area). The National Maritime Museum is excellent too. But don't forget the watersports, the sheltered harbour here is ideal for honing your paddleboarding skills! The food scene is notable too. There's a wide range of eateries and of course you should expect plenty of freshly landed seafood and locally sourced meat and vegetables.
Don't forget that the peak summer months are incredibly busy in Cornwall. So if you want to guarantee a room in one of the best places to stay in Falmouth in July or August, you'll need to get organised and book well ahead.