With stunning beaches, a working harbour and a wealth of activities, it’s not surprise this town is among the best for staycations
Summer season in the popular and charming Cornish seaside town (Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)
A charming Cornish seaside town that has delighted tourists for generations has managed to hold on to its authentic local character. It is precisely this quality that draws visitors seeking a genuine taste of Cornwall, while also offering plenty to keep the entire family busy.
It has now been recognised as one of the finest seaside destinations in the UK. Looe, nestled in South East Cornwall, is undeniably stunning, boasting sandy beaches, vibrant fishing boats and quaint cottages.
The town’s working harbour has been cherished by generations of hardworking fishing families — and to this day, they continue heading out to sea to supply local restaurants with some of the freshest and most delicious fish you’ll ever taste.
There’s always something happening in and around Looe, both during the day and into the evenings.
With a railway station right in the heart of town, it couldn’t be easier to venture out and explore the surrounding area without needing to get behind the wheel.
Looe is a brilliant base for families — you can visit The Monkey Sanctuary, take a dip or a paddle at East Looe Beach or Talland Bay, or treat the little ones to a visit to the Seaside Sweets shop.
You can embark on a Looe Sea Safari or take to the water with Boatzer Glass Bottom Boat Trips for a truly unique experience.
For thrill-seekers, speedboat trips are available to get the adrenaline pumping.
Local outfit Adventure Fit Southwest offers even more excitement, with canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding adventures all on the menu. On TripAdvisor, Adventure Fit Southwest outlined the range of other activities on offer: “Other adventure activities, such as bushcraft, mountain biking, hill walking, navigation and outdoor rock climbing.”
The two principal beaches are East Looe Beach, situated in the town itself, and Talland Bay, which can be reached either via the South West Coast Path or by car.
East Looe Beach is home to the iconic Banjo Pier and is widely regarded as a “great family beach”.
One visitor who headed there in May 2025 shared their thoughts 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 received glowing reviews, with one family who made the trip describing it as a “beautiful bay”.
Their TripAdvisor review portrays 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.”
The picturesque woodland surrounding Looe has also proved to be a firm favourite amongst visitors, best experienced along the South West Coast Path — with the charming and “unspoilt” fishing village of Polperro lying just to the west.
The trek to Polperro stretches over five miles, offering breathtaking views throughout — taking walkers directly past the stunning Talland Beach along the way. Getting around by car and finding parking in Looe and Cornwall more broadly can be an absolute headache during the holiday season, but from Looe, there’s the option to hop on the train to certain destinations.
While it’s worth noting that not every corner of Cornwall is accessible by rail, from Looe you can still reach some other fantastic Cornish locations.
In under half an hour you can head inland to the market town of Liskeard – and from there you can catch trains to other areas of Cornwall, although some journeys can take quite a while.
The picturesque Looe Valley Line, which will transport you to Liskeard, also features some other intriguing stops along the way, with many describing this train journey as like “going back in time”.