Fowey Aquarium

The aquarium sits right on Fowey's harbour front, which means you're basically looking at tanks of local fish while actual boats bob past the windows. It's small - genuinely small - so don't expect the scale of something like the National Marine Aquarium down in Plymouth. What you do get is a tight collection of creatures pulled from Cornish waters: wrasse, pollack, spider crabs, and the occasional octopus if you time it right.

This works best for under-tens who get genuinely excited by things with tentacles. Older kids find it a bit brief, and honest adults often leave feeling they've seen it all in about 35 minutes. The real charm is the setting though. Fowey itself is proper lovely - narrow streets tumbling down to the water, good pubs, decent cream teas - so you're not making a special trip just for the tanks. It slots in nicely as a rainy-afternoon filler if you're staying nearby.

If you're based at one of the local parks like Tremeer Farm or Par Sands, both within three miles, this gives you an easy excuse to head into the village. Check opening hours before you go - they're seasonal and can be erratic. Admission is reasonable, but ring ahead to confirm they're open rather than arriving to a closed door. Combine it with a walk along the South West Coast Path or a pint by the quay, and you've got a decent half-day. Solo it? You'd be disappointed.