Top Things to do in South West England
Top 10 Free Things to do in South West England, England
Discover the best top things to do in South West England, United Kingdom including Porthminster Beach, Woolacombe Beach, Jurassic Coast, Fistral Beach, Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bournemouth Beach, Tarka Trail (Braunton to Meeth), Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, Padstow Harbour, Royal Albert Memorial Museum.
Restaurants in South West England
1. Porthminster Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,569 reviews
A favorite place for a family outing, this lovely stretch of beach overlooks Godrevy Lighthouse in the distance.
Reviewed By BO88INS
Excellent beach with a weekly (Tuesday) open air cinema across summer, we watched an afternoon showing of The Greatest Showman - thoroughly enjoyed it. Showings sell out quickly so book in advance to avoid disappointment. VIP tickets best, include popcorn, Gin or soft drink and deck chairs at the front. However, seating was provided for standard tickets and you could get pretty near the front if you arrived early.
2. Woolacombe Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,630 reviews
Woolacombe beach is family owned & family run with families in mind. We provide car parks, a lifeguard service, toilets, first aid and food and beach goods outlets.
Reviewed By amandataylor0205 - London, United Kingdom
Breathtaking view of Lundy Island this beautiful beach was outstandingly clean even though it was absolutely packed with families enjoying the sunshine. Great waves for surfing and lovely little natural pools for the younger children to play in safely. One of the best English beaches we have visited.
3. Jurassic Coast
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 220 reviews
We offer professional guided walks, tours and fossil hunts anywhere along the full length of the Jurassic Coast and surrounding areas. There is so much to be discovered within the World Heritage site. Not only is there 95 miles of breathtaking coastline, but delve a little deeper and you can physically 'walk throught time' as it reveals 185 million years of life on earth, showcasing the three Dinosaur periods known as Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous. Let us guide you through time so you can experience the wonders that are to be discovered along the way...... We pride ourselves as being Ambassadors for the Jurassic Coast. Plan your walks with us and get the most from your visit, Learn more about the geology and fossils of this world famous coastline. Walks and tours can be tailored to suit all ages and abilities. They are led by a trained & experienced Coastal Leader. Walks and tours can be arranged for individuals, couples, families or groups.
Reviewed By 997DanielC - Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
If you want to avoid paying for parking you can park your cars higher up the hill and walk down to see the sights of the South English countryside. Once you reach the famous coast you'll see it is filled with rocks, watch your step because you can slip and maybe twist your ankle. Look up at the cliffs next to you and you'll history that dates back 80 million years back when dinosaurs still walked the Earth. You can also see that the cliff is in layers, each one piled on top of each other and showing a different time period. Surprisingly when you touch the stone it feels soft and brittle as it easily breaks off in your hands, sometimes some will rain on your head from above. Keep your eyes open and you may even find some real fossils trapped in huge rocks or in the cliff itself; the fossils are of sea creatures called ammonites.Keep walking out to the sea and you'll be surprised by how far you'll get since the rocks are hidden beneath the water, it almost looks like you're walking on the water. Follow the rocks around the edge of the cliff and you'll find some great photo opportunities suck as large rocks sitting on their own in the water that you can jump over too. Once you've finished here there is usually an ice cream van and a Mexican food van nearby, or you can go to the nearby village and visit a pub. Across the road is a museum all about the dinosaurs that had once lived here which takes about an hour to explore.
4. Fistral Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,365 reviews
This splendid beach offers excellent water for surfing and body boarding.
Reviewed By mummatash73
Love love this beach ... The facilities are fab.The Life Guards are highly trained & observant ..We are generally here most weekends .And while Covid has played havoc this season in Cornwall & UK .. Procedures are mainly respected with a one way system in place for restaurants /toilets ... Although it is a dog friendly beach.You wouldn’t know it the owners are in a huge majority of cases respectful
5. Clifton Suspension Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,556 reviews
Designed and built in 1836 by a young engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, this 702-foot-long, 250-foot-high suspension bridge gracefully spans the Avon Gorge between Clifton and Leigh Woods.
Reviewed By Margaretlaurieton
An amazing feat of engineering crossing high above the stunning Avon Gorge which in itself is interesting as there is a wealth of rare fauna
6. Bournemouth Beach
7. Tarka Trail (Braunton to Meeth)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 239 reviews
The Tarka Trail is a pedestrian and cycle way within the North Devon Biosphere Reserve. This page is for the 48km, shared-use section between Braunton and Meeth which runs along the line of an old railway. It is part of the National Cycle Network and totally traffic free. Along this stretch, interpretation boards and other information help you discover the heritage, culture and natural features you can see. Horses are also welcome between Torrington (Servis bridleway) and Meeth. Further detailed information, including maps can be found in the Tarka Trail Guide available online from the website and in local bookshops, museums and Tourist Information Centres.
Reviewed By N1625YYsarahf
We hired bikes from Barnstaple station and cycled to bideford with a lunch stop at Instow. We had a fantastic time, lovely scenery and lots of things to look at along the way. instow was a lovely place we had a nice lunch there at the boat house. Fremington was nice too there is a nice cafe in the old railway station where we stopped for tea and cake on way back and a kids pirate ship play area which my nephew would have loved as he’s mad on pirates! Can’t wait to cycle more of the trail starting at the other end next time.
8. Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,014 reviews
Reviewed By joeandstacey2015 - Greater London, United Kingdom
The walk due to social distancing is about 20 minutes over undulating terrain The walk was lovely and scenic and the view when you arrive at the costal path is well worth it The walk along the cliff top was excellent with stunning views over the sea towards Bournemouth The famous Durdle Dor was simply stunning and beautiful Man o war bay on the northern side is beautiful also We recommend early morning start to avoid the busy period and the endless stream of people heading down to the beaches It’s no wonder this place is one of the most photographed place in the UK! Well worth the effort to go.
9. Padstow Harbour
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,558 reviews
Reviewed By RachieShillito - Doncaster, United Kingdom
Had an amazing day here today despite being really busy, parked in the park and ride at the top of the hill £5 all day and free bus down to Padstow - well worth it as the town car park is always full! Had fun crabbing on the harbour, had lovely fish and chips from Chips Ahoy and also went on the ferry over to Rock for the first time today (return tickets are £4 for adults and £2 for children ) - spent a couple of hours exploring the area and enjoying the views!
10. Royal Albert Memorial Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,430 reviews
Exeter's world-class museum has stunning displays and galleries, fabulous exhibitions and modern amenities. The displays reveal Devon and Exeter's rich history and global connections. Exotic animals, birds and insects delight children and the world cultures galleries display stunning items from all over the world. The shop offers hand-picked gifts, unique craft items, books and affordable souvenirs for children. The cafe serves delicious homemade food. Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Closed Mondays and bank holidays. Free Admission. From time to time galleries may be closed for special events; please check before travelling.
Reviewed By andylucky905 - Newquay, United Kingdom
Lots to see of interest ranging from Egyptian tomb to large stuffed animals and excellent value for just price of donation.
