Welcome to Falmouth -home of our Language Tree Summer School 2025!
Discover this vibrant hub of cool vibes and history
Cornwall has earned its reputation as one of the coolest parts of the UK, where stunning natural beauty meets a laid-back, beachy lifestyle.
People spend more time on the beach here than in any other part of the UK, soaking up the sun and the surf. It’s home to epic music festivals such as Boardmasters which has grown from its roots as a surf tournament in Newquay.
As the country’s surfing hub, Cornwall has given rise to sustainable clothing brands like Finisterre and powerful movements like Surfers Against Sewage who are leading the campaign to clean our marine environment. It’s also an artistic hotspot, with a rich history of mining, mythology, and smuggling adding to its charm.
But if there’s one place that manages to combine all the best bits of Cornwall into one town, it’s Falmouth.
Home to acclaimed arts uni, Falmouth University, this trendy town perfectly blends Cornwall’s past with its modern, vibrant culture. All these factors are what make Falmouth the perfect location for our Language Tree Summer School!
Where is Falmouth?
Falmouth is a seaside, harbour town on Cornwall’s south coast. With its deep natural harbour, it has a long and famous maritime history and many sailors have set sail from here on intrepid journeys of discovery across the globe.
In the past the town was known as Pennycomequick (or probably more accurately: Pen y cwm gwyk – which is Celtic for the head of the creek). From Falmouth, you can follow the River Fal all the way up to Truro, in fact, this is one of our favourite excursions for students to enjoy (read more below).
As well as its links on water, Falmouth’s has excellent public transport links by both bus and train. There are buses every 10 minutes that link Falmouth town centre to our Summer School base on the Penryn campus.
It’s not only close to the Penryn Campus, but thanks to its central location in the county, it is easy for us to get to all the amazing destinations we love to visit around Cornwall.
Falmouth’s place in history
The geography of the harbour and peninsula made Falmouth an important strategic location at the southern tip of England. As such, the town has been an important maritime hub since the 16th century when Pendennis Castle was built by Henry VIII to protect the area from the Spanish Armada.
Slightly later in history, Falmouth was part of an innovative new postal network. Packet ships left Falmouth to various key destinations around the world between 1689 to 1851 – this was the world’s first international postal network!
During your time with us, we will take you to visit all these fascinating places on the doorstep of our campus. Read on to find out more…
Step back in time at Pendennis Castle
One of the most popular trips with our teenage students is to visit Pendennis Castle when they run their medieval reenactment days during the summer.
Built in 1540 by Henry VIII, Pendennis served as a coastal defensive fort against the threat of France and the Holy Roman Empire. It was also used as a royalist stronghold during the English Civil War, a garrison during the Napoleonic Wars and finally as a coastal command centre during World War Two.
These days the castle is run and beautifully maintained by English Heritage. With its dramatic hilltop location, looking across panoramic views of Falmouth, St Mawes and the English channel, it’s the perfect idyllic English day out.
It is also host to a range of fantastic events all year round. Throughout the summer, most excitingly, are its medieval jousting tournaments which are a key fixture in our Summer School timetable. On these days, the castle grounds come alive with musicians, falconry displays and even a chance to meet King Henry VIII himself!
Hang out in The Games Room
The Games Room, on Falmouth’s high street, is a popular hangout spot among our students. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main street up a flight of stairs, The Games Room is a hidden hoard of all things fun.
Students can test their skills at a wide variety of games, including pool, shuffleboard, table tennis, e-darts, table football, and more board games than it’s possible to list! Whether you prefer arcade games or air hockey, there is a game here to suit everyone’s tastes.
The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. It’s the perfect spot for students (and staff!) to unwind and get to know each other over some friendly competition.
There’s always plenty of laughs during our trips here, along with the sounds of cheers, groans and clattering giant jenga blocks.
Explore Falmouth’s depths at the National Maritime Museum…
A major part of Falmouth’s identity is its historical connection to the sea. So a trip to the Maritime Museum is a must! It has 5 floors and over 15 galleries, each one full to the brim with interesting exhibits and artefacts from Cornish seafaring across the centuries.
The striking museum building—which resembles a lighthouse on one end—can be found at the edge of the harbour’s waters. Falmouth Harbour is the third deepest harbour in the UK. Consequently, a highlight of the museum for many of our students is descending to the museum’s lowest level, where subterranean windows give you a view under the water of the harbour. Here you can peer into the depths of the seafloor, witness the movement of the tides and spot sealife of all kinds!
You can also climb to the top of the “lighthouse”, known as The Lookout, to soak up breathtaking views across the harbour and beyond. In the Boat Hall you learn about the staggering quantity of different boats around the world, surrounded by the vessels themselves. There is the opportunity to sail model boats at the Boat Pool, as well as thought-provoking and fascinating exhibits on the important work of the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution).
Cruise along the Fal River
To give you a different perspective on the town of Falmouth, we always like to include a trip on a Fal River cruise. These beautiful boats trace the River Fal between Truro and Falmouth.
From Falmouth, we bob along the river, soaking up the stunning views of the rolling hills and sailboats we pass. There are interesting things to spot along the way, such as Trelissick House and the King Harry Ferry before arriving at the historic village of Malpas, just outside Truro.
A trip to Truro is a key stop on our Summer School programmes – a chance to explore Cornwall’s historic capital, and what better way to arrive than by boat?
During our time in Truro, we include:
- a visit to Truro’s impressive cathedral,
- a tour / quiz to complete at the Royal Cornwall Museum,
- and a Cornish cream tea, of course!
Once we’re full of scones, jam and clotted cream, we hop on to the train to head back to the campus…
Head down to Gylly Beach or get in some shopping
Not only is Falmouth home to gorgeous heritage sites, excellent museums and a fun games room but it also has superb beaches to hang out on.
Gyllyngvase Beach, known as Gylly amongst locals, is only a short journey from Language Tree’s home at Penryn Campus. Handily, it’s only a short walk to the train stations, maritime museum and shops as well.
As Falmouth’s most popular beach, there is a huge choice of things to do here. Backdropped by Pendennis Castle, the beach’s long sweep of golden sand is the perfect spot for a picnic, sunbathing or beach games.
For those who fancy something more active, there are paddleboards and wet suits available too.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, you can get tasty snacks at the Gylly Beach Cafe.
Otherwise, you might prefer buying some souvenirs or fun things from the shops. Falmouth is overflowing with excellent, independent businesses run by friendly locals.
Some of our favourite places are Sessions Surf & Skate Shop, Falmouth Bookseller, Seasalt, curate, and Salt Art Supply. There are so many more options that you could easily lose an afternoon checking them all out!
Falmouth has so much to offer it’s impossible to list everything!
The town is close to so many excellent places to discover as well. After a short drive, you could find yourself relaxing on the beautiful Swanpool Beach, leaping from inflatables at Kernow Adventure Park, or enjoying some sports on the Penryn Campus, where we also host a variety of exciting activities. There’s always something to enjoy!
So get in touch today to find out more about our Summer School 2025
We can’t wait to show you Falmouth and beyond!
