Kidzworld
Boo Koos
Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Cornwall Star Awards 2025
The Primary Times Cornwall Star Awards for 2025 were a roaring success, and thank you to all of you who took the time to vote! It was fantastic to see so many of the great family-friendly businesses that our readers enjoy supporting time and time again. The categories were designed to provide an honest and authentic insight into what you value most from the businesses that you choose to support and thank those who provide great value, service and experiences.
With family budgets tighter than ever, it has never been more important to get the most for your money from a family day out and it has been a true celebration of what there is out there to offer to families in Cornwall that we, the Primary Times team, were able to see such a vast array of businesses and attractions that are enjoyed by our readers.
Becks Edwards, Managing Editor at Primary Times, said:
“A huge thank you to everyone who took part in our 2025 survey! Your feedback helps local families discover brilliant places to visit and fun things to do. We’re excited to celebrate all of this year’s winners and runners-up—each one should feel proud of creating experiences that truly delight our readers. A special congratulations goes to Lappa Valley, our overall winner, topping three categories! Their dedication to welcoming visitors and continually improving really sets the standard for family-friendly attractions in the area. We can’t wait to see what the next twelve months bring and how our fantastic local attractions and venues continue to grow and evolve. Here’s to another year filled with unforgettable family adventures!”
🏆 Overall Winner
🏆 Winner: Best full family day out
🏆 Winner: Best value for money
🏆 Winner: Attraction you would most recommend to family and friends
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Lappa Valley is a family attraction in Cornwall, best known for its heritage narrow-gauge railways, play areas, and relaxed countryside setting. It’s especially popular with families with young children
Set in a wooded valley along the former Newquay–Chacewater railway route, Lappa Valley’s heart is its steam and diesel miniature railways, but you can also enjoy their indoor and outdoor play areas, boating lake with pedal boats, nature trails, open green spaces and vintage fairground rides
Overall winners, Lappa Valley had this to say about their success in the Awards:
"Lappa Valley is delighted to have been named the overall winner in the Primary Times Star Awards. As this accolade was voted for by the magazine’s readers, it feels especially meaningful to our team. We’re privileged to be part of so many treasured family moments and proud that our little corner of Cornwall has become a place where special memories are made. To everyone who voted for us: thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. We look forward to welcoming even more families to share adventures, laughter, and those magical experiences that make Lappa Valley such a beloved day out."
🏆 Winner: Best half-day out
🏆 Winner: Best Party Venue or Entertainer
🥈 Runner Up: Best Value for Money
Camel Creek is one of Cornwall’s biggest family‑friendly adventure parks, located in Tredinnick, near Wadebridge. It is a fun and varied destination designed for kids and families, combining rides, animal encounters, indoor play, themed areas, and seasonal entertainment. The park offers a wide range of rides and entertainment suited to different ages and thrill levels. Family‑friendly rides like carousels, roller coasters (e.g., Morgawr), wave riders and pirate ships, Indoor play areas, including Creeky’s Playhouse with over 45,000 sq ft of space and The Hidden Garden Café & soft play zone offering all-weather activities. There are also themed areas like Merlin’s Magical Playground and adventure golf (Shipwreck Shores), and a 5D cinema experience. There are a number of areas where visitors can see a variety of animals up close. Camel Creek hosts seasonal themed events throughout the year and special events that add extra fun, and birthday party packages are also available – see the website for details.
🏆 Winner: Best indoor play centre/activity centre
🥈 Runner Up: Best Party Venue or Entertainer
Raze the Roof is a large indoor family entertainment and activity centre in Penryn, designed to offer fun and adventure for all ages, from toddlers right through to adults. Raze the Roof combines several fun experiences all under one roof, such as a mega soft play frame, Laser Tag Arena, Gel Blaster, Virtual Reality Arena and a designated toddler zone. The Venue also runs themed party packages and event nights – see the website for details
🏆 Winner: Best Family Event
The Royal Cornwall Show is an annual agricultural show celebrating farming, rural life, Cornish heritage, food and community taking place near Wadebridge in early June. The show offers a mix of agriculture, entertainment, culture and community activities with top-level competitions for livestock across hundreds of classes, food and drink, main rink shows, live music and performers, Countryside Village with rural skills demonstrations, flower show, craft and trade stands, activities for children and much more
🏆 Winner: Best independent family-friendly dining venue
Trevaskis Farm is a family‑run working farm, farm shop, restaurant and pick‑your‑own attraction set in about 28 acres of Cornish countryside. It’s known for its blend of fresh local food, traditional farming experiences and relaxed visitor‑friendly atmosphere — and best of all, entry to the farm park and orchards is free (you only pay for produce you pick or things you buy). Easy walks around the farm let you see friendly animals like ponies, goats, geese, ducks and pigs in paddocks, and explore orchards, herb gardens and cropping areas while learning about farm life. The Farmhouse Kitchen Restaurant is a popular eatery serving hearty breakfasts, classic lunches, Sunday roasts and desserts and Trevaskis Market/Farm Shop is A large market selling everything from fresh fruit and veg, artisan cheese, fish and locally reared meat, to everyday groceries and speciality items.
🥈 Runner Up: Best full day out
The Eden Project is a world-famous environmental and educational attraction built inside a reclaimed china clay pit near St Austell. It focuses on plants, people, and the planet, blending massive indoor biomes with outdoor gardens, art, and sustainability storytelling. Eden is best known for its huge geodesic dome biomes (Rainforest and Mediterranean), each recreating a different global climate: Outside the biomes, you’ll find extensive UK-native and global plant gardens, seasonal displays and wildflower meadows, sculptures, art installations, and viewpoints, as well as areas exploring food, climate change, and biodiversity Themed activities are available throughout the year, as well as an ice skating rink in winter.
🥈 Runner Up: Best half day out
Newquay Zoo is a family-friendly zoo and conservation park in Newquay, Cornwall, set within around 13 acres of lush, sub-tropical gardens. The Zoo is home to hundreds of animals representing dozens of species, with a strong focus on rare, vulnerable and endangered wildlife: The zoo isn’t just about animals; it also features beautifully planted landscapes and gardens, creating a scenic, calm environment for visitors as well as wildlife.
🥈 Runner Up: Best indoor play centre/activity centre
Kidzworld is a large indoor and outdoor play attraction near St Austell, Cornwall, offering a wide range of activities for all ages and is designed as an all-weather, family-friendly play centre — perfect for holidays, rainy days and birthdays alike. Kidzworld packs dozens of fun things to do under one roof (plus some seasonal outdoor features) with soft play areas, toddlers’ village, slides, Interactive Games Zone, Cannon Arena, Roller Skating Arena, trampolines, ballpools and The O-Zone Outdoor Play Area with climbing equipment, scramble nets and slides, as well as a cafe
🥈 Runners Up: Best Independent family-friendly dining venue
Boo Koos is a popular family‑run American diner‑style restaurant with locations in Falmouth and Helston, known especially for its burgers, milkshakes, Tex‑Mex dishes and vibrant Texan/roadhouse‑inspired décor. See the website for details of the menu and to book