Discover more at Penrose
Walk through the parkland, take the family on an adventure in the woods or spot wildlife at home on Loe Pool.
Family-friendly things to do at Penrose
There's plenty at Penrose to entertain the family and help you build great memories together. Find out about what you can expect and any information you need to help you plan your visit.
Planning your family visit
- Baby-changing facilities at The Stables cafe.
- High chairs are available at The Stables cafe.
- Pushchair-friendly route available without steps from Penrose Hill or Fairground car park.
- Picnic area in the walled garden.
- Free self-led I-Spy spotter sheet available in the The Stables cafe over Easter.
Family-friendly things to do in the walled garden
Nestled behind The Stables cafe is the walled garden, an eighteenth century kitchen garden looked after by a dedicated team of volunteers. Each year the team sow bee and butterfly-friendly plants and wild flowers to give nature a chance to thrive, and experiment with different varieties of fruit & vegetables as an acknowledgement to its past as a kitchen garden.
Visitors are welcome to refuel in this space with a picnic or relax with a book purhased from the second-hand bookshop located in the indoor seating area. All funds raised from the sale of books goes straight back into the ongoing care of the walled garden.
Children are welcome to explore along the grass paths and see if they can spot the bug hotel built by the volunteers as a luxury space for all kinds of small creatures to enjoy!
50 things to do before you’re 11¾
Here are our top five '50 things' to try while on a visit to penrose:
- #9 Eat a picnic in the wild
Pack a delicious home-made lunch, or treat yourself to a hot toasty and sweet treat from The Stables café, to enjoy in the walled garden.
- #11 Explore on wheels
For a day full of adventure bring the bikes along to Penrose and enjoy miles of multi-use trails. There’s a 1.5 mile level tarmac route into the parkland from the free council-owned Fairground car park in Helston, perfect for little legs and new bike riders.
- #24 Go barefoot
Kick off your socks and shoes and enjoy the feel of nature beneath your feet in the walled garden.
- #31 Make friends with a bug
Can you find the bug hotel in the walled garden? Crafted by the volunteer team, it’s enjoyed by many tiny critters who have moved in for a night or two!
- #44 Watch a bird
Loe Pool is renowned for its bird population and there are various spots on your way around the pool to take a moment and see what you can spot. A pair of binoculars will help you to see them close-up without getting too close.
