Perranporth Museum

Housed in a converted chapel right in the heart of Perranporth, this compact museum tells the story of a town that's seen everything from Victorian railway fever to wartime drama. The collection focuses heavily on the area's mining heritage and the remarkable story of how this sleepy Cornish village transformed into one of the county's most popular seaside resorts.

Mining enthusiasts will find plenty to pore over, including genuine artifacts from the local tin mines that once dominated the landscape around Bolingey. But it's the social history that really brings the place alive - old photographs showing the town before the holiday crowds arrived, and fascinating displays about the railway line that put Perranporth on the map.

Families with older children who can read the displays properly will get the most from a visit. Younger ones might lose interest after twenty minutes, though there are usually a few hands-on bits to keep them engaged.

The museum works well as a rainy day backup if you're staying at Haven Perran Sands or any of the other holiday parks dotted around the area. It's walkable from most of them, and you'll only need an hour at most to see everything. Perfect for getting some local context before you spend the rest of your holiday on that magnificent beach.