A Cornish seaside town that has been popular with tourists for decades has still retained its proper local charm. This is what makes the bustling town popular with visitors who looking for a slice of the real Cornwall, while ensuring they have plenty to keep the whole family entertained. And it has been named as one of the UK’s best seaside towns.

Looe in South East Cornwall is certainly picturesque with its sandy beaches, colourful fishing boats and pretty cottages. The town’s working harbour has been loved by generations of hard-working fishermen’s families – and to this day, they are busy going out to sea to provide local restaurants with some of the best fish you’ll ever try. There is always plenty going on in and around Looe by day and in the evenings.

There is a train station right in the town so it’s easy to head out to other areas if you fancy a change of scenery and don’t want to take the car.

Staying here is great for families, you can visit The Monkey Sanctuary, have a paddle or a swim off East Looe Beach or Talland Bay or pop into the Seaside Sweets shop.

You can head out on a Looe Sea Safari or experience the sea on a trip with Boatzer Glass Bottom Boat Trips.

There are speed boat trips to enjoy if you fancy something a bit more adrenaline fuelled.

More activities are offered by a local company, Adventure Fit Southwest – they will take you on canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding adventures.

On TripAdvisor Adventure Fit Southwest explained other activities they also run: “Other adventure activities, such as bushcraft, mountain biking, hill walking, navigation and outdoor rock climbing.”

The two main beaches are East Looe Beach (in the town) and Talland Bay (reachable by the South West Coast Path or car).

East Looe Beach features the Banjo Pier and is described as a “great family beach”.

One reviewer who visited in May 2025 described East Looe Beach on TripAdvisor: “A beautiful stretch of dark golden sand, cleaned daily, ideal for having a picnic or just taking in the sun’s rays.

“The sands shelve gently into the sea if you fancy a paddle.”

Talland Beach has also been reviewed, described as a “beautiful bay” by a family who visited the spot.

A TripAdvisor review by this visitor describes Talland Beach as a “small bay fronted by a cafe and adjacent car parking”.

They added: “Good walks nearby along the coastal path. Slightly difficult drive due to the very narrow roads, but worth the effort.”

Scenic woodland has also been a highlight for many visiting Looe, this can be enjoyed by walking the South West Coat Path – and the next town along to the west is the “unspoilt” fishing village, Polperro.

The walk to Polperro is over five miles and will ensure stunning vows along the way – this walk will take you to and past Talland Beach.

Driving and parking in Looe and Cornwall generally can be a nightmare in holiday season, but from Looe, the alternative is to take the train to some destinations.

Bearing in mind that not all of Cornwall is reachable by train, from Looe you can still travel to some other great Cornish places.

In less than half an hour you can travel inland to the market town of Liskeard – and from there you can take the train to other parts of Cornwall, though some journeys take a while.

The scenic Looe Valley Line, which will take you to Liskeard, has some other interesting spots on the route, too, with many describing this train ride as like “going back in time”.