Showing 1–5 of 5 free attractions in Truro
Free Family Days Out in Truro
One visitor centre and four beaches. ShelterBox Visitor Centre is the single indoor entry on Truro's free list, an exhibition about disaster relief that is more engaging for older children than the description suggests. The rest is coast: Porthtowan Beach, Towan Beach, Chapel Porth beach and Portloe Beach, spread along different stretches and each a separate drive. Four of the five are outdoor, so this list belongs to whichever day the forecast is best.
The beaches are the reason to use this page and the visitor centre is the reason it survives a wet morning. Between them they cover a weekend rather than a day.
Free days out in Truro: FAQs
What is the ShelterBox centre about?
ShelterBox Visitor Centre is the visitor exhibition of a disaster relief charity, showing what goes into emergency shelter and how it is used. It handles serious subject matter, which makes it a strong visit for an older child who can engage with it and an odd one for a small child who cannot. As a charity site the arrangements can differ from a conventional museum, so its own information is the place to check.
How far apart are the beaches?
Far enough to be separate outings. Porthtowan Beach and Chapel Porth beach are on the north coast; Towan Beach and Portloe Beach sit elsewhere along the Cornish coastline. Picking one and staying there is a much better day than driving between them. Access, parking and the walk down vary considerably from one to the next, and the smaller ones fill quickly in the season.
What should we know about the north coast beaches?
They are exposed, the surf can be significant and the tide changes what is there to walk on very quickly. Chapel Porth beach in particular alters dramatically between tides. Lifeguard cover is seasonal and beach-specific, so check what is in place on the day, keep children within reach rather than within sight, and treat an unpatrolled stretch of water as exactly that.