Bodmin Library and Information Service

Bodmin Library isn't a tourist trap, and that's rather the point. It's a proper working library in the heart of Bodmin town, housed in a functional modern building that serves locals far more than it does visitors. You'll find the usual - books, computers, a quiet space to sit - plus a decent local studies collection if you're digging into Cornish history or researching family connections to the area.

The real value here depends entirely on what you need. If you're camping nearby at Mena Farm or Eden Valley Holiday Park and your kids are climbing the walls during a rainy afternoon, it's worth knowing the place exists. An hour flipping through picture books or letting them loose on the computers costs nothing and breaks up the day. Adults after local maps or historical documents will find something useful in the archives section.

It's free to enter, though borrowing requires membership. Hours tend to vary by day, so check ahead before you make the trip into town. The library sits on the main drag in Bodmin itself, so you can easily combine a visit with a walk around the town centre or a proper look at St Petroc's Church just down the road.

Honestly though, if you're on a park holiday in this corner of Cornwall, this is a rainy-day backup plan rather than a destination. Treat it as a useful resource, not an attraction. The surrounding area - Bodmin Moor, the various outdoor spaces nearby - offers far more memorable ways to spend your time.