Merchants Manor

South Cornwall


After an expensive revamp, this venerable hotel is one of Falmouth's fanciest sleeps. Rooms are contemporary and quirky, with bold fabrics, indulgent colour schemes and fun prints; the best are the Master suites, available in the main house or a more modern annexe. It feels luxurious: stop by the spa and try the Rastella restaurant and afternoon tea (both excellent).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby South Cornwall attractions

1. Gyllyngvase Beach

0.38 MILES

The nearest beach to town is a flat sandy stretch, known to locals as Gylly. It's about half a mile south of the town centre and is backed by the popular…

2. Swanpool Beach

0.56 MILES

South of Falmouth lies the popular beach of Swanpool, near a small inland lagoon populated by grebes, coots, ducks and mute swans. A coastal path runs…

3. National Maritime Museum

0.58 MILES

Falmouth's most high-profile museum is located on the revamped area around Discovery Quay. It's the sister outpost of the National Maritime Museum in…

4. Pendennis Castle

1.17 MILES

Designed in tandem with its sister castle in St Mawes across the estuary, this Tudor castle sits proudly on Pendennis Point, and was built as part of…

5. Penjerrick

1.77 MILES

Touting itself as Cornwall's 'true' jungle garden (a sly dig at Cornwall's famous Heligan gardens), this is really two gardens in one: exotic jungle…

6. Maenporth Beach

1.82 MILES

Maenporth is the quietest of Falmouth's beaches, with facilities including a cafe, kayak centre and restaurant, the Cove. The 1978 wreck of the Scottish…

7. St Mawes Castle

2.27 MILES

Strategically sited to command an uninterrupted field of fire over the entrance to Falmouth Bay in tandem with Pendennis Castle, on the opposite side of…

8. St Anthony's Head

2.66 MILES

The remains of a turn-of-the-century gun battery can still be seen along the point at St Anthony's Head. Just along the coast is the peninsula's 1835…