If you are searching for things to do near Bodmin Holiday Park or deciding what to do while staying there, this guide picks out seven high-quality attractions and historic venues all within easy reach.
The park sits on the edge of Bodmin town in Cornwall, which means you can reach top heritage sites, a vintage railway, family-friendly museums and countryside trails within minutes. Whether you want dramatic history, hands-on science, or a gentle outdoor stroll, there is something for a wide variety of interests nearby.
Bodmin Jail — 2 miles, roughly 5 minutes by car
Bodmin Jail is a former Georgian and Victorian prison built in 1779, now restored as a visitor attraction. Inside you’ll walk the same corridors and downward stone staircases former inmates once used. The attraction includes original cells, narrow underground passages and the only working execution pit in the country where over 50 hangings once took place under the notorious “Bloody Code.”
Today you can take self-guided or expert-led tours, or experience the immersive Dark Walk — a theatrical presentation of crime and punishment in Cornwall’s past. The site also includes a cafe and a gift shop.
Five great things to do while you’re in Cornwall
- 👻 Feel the chills in the abandoned cells on a hugely atmospheric tour of Bodmin Jail.
- 🌱 Explore the world’s largest indoor rainforest at the Eden Project.
- 🎬 Discover the Beyond Paradise filming locations around Looe on a specialised tour.
- 🐬 Spot dolphins, seals and porpoises on a RIB sealife safari from Padstow.
- 🏄 Hit the surf in Newquay with a two hour surfing lesson.
Lanhydrock House and Gardens — 5 miles, roughly 10 minutes by car
Lanhydrock House and Gardens is a large and well-preserved Victorian country estate nestled just outside Bodmin. The house offers a detailed glimpse into upper-class life with grand dining rooms, servant quarters and fireplaces that reflect life on the estate in the late 19th century.
The surrounding gardens and wooded grounds run beside the River Fowey, offering riverside walks, manicured lawns and forest glades — a calm, scenic contrast to the bleack intensity of Bodmin Jail. It’s suited to visitors who enjoy architectural history, peaceful walks and a mix of cultural and natural surroundings.
Bodmin Railway — 3 miles, roughly 8 minutes by car
Bodmin Railway is Cornwall’s only standard-gauge heritage railway offering vintage steam and diesel journeys from Bodmin General station. With free parking at the station, travellers can hop aboard for a scenic ride through Cornish countryside — a 13-mile round trip that winds through rural backdrops and old railway landscapes.
It’s a nostalgic, relaxed option for families or rail enthusiasts and alternately works as a backup plan if the weather is uncertain. Tickets are reasonably priced, and you can even take a dog along. The kids might get a bit restless, though – don’t overestimate how much fun sitting down for a train journey is to them.
The Camel Trail (from Bodmin) — accessible from town centre, easy by bike or car
The Camel Trail is an 18-mile largely traffic-free path laid on a disused railway line stretching from Bodmin through Wadebridge to Padstow. Since it is virtually level, surfaced and maintained, it is ideal for walkers, cyclists, families with buggies or wheel-chairs, and those wanting wildlife or countryside views without steep climbs.
Along the trail you may spot kingfishers, dormice or marsh birds and enjoy peaceful riverside woodland and estuary scenery. Entry is free and bike hire is available nearby, making it a solid half-day outing.
Discovering42 Science and Art Museum — 1 mile, roughly 4 minutes by car or a short walk from town centre
Discovering42 is Bodmin’s interactive museum blending science, engineering and art with hands-on exhibits that encourage curiosity and creativity. Visitors report spending over two hours exploring machines, artworks and educational installations that challenge and engage all ages.
It’s a child-friendly but intellectually stimulating indoor option — a useful alternative for wet days or mixed-age groups seeking something immersive and different from historical attractions and beaches.
Bodmin Town Museum — 1.5 miles, roughly 5 minutes by car or walkable from central Bodmin
Bodmin Town Museum is located in a late-Victorian building and charts the long history of the town and surrounding area, from prehistoric and Roman eras through to modern times. Exhibits include Bronze-Age and Stone-Age artefacts, domestic displays such as a recreated traditional Cornish kitchen and blacksmith’s forge, plus military history, geology, local wildlife, and even an 18th-century fire engine.
The museum offers insight into local life over centuries, but it’s more in the charming labour of love category than a must-visit.
The Keep – Regimental Museum — 2 miles, roughly 5 minutes by car
The Keep houses the military heritage of Cornwall in a historic barracks building and showcases uniforms, medals, weapons and artefacts spanning over 300 years. The displays highlight Cornwall’s regiments, their wartime service, and local military history. It’s a short walk from the railway station and pairs neatly with a visit to the railway or other town-based sites.
In all honesty, the Keep is mainly of interest to visitors keen on military history or local heritage. Kids, in particular, are likely to find it tedious. Note that the museum is on two floors with no wheelchair access available at present.
More Cornwall travel
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