Cornwall


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>Popular with students and creatives and their families, Falmouth (or Fal to the locals) has a long-standing maritime history and culture. The town centres around the world&#8217;s third largest natural deep-water harbour and is surrounded by areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty as well as a number of beautiful beaches. Falmouth offers coastal living with the benefit of being in a large (for Cornwall) town with amenities, university and period properties – although, as we mention with most coastal places in Cornwall, the nicest options will cost a packet. Not to be confused with Falmouth&#8217;s history as a Royal Mail packet station, with the packet (mail) ships filling the harbour for over 150 years, as they sailed to and from the rest of the Empire &#8211; marking out Falmouth as a key information hub, second only to London.</p>



<p>Falmouth University is now one of the leading arts universities in the UK and University of Exeter Cornwall campus, both of which are communities that combine to help drive a year round economy in the town, cementing Falmouth as a great place to live, and helping retain the next generation who no longer have to leave the Duchy to seek further education.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat"><strong>EAT</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="668" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/01/Kernowine-Interior-1-credit_-John-Hersey.jpeg" alt="Kernowine Falmouth Cornwall interior" class="wp-image-25607" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/01/Kernowine-Interior-1-credit_-John-Hersey.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/01/Kernowine-Interior-1-credit_-John-Hersey-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/01/Kernowine-Interior-1-credit_-John-Hersey-720x481.jpeg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/01/Kernowine-Interior-1-credit_-John-Hersey-768x513.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/01/Kernowine-Interior-1-credit_-John-Hersey-786x525.jpeg 786w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kernowine</figcaption></figure>



<p>The high street is full of places to drink and eat, including many independent cafés and restaurants. Highlights to look out for include the tiny but delectable<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SeafoodBarFalmouth/"> Seafood Bar</a> from Verdant microbrewery (who also make good beer),<a href="https://www.restaurantmine.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Restaurant MINE</a>, the Water’s Edge restaurant and working boat pub at<a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/travel/hotel-review-greenbank-falmouth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> The Greenbank Hotel</a>, Other foodie finds include<a href="http://www.provedore.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Provedore</a> trattoria and takeaway, which also does pop ups, wine bar<a href="https://kernowine.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Kernowine</a>, skin-contact wine-led restaurant<a href="https://www.theorgia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> The Orgia</a>, Muddy Award-winning<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sabzideli/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Sabzi Deli</a> and Hylton Espey&#8217;s<a href="https://hevva.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Culture</a>, which was retained its Michelin Green Star. <a href="https://hevva.uk">Hevva</a> fish and shellfish serves shell and seafood at neighbourhood prices and Kelp Canteen is on the quay. New for 2025 is wine shop, cafe &amp; bar from Scarlet Wines on Arwenack Street. Over near Swanpool Beach, the old Hooked on the Rocks is now the Beach House, run by the team behind Flushing&#8217;s Harbour House.</p>



<p>Pub-wise you’ll find everything including student favourites.<a href="https://beerwolfbooks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Beerwolf Books</a> in Bells Court just off Market Street is a quirky shop/pub offering, well, beer and books. Out of town, head south to the Helford where you’ll find the<a href="https://ferryboatcornwall.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Ferryboat Inn</a> at Helford Passage, or over the water to Flushing where you&#8217;ll find great food and drinks at<a href="https://harbourhouseflushing.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Harbour House</a> and Verdant&#8217;s new restaurant, <a href="https://verdantbrewing.co/pages/the-waterside-flushing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Waterside</a>. </p>



<p>At nearby Penryn are more cafés, co-working spaces and a wine shop, and if you head the other way out of Falmouth you’ll find the lovely garden restaurant at Muddy Award winning hotel, <a href="https://www.meudon.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hotel Meudon</a>. In land, we like the<a href="https://www.potagergarden.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Potager</a> garden café where food grown on site is served up in the greenhouse restaurant.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="996" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/High-St-Falmouth-.jpg" alt="Falmouth High Street Cornwall UK" class="wp-image-34855" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/High-St-Falmouth-.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/High-St-Falmouth--800x531.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/High-St-Falmouth--1000x664.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/High-St-Falmouth--768x510.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Falmouth High Street</figcaption></figure>



<p>Winner of the best Coastal Community at the Great British High Street Awards, Falmouth has over 200 independent outlets within three square miles including Muddy Award-winning <a href="https://www.pebbleboutique.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pebble</a>, as well as <a href="https://finisterre.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Finisterre</a> and <a href="https://henrysoffalmouth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Henry&#8217;s of Falmouth</a> for a stylish rural wardrobe, Willow &amp; Stone for interiors and plenty of vintage and antique shops as well as the usual (Cornish) high street offerings – Seasalt, New Look and more. On Killigrew Street is Muddy Award-winning Lowena Flowers, offering seasonal and locally grown blooms. Falmouth also has a good number of supermarkets and amenities, bakeries, grocers and even two Tesco Express, one at each end of the high street (hey, everyone needs a pint of milk now and again?).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/03/St-Michaels-Resort-Falmouth-March-23-Spa-Spa-Hydro-High-Res-EW-4.jpg" alt="St Michaels Resort Falmouth cornwall hydropool" class="wp-image-29811" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/03/St-Michaels-Resort-Falmouth-March-23-Spa-Spa-Hydro-High-Res-EW-4.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/03/St-Michaels-Resort-Falmouth-March-23-Spa-Spa-Hydro-High-Res-EW-4-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/03/St-Michaels-Resort-Falmouth-March-23-Spa-Spa-Hydro-High-Res-EW-4-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/03/St-Michaels-Resort-Falmouth-March-23-Spa-Spa-Hydro-High-Res-EW-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/03/St-Michaels-Resort-Falmouth-March-23-Spa-Spa-Hydro-High-Res-EW-4-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">St Michaels Resort</figcaption></figure>



<p><a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/st-michaels-resort-falmouth-cornwall/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St Michaels Resort</a> health club is the largest and best-equipped health club in Cornwall, with the onsite spa offering treatments, the largest hydrotherapy pool in the South West and a Cornish sea salt room, and the health club a state of the art gym, spin room and pool, plus community accessible tennis courts.&nbsp;A popular spot for swimming and paddleboarding, head to Gyllyngvase beach (it&#8217;s a Blue Flag beach), within easy walking of the town.</p>



<p>We also love Muddy-Award winning <a href="https://www.kilnsauna.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kiln Sauna,</a> who have two community saunas, one on Gylly Beach and the other over the water at Flushing. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>Born out of the ashes of the negative Cornwall Council decision to close the local leisure centre, <a href="https://pendennisleisure.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pendennis Leisure</a>, a CIO, is on a mission to raise the necessary millions to redevelop the site as a stunning new pool and community centre. The space currently houses a host of community yoga and wellbeing classes each week. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sk8fal/?locale=en_GB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Falmouth Skatepark Project</a>, after years of lobbying and fundraising, has now opened for the benefit of the community on Dracaena Avenue.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="960" height="618" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/453016997_883679947125170_1387077109681837840_n.jpg" alt="Natoinal Maritime Museum Falmouth Cornwall" class="wp-image-34974" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/453016997_883679947125170_1387077109681837840_n.jpg 960w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/453016997_883679947125170_1387077109681837840_n-800x515.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/453016997_883679947125170_1387077109681837840_n-768x494.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> National Maritime Museum</figcaption></figure>



<p>In the town itself you’ll find the Discovery Quay, a new development which is home to the superb<a href="https://nmmc.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> National Maritime Museum</a> and guarding the entrance to the harbour is English Heritage <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/pendennis-castle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pendennis Castle</a>. The town beaches of Gylly and Castle are popular – you’ll find everyone from kids to SUP fans and wild swimmers making the most of the coast here – and there&#8217;s plenty of others within easy walking distance too, like Swanpool.</p>



<p>Catch the ferry from Falmouth to the Roseland where you&#8217;ll find St Mawes on the other side of the harbour, or head south, where there are beaches like Maenporth, and then the Helford – another area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with plenty of walking and water sports (perfect for a canoe trip). With its oak wooded banks and sub-tropical gardens of <a href="https://www.trebahgarden.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trebah</a> (open all year) and <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/glendurgan-garden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Glendurgan</a> (NT, not open all year), there&#8217;s tons to do for all ages.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.falmouthartgallery.com/Gallery/Home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Falmouth Art Gallery</a> is in the centre of town and has permanent pieces as well as seasonal exhibitions, and we also like Morgans, and the Sailor’s Jail Gallery<em>.</em><a href="https://thepoly.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> The Poly</a> is the place to go for theatre, music, comedy and film, and is also in the town centre. Outdoor theatre can be found nearby at Trebah Amphitheatre, and there&#8217;s also<a href="https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/departments/school-of-art" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Falmouth School of Arts</a>, part of<a href="https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Falmouth University</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-prices">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES</h2>



<p>Terraced properties made up the the most sold properties in Falmouth this last year, costing an average of just under £350,000 with the average property costing £413,749, slightly down on 2024. Detached properties on average cost over £625,000 with waterside costing significantly more.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/10/Falmouth-Kimberley-1000x667.jpg" alt="Handsome detached five bedroom period home with original features near Kimberley Park and Falmouth's beaches, on the market for £730k." class="wp-image-38705" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/10/Falmouth-Kimberley-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/10/Falmouth-Kimberley-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/10/Falmouth-Kimberley-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/10/Falmouth-Kimberley.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Handsome detached five bedroom period home with original features near Kimberley Park and Falmouth&#8217;s beaches, <a href="https://www.kimberleys.co.uk/property-for-sale/sk7088">on the market</a> for £730k.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p>Happy Days is based at Beacon Junior School,<a href="https://www.naturallylearning.co.uk/falmouth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Naturally Learning Falmouth</a> provides a creative early years’ experience for children aged up to 5 yrs, as well as other nearby pre-schools in Mylor and Penryn.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>Most of the local state school primaries are rated &#8216;Good&#8217; by Ofsted. For secondary, there is Falmouth School, that requires improvement, and the &#8216;Good&#8217; rated<a href="http://www.penryn-college.cornwall.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Penryn College</a> &#8211; as well as options in nearby Truro, where the independent offering includes <a href="http://www.penair.cornwall.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Truro School</a>, <a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/muddy-guide-to-the-best-schools-2-truro-high-school-for-girls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Truro High School for Girls</a> and preps include <a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/truro-prep-school-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Truro Prep</a> and<a href="https://www.polwhelehouse.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Polwhele House School</a>, up to Y9. State school-wise in Truro,<a href="http://www.st-marys-truro.cornwall.sch.uk/web" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> St Mary’s C of E</a> is an Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ primary and <a href="http://www.penair.cornwall.sch.uk/">Penair</a> and <a href="http://www.richardlander.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Richard Lander</a>, both secondary, are rated ‘Good’.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/tacos_solita" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marg Club</a> is at Saffron Huns every other Friday, and Jasmine also runs private events and taco pop-ups. Falmouth is also the &#8216;events capital of Cornwall&#8217; where &#8216;Fal&#8217; weeks include Falmouth Week, a sailing and land celebration, the International Sea Shanty Festival, and<a href="https://www.falmouthbookfestival.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Falmouth Book Festival</a> in October, as well as a comedy festival, annual beer trail, the award-winning Tall Ships event, various arts festivals and 2025 saw the return of the much-loved annual autumn oyster festival. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>It takes around 30 mins on the train from Falmouth to Truro, where you can pick up a mainline train and be in London Paddington in just over 4hrs 30 mins. Driving to London takes longer as you have to factor in the frankly not very good road up to Truro, but it’s still very accessible to the west and north west of Cornwall.</p>



<p><em>View the full <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live">Top 260 Best Places to Live</a></em>.</p>


Falmouth

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