Discover Falmouth with megabus

The town of Falmouth lays claim to a prime slice of Cornwall’s coastline. So it’s no surprise that life here revolves around the beach. Catch a bus to Falmouth and you can take a seafront walk along the sand, go coasteering or bouldering along the craggy coast, or head out onto the water on a boat or in a kayak. But that’s not to say it’s all adrenaline-fuelled adventures. To counter its active side, Falmouth does a great line in cosy pubs, quaint tea rooms and Cornish pasty bakeries that it would be rude not to visit while you’re in town. When in Cornwall…

Falmouth: top 3 things to do

1. Tour Pendennis Castle

If you’ve booked a coach to Falmouth and want to swot up on your Cornish history, visit Pendennis Castle. This coastal fortress has defended Cornwall in battle since Tudor times, and today it’s one of the town’s most-visited attractions. Climb the spiral stairs of the castle keep for widescreen sea views that’ll leave you light-headed.

2. Learn to surf

Catching a decent wave off the coast of Falmouth is actually pretty tricky due to its position. But if you sign up to a surf session or course with a mobile surf school, they’ll pick you up at Falmouth, take you to the best surfing spots, and bring you back again. Falmouth Surf School is one of the most well-known.

3. Go on a coastal adventure

Falmouth’s coastline is prime territory for outdoor pursuits, and you can pick from a long list of them at Elemental UK. This adventure centre at Falmouth’s Swanpool Beach offers everything from bouldering and powerboating, to coasteering and sailing. Not one for couch potatoes.

Falmouth: getting around

Getting to Falmouth is nice and easy with megabus. Book coach travel and you can usually expect things like free WiFi* for the journey, and a 20kg luggage allowance for all your essential items. There’s more about what’s included on our onboard facilities page.

And once you’re in Falmouth, it’s easy to get around. It’s a fairly compact town, so most things are within walking distance. And if you don’t fancy the walk from the town centre to the coast, there’s a shuttle bus operated by OTS that runs on a 20-minute loop.

There are also regular ferries out to places like Truro, St Mawes and St Anthony Head. Get a Fal Mussel Card and you can hop on and off any of the Fal River Links services as you fancy.

Falmouth: best for nightlife

With Falmouth University and the University of Exeter’s Truro and Penryn campuses all within close proximity, Falmouth is a great place for a student night out. But it’s more about bars and pubs than superclubs, with Mono and Toast two popular options.

If you’d like a bit of food with your drink, good options include quirky cheese and wine bar The Chintz Symposium, and gastropub The Boathouse. The Princess Pavilion, meanwhile, hosts live music and stand-up comedy all year round. And the Phoenix Cinema is the place to catch independent film with a glass of wine and snacks delivered to your seat.

Falmouth: best for shopping

Falmouth’s shopping scene is a bit of a pick-and-mix. Alongside high street standards like M&S and New Look, you’ve got a clutch of independent stores and quirky gift shops selling coastal-themed accessories. There’s also a monthly vintage flea market in the former WI Hall, which is now called A Curious Hall.

But where Falmouth excels itself is in its ‘active’ clothing offering. From Animal to Trespass, there’s plenty in the way of shops selling skate, swim and surf gear. Not to mention clothes designed for hiking, biking and pretty much anything else that comes under the outdoor adventure umbrella. They’re mostly clustered around the town’s high street.

Falmouth for free: our top 3

1. Hit the beach

Buses to Cornwall are all about the beach, and Falmouth has a clutch of sandy beaches to choose from. Gyllyngvase beach is one of the most popular thanks to a wide sweep of sand and a great café. It’s a 15-minute walk from the town centre.

2. Stroll through a garden

The town has lots of pretty public gardens full of botanical plants. See the sub-tropical blooms in Queen Mary Gardens on the way to Gyllyngvase Beach. Pay a visit to the seven-acre site of Kimberley Park. Or, stop off and admire the view at Fox Rosehill Gardens, which is close to Falmouth University.

3. Visit Falmouth Art Gallery

Falmouth Art Gallery is right in the town centre and open Monday to Saturday. There are more than 2,000 artworks on show, and a timetable of workshops and talks. If you’re artistically inclined, you can even get your work featured on the limelight wall. It’s in the entrance gallery and open to both aspiring and professional artists.

Book your coach to Falmouth today using the journey planner at the top of this page.

*Subject to availability and connection