Top 14 things to do and attractions in Launceston

Plenty of pay and display parking nice views of the castle lots of nice small places to eat and a great castle to see.

This castle still had quite a bit of it still standing. It was fairly high when you climbed up it. The view from the top was amazing. You can see for miles. It's worth the visit, especially for that view.

Well worth the climb to the top for the Panoramic views. Lots of interesting information on the castle scattered around as you climb and in the ticket office. It is a ruin so it doesn't have any rooms.

Beautiful castle ruins across the town. The main tower is English Heritage so entry is paid but at £10.50 per adult, this seemed a lot for a ruin of a tower

There are 2 parts of the castle. One part is free to look around and the other part is too regarded tour.You have to buy a ticket for.

Lovely Castle grounds then Entrance to Castle, is owned by English Heritage, great views from top of Castle. Ive lived in Launceston since 1998..

Great views and interesting history lesson. A lovely walk and sightseeing trip for family and friends. Had some 75 steps to the tower and an additional 15 or so to the top of the tower, but not difficult or unsafe. My wife did get a little bit acrophobic at the top. Recommend buying annual family passes to either English Heritage or National Trust as visiting three sites would cost as much as buying the annual pass. A great value and an endless ticket to over 600 sites combined. Unedited photos, you're welcome to edit and use as you wish, if you wish :) Also a few photos of the lovely town of Launceston.

Very pleasant and interesting house and museum. Really like these more traditional museums with artefacts from many years ago to more recent history laid out. Family friendly with a game for children to play while walking round. The volunteers were very welcoming and friendly. Nice garden and views of the surrounding town and countryside. Thank you.

Excellent place to visit ,so interesting and free

I didn't know what to expect. This free attraction was a gem and big hit with the family young and old. My daughter's loved the exhibits and the playing in the toy room. They also engaged very well with the helpful and knowledgeable staff that I think make all the different.

This is a great little museum. My son loves the Victorian playroom. Staff are really helpful. Dioramas of local train station is excellent as well as the Launceston Castle model. Short walk from town and Castle Green but definitely worth it!

Small museum dedicated to local history, each room has its own theme which works well. Looking at the National Trust website as of time of writing, it's open Monday to Friday but also opens second Saturday of each month. Closes in winter. Suggest you check the National Trust website before going. For wheelchair users front entrance has only small steps so with assistance may be able to get in (look at Street view if you're unsure). There are a few floors and no lift but a fair bit to look at on the ground floor.

Fantastic museum that is free to enter! And its run by lovely volunteers. Fascinating local history, and the children loved doing the owl trail. We didn't have any, but there were cakes & refreshments for sale downstairs

This museum crams so much in that the is something for everyone. There is a room full of toys for the children . Toys that they can actually play with as well as lots to keep adults interested and the best bit is it is free. Well worth a visit.

Lovely steam railway with nice scenery along the line to Newmills Station where you can depart and walk along the River Kensey. There is a choice of open carriages or closed in carriages. At Launceston Station there is a lovely cafe serving cream teas and more in a 1930s scene. Lots of interesting things to do. Kids will love this place. Dogs are welcome and would well recommend. The operating times are limited so check on there website before visiting.

The Railway is great for kids. The journey is around 2 miles into the Countryside and back again. The Museums on the same site has a number of vintage cars and motorcycles. Cafe serves vegetarian and vegan food only.

Lovely ride on the train despite the rain. Shop, museum and lovely cafe with great staff. A definite hit with children and adults alike.

Enjoyed a short trip to Launceston Railway with our two little ones (5 + 3) on a day that couldn't decide if it was raining or sunshine! The railway offers a charming 2.5-mile narrow-gauge journey through the Kensey Valley, pulled by lovingly restored Victorian steam locomotive. The family ticket was a reasonable discount and the ticket allows you to "pay once and ride all day", which allows you to hop on and off at Launceston and Newmills stations. At Launceston Station, you'll find railway workshops, a transport museum, a gift shop, and a café for lunch or a cream tea. The journey itself provides beautiful views, and at Newmills Station, you can enjoy a riverside walk, however the park that once had public access is now private, and has been closed off. After two trips we definitely felt a third would have been too much of the same thing, so struggled to make this any more than a morning trip. However it is most definitely worth a trip to experience.

took our dad for a couple off rides up and down the line then had a look round the museum and then had a look on the gift shop good time by all

A really pleasant and affordable day out with the kids. Everyone very friendly & lovely cafe.

My son loved this little hidden place, we jumped on the steam train was a lovely little journey went up in an inside carriage and changed to the outside carriage for the way back. The museum was interesting the push buttons add to the fun for my son. There’s a cafe and a little gift shop. We spent about hour and half as we tried to fit lots in. Would definitely recommend this place there’s also some lovely churches in Launceston, the castle (which was shut on the day we went) and some good shops as well.

This is by far the best day out we have had in ages. We got there thinking it would be a bit of fun and expected to blast round and probably do all 3 puzzles quests. We were wrong. We did the medium level puzzle trails and it took us nearly 3 hours (we are 3 full grown adults)! There are staff around to help out if you get stuck ( and we did) who were lovely, friendly and chatty. We had a brilliant time. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about the whole place. Cafe is small and does sandwiches, pastry, cakes and drinks but they were delicious. I would go back just for the cakes. They were amazing. There is ample parking. The grounds are stunning and beautifully maintained. The puzzles are fun and quirky and the clue system really makes you use your brain. Definitely, definitely will be going again

I visited here today with my 4 children and what an incredible time we had! Online really doesn't do this little gem justice! Its so well put together and inclusive of the whole family. The kids absolutely loved looking around the house and running round outside looking for clues whilst I tried my best to work out the puzzles. It really is one for all the family. We arrived at 11 and left at 4.30 bit you could definitely do the full day here. We didnt finish our trails but had great fun all the same. The value for money is definitely one of the best. My 3 year old son is disabled I did have to carry him around the mansion but everywhere else was that we visited was fully accessible. Would definitely love to return without the kids and would recommend this day out for anyone at any age!

Booked a trip to Hidden Valley for myself and husband with son (25) and daughter (22) with their partners. Slightly nervous that it would be aimed more for younger families but the website said any age so we took a chance. Oh My Days!! We had a great time! From entering (absolutely super welcome from the staff at the entrance) to the end of the day we had such fun. We did Swivelnoghin's Trail which was excellent (think the Professor's Trail would have been too tricky for us!) all 4 youngsters were having a fab time competing with each other and the trail to work it all out. The Study Escape Room was out first event and was good. The Secret Mansion was trickier with 6 of us and 1 'play card' to compete the tasks ( we did wonder if a group like ours could be offered additional cards at a small fee??). Of course we had to go around the site on the train and take photos in the Emes Room of us all at the wrong size! A brilliant day which we would all recommend....and would all return to attempt next year when it will have had it's annual 'change'.

Hidden Valley is a fantastic and picturesque place for the whole family. From solving riddles and discovering hidden passages in an old forgotten mansion to walking along scenic trails filled with fun tasks and activities – there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Children, both young and older, will love the amazing playground, and the short ride on a small train adds an extra touch of charm. All of this is surrounded by a beautiful and peaceful pine forest, creating the perfect setting for a day full of adventure and exploration. Highly recommended for families looking to spend quality time together in nature!

Brilliant!! We had a great day and the light drizzle didn’t bother us at all! Plenty to do indoors and out. One of the best mazes I have been to in a long time. Staff were all so helpful and friendly.

Visited for my daughters 10th birthday and what a fantastic place to visit! We went in pretty blind, choosing not to research the place too much so it would be a surprise for the kids and this was definitely the right decision as it made some of the rooms within the mansion so much more fun so I obviously won't spoil what's in some of the rooms! The maze is a really good size with so many tricky ways to go and deadends to make it a little challenge. We did the first puzzle trail as having three young kids the other two would be a little tricky. They found it really fun and the questions just difficult enough to really work their brains. The six minute escape room was brilliantly done, a nice little adrenaline boost for us all running around trying to answer the clues in time. The train ride is very cute and a good way to see the scale of the place. The whole place is really well kept and you can tell money has been spent on it which is great. Plant displays really well looked after and beautiful. The kids park park is great and really fits in well with the feel of the whole place. We will definitely be back!

This one was a spectacular and very interesting place. Never been something similar like this. Its outstanding and very unique. The story and characters are very good & the surrounding of this Parc ... phenomenal! We made two exit houses, the maze and tried the trails. Even if we didnt made the trails completely but it was a fun day out. There is so much love in the details, the tiny and big buildings, the train and all of the plants...we loved it. Ah.. and don't forget the playground. Spacious and natural. Highly recommend!

St Mary Magdalene’s Church in Launceston, Cornwall, is renowned for its distinctive architecture and rich history. Constructed between 1511 and 1524 by Sir Henry Trecarrel as a memorial to his infant son, the church features an exterior entirely adorned with intricate carved granite, a unique characteristic unparalleled in England.   The church stands on the site of an earlier medieval chapel, with its west tower dating back to around 1370, built by Edward, the Black Prince. This tower, constructed from Polyphant stone, is the only remaining part of the original structure and rises 70 feet to an embattled top.  Inside, the church houses several notable features, including a monument to Elizabeth Herle of Dockacre House, who died in 1714 under mysterious circumstances. Additionally, the church contains mid to late 19th-century stained glass windows, including a memorial from 1883 dedicated to Sir Henry Trecarrel.  St Mary Magdalene’s Church remains an active place of worship, offering regular services such as Holy Communion on the second and fourth Sundays of each month at 10:30 a.m., and Choral Evensong monthly on Sundays at 5:30 p.m.  For those interested in visiting, the church is located on Church Street, Launceston, Cornwall, PL15 8AU

A lovely old church with some beautiful decorations and artifacts. The gentleman caretaker who was in when we visited, was very knowledgeable and told us lots of information about its varied past and that of the surrounding area. I wish I had more cash with me to donate more. I see the development of a cashless society being problematic for a lot of places that rely on them. If you are in the area, well worth a visit.

Some amazing stained glass, a fascinating ceiling in a church that drips history. Well worth a visit.

The origins of the church date from the 12th century, but all except for the tower has been replaced. The current building, except for the tower, dates from 1511–1524 and was built by Sir Henry Trecarrel of Trecarrel as a memorial to his infant son.

Very impressive 16th Century church (with parts dating back much earlier). The exterior is liberally carved granite. The path through the churchyard leads to 'the Parade ground' which is nice public area with some benches and lovely views. Well worth a look around.

It's a nice church. Bog standard but the altar of Jesus is very impressive.

Lovely old church in centre of town. Very unusual exterior with lots of carved stone. Inside is cool and peasant.

An incredible find! Lovely staff, and incredible selection of liqueurs and spirits distilled on the premises. The cafe is lovely with homemade pastries and cakes and breads for (slipper) sandwiches. All dishes include homemade ingredients and condiments and pickles. Sensational food I. Beautifully stylish surroundings. There’s a palpable sense of this being the culmination of someone’s dream and it exudes love in all its detail. Well done!

Great Easter Egg hunt this afternoon. Really good vibe and terrific place to go for a drink and cakes etc. Amazing selection of delicious spirits all distilled on the premises I think. Not expensive either, good place to go to buy local (alcoholic) gifts on way home when leaving Cornwall. Easy access straight off the A30 just before Launceston.

Little Oasis off the road for tasty food and flavoursome drinks. Friendly staff who willingly let you sample their alcoholic creations. We didn't go on the tour, we met family for lunch and had some delicious food. Great space and a calm, clean and conducive atmosphere. Incredible flavoured spirits like I've never tasted before!

This place was a real gem of a visit. We had a lovely tour of the distillery by Joe, the in-house distiller and sampled quite a few gins, vodkas, rums and spirits. We were then able to purchase a variety of spirits, jams and sauces if we wanted (and we did 😊) and then had the opportunity of having a lovely cream tea in the beautiful cafe. What a fab way to spend an afternoon, in the gorgeous Cornish sun We will definitely come back again. Thank you English Spirit, we had a blast!

We were traveling from Birmingham to Cornwall , we found this place on google map, & just stop for a quick washroom break, but very nice place, we tasted UK made rum, very different taste … and we bought few bottles also ! Must visit… very good ambiance & staff provided us with all history… over all Good experience!

Absolutely wonderful place! I took my mum here for her birthday along with my partner. We went for lunch in the restaurant which was divine! We then had a wonderful distillery tour with Joe. Joe was so knowledgable and lovely to have a tour with someone who is actually making the wonderful spirits we were tasting! We were able to taste whichever spirits we like and actually ended up buying quite a few! Wonderful day out!

We booked a group of 6 for the distillery tour, booked a hotel room each at the nearby golf centre, and paid £40 for return taxis. Then, on arrival at the distillery, I was told sorry it's all been cancelled as we've got a wedding booked for today. An apology but no offer of reimbursement for hotels or taxis just a waffle that it wasn't their fault it was the old managers fault, you should have been called. All in all, between my wife and I and our friends, the trip cost us in excess of £350 plus expenses all for nothing. It's an absolute disgrace for it to happen, no call, no email, just waffle that it's someone else's fault. See ya!! The local taxi driver was enraged and asked about compensation for at least the taxi cost. The female manager point blank said no, not up to us and walked away. It was her dads business, and she was running the place for the day, but sorry, not sorry now you can leave. Absolutely disgraceful and no offer of a free tour or anything not rhat I would bother going back and with an attitude like they have and a business model like they have I'd advise everyone to swerve the place. The taxi driver said she would be putting it out there about their attitude and tell people visiting the area to swerve this place. With an attitude like this and a business model like they have and reviews from disgruntled customers like me, my wife and the other 4 people business won't last.

Step into the footsteps of one of the greatest preachers of all time. This place oozes Christianity......I NEED TO GO BACK!

Very informative lovely setting but the lane is very narrow not wide enough for cars, pedestrian only, so park on the main road.

Temporarily closed. Phone LAMC office to book a visit. A place of historical and spiritual interest. John Wesley often stayed and preached here. Complimentary refreshments available and a helpful, friendly guide. No charge.

Not that we worship John Wesley , but we are inspired to be used the Lord in same way John Wesley was used to spread the Gospel. John Wesley made use of this place

Fascinating property where John Wesley and others stayed and preached in very small rooms Lovely seating area outside The A30 is noticable but not intrusive

Fascinating history of John Wesley's stays in Cornwall and those who gave him hospitality.

Can't say much as it was not open when we called in. Lovely situation in small village, a little spoilt by traffic noise from A30.

Family of 4 visited in March. Kids had a great time in the play areas outside along with the indoor play barns. Cafes were well stocked with cakes,sandwiches etc all averidge prices. Main restaurant is modern with the usual choices of what looked to be well presented food. Toilets were often cleaned through out 6 hour stay. Petting area was great for little ones to stroke guinea pigs and rabbits. Sadly the owners have diversified in challenging financial times removing pony's and other large animals, we feel this is a big loss. For us the bowling was a complete let down as 1st lane went faulty, friendly staff moved us but then the 2nd lane became faulty. We were given a full refund. Other's had no problems so probably unfortunate for us. It's clear there have been improvements and investment so finger's crossed it carries on and perhaps the new owner brings back some other petting animals.

For the price you pay, you get a lot of fun. My children loved it. We didn’t have to queue for anything. Friendly staff. A scoop of Kelly’s ice cream only cost you £2.50,

Went here for the first time yesterday by luncheston 30min drive from truro was £39.00 2 adults 1 child not to bad on price for what you get big bowling area bumper cars slot machines a change machine also a bar and cafe indoor shop outdoor play area plus indoor play area slides ball pits demon drop pirate ship it just goes on and on lots to do for the kids free parking a nice place to go to well worth it staff nice to book online is simple also

Great place for tots, teenagers and older folks. So much to do including 10 pin Bowling and Dogem Cars. Nicely stocked bar and restaurant selling basic meals.

Honestly wouldn’t recommend. Was actually excited to come and bring my child and other family as have seen online and still seemed fun and used to come as a child. Poo on the bottom of the tube slide, Poo again by the stairs coming out from the play park, a big chunk of glass on the floor which we nearly stood on looked like smashed security glass. Inside play areas covered in dust, extremely thick dust on the top of the slides. The carpets by the drop slides absolutely stank… I can’t even explain the smell but was horrid. Most of the staff seemed miserable like they didn’t want to be there. Pointless even making a complaint as already had an issue there and the manager was more interested in picking the food out of his teeth. A lot of things have “age restrictions” now too so it’s hard having different aged children and one can do something and the other can’t. The amount you pay to get in most certainly isn’t worth it anymore. Especially paying nearly £12 for an adult…

We bought tickets in advance, although because of the time of the year, we probably didn't need to. This place is amazing! We were only here a couple of hours, but it's a place that you could spend the whole day. We will definitely be coming back. Awesome thank you

There’s so much to do here indoor and out, and for kids (and adults) of all ages- don’t let the rain put you off! The entrance price is very reasonable compared to other places. Sadly the boat lake was closed on our visit. The lady who looks after the animals was super friendly and caring. The duckies could do with a proper pond though. The main bar (great food), amusements, seating, bowling, and conference areas have all been modernised too since our last visit. We had a brilliant day here. Well worth a visit.

Was a lovely walk up to the top of the Tor. The view from the top was amazing. Good area to park beforehand. Doesn't take that long as an individual Tor to visit. Can be combined easily with others as part of a longer walk. Highly recommend

lovely walk if not a little uphill. i had two fantastic sandwiches with ham, brie, apple, onion, lettuce and sriracha and the sun shone on us consistently all afternoon (not sure what Susan is talking about). My friend brought a whole packet of triple chocolate cookies (Co-op irresistable) but we were having such a great time we didn’t even open them! Looking forward to getting home and enjoying them with a cuppa. 9/10 definitely reccomend Hawk’s Tor

Hawks Tor spit on that THANG!

Hawk's Tor and spit on that thang

Do not flood this part of our historic county there re more small valleys in lower ground that would be better

Fabulous views. The nearby stipple stones are well worth the visit. One of my favourite places on the moor

It was ok. But the weather wasn't good

Would have been nice to marry at the Town hall as they use to, rather than be moved to the library which is dump. Puts a damper on the day.

Went to see Paul Young on his Behind the Lense tour. Extremely enjoyable evening. I was lucky enough to have a meet & greet. I am so happy that this event was brought to the Town Hall. Makes wuch a nice change to to have a 3/4 hour plus drive home! Very well organised. The 2 gals manning the bar were great fun. Looking forward to attending more events like this here in the future 😀 🙌🏻

Lovely old hall with stage. A sort of village hall upgrade meets theatre, complete with red swagged curtains and a proper stage! Lighting actually quite impressive- theatre and house chandeliers! Fine old building.

The most splendid and refined town hall in Cornwall - as befits the historic former capital. Beautifully refurbished in traditional styling, it has a marvelous sound system capable of hosting large bands and national performers. With seating for 370 (and well over 600 standing), it has hosted the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra a number of times now. There is a guildhall, bar, kitchen and several rooms and the Main Hall has a huge stage, orchestra pit, professional lighting, full cinema screen, stage extension/catwalk, dimmable chandeliers, under floor heating- all you could need. Come and see for yourself!

Good place to stop off on your journey especially if you are going up or down the M5 as. It's really close to the junction . The ancient capital of Cornwall it has a castle which is closed until March easy to park in multi story car park quite cheap too , the high street is right for getting refreshments and relax awhile.

A stunning, Gothic style building (dating from 1887) which offers an award winning mixture of historic architecture, wood panelling & stained glass combined with state of the art equipment, modern amenities, contemporary design and disabled access throughout.

A beautiful building both inside and out a pleasant mix of classic interiors and small touches of the modern world. Also has what looks like two golliwogs above the clock that ring the bell every hour , which is nice

Just stunning. What an amazing piece of engineering. To think it was built over 3000years ago. Probably more. The views are stunning as well. Really worth a visit. Makes you really proud to be Celtic 💪.

A very interesting first visit here today. It's a huge site with an informative display notice. It must have been a very important defensive position in it's time. Incredible views from the site too. Recommended.

Iron Age fort, great views from the top and a good place to stop mid run/hike, free car park on warbstow side for approx 8 cars

It's the legacy of an old hillfort. Great views on clear days can see Lundy, other days not so lucky!

Well worth the trip the view's are amazing.

Beautiful views! Pleasant short walk.

Wet and windy whilst we were there. Didn't get a chance to look properly so will return when weather is better although the views did show potential.

The excellent guidebook has it right when it says 'the church imparts a wonderful feeling of light from its fine perpendicular tracery windows of clear glass'. Lovely and light inside. The original church was reconstructed in the 15th century. You get a fine view of the church from the cemetery if you follow the path around. Excellent large car park. There is a lot to see in the church. The mural painting is faint but you can make out some details. A number of excellent bench ends and the chancel has some interesting old Barnstaple tiles. The church is now on the Tamara Coast to Coast path.

Such a beautiful old Anglican church full of history, there's so much to see and appreciate in this church and there's a nice size car park right outside it. This one is a must to visit

Delightful church down a narrow road. Medieval tiles, wall paintings, very old wooden sculptured pews and Georgian box pews and more. Worth a visit.

Lovely Ancient Church, if you are in and around the Stratton, Bude area, well worth a visit. See the old floor tiles & ornate 'end of pew' wood carvings and the very old font.

If you find yourself in the area, visit this church to find where love lives. The people of St Swithin’s are truly amazing

Well worth a look! Take time to research the Rev Hawker and find his hut on the cliffs. He smoked opium and wrote poetry, according to history. A very interesting and inspiring man...

Lovely quaint church hidden away near Stratton steeped in local history