A 7-Day Itinerary by the Sea in Devon and Cornwall, England

Driving for hours outside of London to reach the sea can seem crazy for just a weekend. But as soon as you get that first glance of waves crashing over a craggy cliff, you’ll be hooked on vacations by the English coastline.

Cornwall is a special place: there are beautiful villages packed with tasty fish and chip shops, seemingly untouched by the outside world. This region has incredible castles, spectacular views and even a little surfing (well, a lot of surfing). There’s so much to experience, I visited a few times while living in London. Then recently, I brought my whole family this summer to spend a week after we hung out with family in South Wales.

The key to a successful trip to Cornwall from London (or the U.S.) is to give yourself plenty of time. The roads can quickly be jammed and speed checks along the highways are not few and far between. It takes a solid four to six hours to drive there on a good day, so schedule for food breaks and know you’ll need an extra day or two for the driving.

Find things to do in Cornwall, England and feel wonderfully satisfied and connected to nature with a leisurely and relaxing vacation in this southernmost seaside region. Famed for its unique culture, Cornwall is even considered as its own country by some people. After all, they do have their own language! With London often being the main destination for the majority of tourists in England (and for good reason), any big city can feel congested at times, so Cornwall was the perfect destination.

Once you arrive, there are countless things to experience in this large seaside region, but here are some personal suggestions that offer an incredible backdrop to a classic seaside getaway.

Day 1-2: Along the drive & Devon

It’d be a shame to not check out Devon first on your way into Cornwall. This sets the family up for adventures right off the bat, especially in the Dartmoor National Park. A grassy, rocky landscape goes on for miles that’s cut by curved roads of onlookers. If lucky, your crew can make a pit stop in the middle and have a walk through the unfenced areas that are home to tons of animals, including domestic sheep, cows, and some wild ponies. Watch the little ones, as the cattle especially are a lot larger up close! But most mind their own business so people can hike through the pastures with ease.

If you’re driving though the center and not along the coast, there’s so many farm stands and opportunities to pick-your-own produce along the way. It’s the best way to stock your vacation home fridge with local treats, fruit, baked goods and more. My favorite is the Thornes Farm Shop in Crediton, especially in the summer. It’s a quick stop for pick-your-own strawberries that are the sweetest around.

Devon’s Bigbury-on-Sea

One of the trips we spent in Cornwall as a family was in Bigbury-on-Sea. This gorgeous area is about an hour east of Plymouth and has lots of things to experience on a multi-generational trip. The grandparents loved chasing our toddlers around the rocky beaches and hunting for seashells, while us parents sunk into the laid-back feel of the region and enjoyed the views over a cold drink.

Burgh Island

You’ll not want to miss this unique beachy spot in Cornwall. Unlike some of the more busy spots open to the ocean and made for surfing, this sandy spot wraps around and island and has wild tidal changes. You can only walk across at certain times of day! You can also take a short hike to the top of the island for sweeping coastal views.

I don’t think I could name my favorite pub in England, but this one definitely might win the award. Dishes were hearty and warm, but the real draw was just this coziest, most historic and welcoming ambiance, right on the sea. They carved out a room just for our big family and we spent all afternoon sharing pints and fresh chips (fries). Rumor has it the Pilchard Pub has been around since 1336!

We opted to stay in a traditional caravan-style holiday condo that worked great for our extended family group. But there’s lots of charming and upscale hotels in the area too, including The Burgh Island Inn.

Day 3-4: Newquay

Easily the quirkiest town visited with its naughty souvenir shops, cafes and hearty surfing community. Being there in November, I assumed there’d be no boards to be seen, but plenty of surfers were hitting the waves and catching some great curls. The hostel scene seems to revolve around the surfing and reminded me a lot of Australia’s vibe along the coast. While sipping a few ciders at an outdoor pub, it was a trip witnessing a wet suited surfer and board strolling alongside a woman in a pea coat, gloves and hat.

Tintagel/Tintagel Castle

The English love their medieval tales of centuries past. But I certainly did not love traipsing up a super steep staircase in the pouring rain. Call me crazy, but my American side wondered about the safety regulations of the crooked and loose railings that were my only lifeline. But I did make it to the top of the cliff, greeted by a chain smoking grandma that was highly unimpressed about my dangerous accomplishment. Stepping sideways around grandma, I saw stone walls rise out of green grass forming what I’m sure was once a magnificent fortress and home. Looking down off the cliff to the crashing waves you can see Merlin’s Cave squished between the rocks. This is the spot where we decided to commit to the annual English Heritage pass so hundreds of castles and historic points of interest would be free explore without paying separate entrance fees.

Gorran Haven

The Cornwall region is small but diverse in its offerings, so choose ahead of time where you’d like to set up base. Along the southern and inland areas are more for the camping families who like the outdoors, while the northern coast tends to draw in more backpackers and hostel-goers. Everywhere are charming B&Bs and boutique hotels that provide a touch of elegance along the simple countryside.

We chose the small fishing village of Gorran Haven where the Llawnroc Hotel is located near the beach. With this luxury hotel overlooking the beach, it’s sure to impress any guest!

This tiny little village connected to a tiny little beach which one can travel to via car. As we walked along the short sea wall, a woman approached, hands outstretched. Immediately I thought she’d want something from us, but instead explained she had ordered extra food from the chip shop next door by mistake. She wanted to know if we would take it so food wouldn’t go to waste. In many other places of the world I might have not taken the gift, but in this small village, it made perfect sense. I watched the sun go down over the sea, happily munching on fresh fries while digging my toes into the cold sand. It’s these moments that make Cornwall special.

Many souvenir shops have fun little trinkets to snag and often have an adjoining ice cream shop where you can try some Cornish flavors. Speaking of Cornish specialties, this is also an area for the famous Cornish pasty kids will love. They can take their lunch with them while they walk, as these pocket-sized pastries were used by tradesmen for a quick and hot meal. Nowadays they are still popular in two varieties – cheese and onion and steak ale. Truscotts has one of the best reputations for homemade Cornish pasties in town.

Day 5-7: Bude

Bude is a more chill, family-friendly town in Cornwall: but they still boast serious waves. Bude is famous because they have a beach right in town you can walk to, plus a historic Victorian swimming ‘pool’ with seawater.

We chose an idyllic vacation rental home steps from the coastal walking path (did you know it goes all the way around England?). While the beach in town was worth seeing, I like the Widemouth Beach better, as there’s more space to stretch out and more dramatic views. They have an excellent breakfast at the onsite café there too, plus opportunities for surf lessons and plenty of lifeguards on duty.

Back in town, there’s a spot to eat and shop all afternoon. We loved poking into the water sport shops and choosing, some local apparel, especially warm changing robes from the Cornwall Swimming Company: a must if you plan to swim on chillier days in England. We picked up my five-year old’s first wetsuit too.

As for food/drinks, have a local pull at the trendy Bude Coastal Brewery, or something even quirkier and delicious at The Bank that offers Spanish tapas with a Cornish flair. They have little individual dining cabins you can book if the kiddos like to be particularly rowdy.

One of the slower days we even did this silly side quest at the Monster Slip n Slide that’s a fun summer activity for the little ones! We also took an evening off the coast, drove 20 minutes away to have a gorgeous early dinner at the Bush Inn. There’s lots of space to stretch out on the green behind the pub for the kids and adults, and our meals were fantastic. Especially the fish and chips.

Have more time to spend in Cornwall? Check out some of these amazing places for yourself!

• Admire the architecture at Pendennis Castle
• Learn about the environment at the Eden Project
• Show some love to the animals at Paradise Park and JungleBarn
• Gaze at the beauty that The Lizard has to offer (& take photos!)
• Grab some popcorn (or a pasty) and watch a performance at the Minack Theatre

And of course, for the foodies out there!

• If you’ve already had a taste of Truscotts, treat yourself to another one over at Philps!
• You can’t leave Cornwall without trying the classic clotted cream from Rodda’s
• Enjoy the scenery while having a cheeky drink with Tarquin’s Cornish Gin
• Have a taste of the one and only Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall
• Take advantage of all the fresh seafood at The Seafood Restaurant
• If you’d like to experience some very fine dining, head over to the only Cornish restaurant with two Michelin stars – Restaurant Nathan Outlaw! Enjoy some of the finest seafood while watching the waves hit the Cornish coastline.

While Cornwall is famous for its pasties and clotted cream, the beaches in this beautiful county also (unsurprisingly) attract millions of tourists each year. So, don’t forget to relish Cornwall’s delicacies while taking in some of the most breathtaking views. You surely can’t leave England without visiting this famed county.

Have you been to Cornwall, England? What is your most memorable experience in Cornwall?