Summer holidays in Looe, Cornwall
I spent the month of August 2025 in the small town of Looe in Cornwall and I fell in love with it. In this article, I will share my experience and suggestions in case you choose Looe as your next holiday destination.
If you are interested in an easy to read 3 days Looe itinerary that you can personalise, check this link to my itinerary on the Boop app.
Looe is a seaside town and active fishing port in southeast Cornwall, split into two distinct halves (East Looe and West Looe) by the River Looe. East Looe is the busier tourist and commercial hub featuring narrow shopping lanes, traditional cottages, the main sandy beach, and the bustling Looe Harbour. West Looe instead, is quieter and more relaxed, offering scenic walking trails, waterfront hotels and Airbnbs and rocky shores ideal for exploring marine life. The two sides are connected by a Victorian bridge built in 1853 and water taxi services.
Table of contents:
Where to stay in Looe
What to do in Looe
Where to eat in Looe
Additional organised tours and activities
Where to stay in Looe
There are a few Airbnbs and rooms in Looe but they get sold out pretty fast and the prices can go up quite a lot especially during the high season, July and August. I suggest you look for your place as soon as you decide that you want to spend some time in Looe. I was lucky to find a pretty good Airbnb with a fantastic view on Looe Bay for a whole month of August.
View of Looe from the balcony of the Airbnb
What to do in Looe
Looe is the perfect place for relaxing getaways, beach holidays, both for families, solo travellers and couples. I personally don’t think Looe is the best choice if you want to explore the rest of Cornwall because of its position, pretty deep into the coast, linked to the main train station Liskeard only by a 30 minutes train ride. However, it is the perfect place if you like to stay in the area, go for walks on nearby coastal paths or explore other close small towns like Polperro. A holiday in Looe is all about relaxation after all!
Looe Town
Take time to explore Looe Town. Walk through small alleyways, get lost amongst historical cottages and get lovely views of the bay from up the surrounding hills.
East Looe Beach
The main sandy beach is called East Looe Beach, easy guessing its location in East Looe! It is a wide sandy beach, strongly affected by the tide. It’s not a long stretch of beach, it’s a bay beach but I’ve never found it too crowded thanks to how wide it usually is.
View of East Looe Beach from the close hill
Hannafore Beach
If you prefer rocky beaches with more interesting underwater worlds to explore, head to Hannafore Beach, in West Looe. It’s a pleasurable walk from East Looe and you can take a water taxi to go from East Looe, if you prefer. This is a better beach for snorkelling but it is also very much affected by the tide, so I would suggest you check the tide times online before you go.
Walk the coastal path to Talland Bay
This was probably one of the most beautiful hikes I have been on in England! Stunning views and amazing sea all the way to Talland Bay from Looe. On your way to Talland Bay, you will also encounter Hannafore Beach, so you could explore this beach on the same day you go hiking to Talland Bay. The coastal path is steep at times but truly beautiful with coves and clear waters!
Take a day trip to Polperro
Polperro is an even smaller, historical fishing village. You can drive to Polperro or take a 20/30 minutes bus ride from Looe. You can find more information on Polperro, in this article. What I can say though, is that you will not regret going!
Where to Eat in Looe
Dotty's
Wonderful coffee shop with brunch and cake options. You’ll love brunch here! If not busy, you could also work from this coffee shop. It’s comfortable and well decorated.
The Golden Guinea
You will find amazing food in this restaurant. The Golden Guinea in East Looe is housed in a historic Grade II listed building that displays the date 1632! They also have an outdoor terrace where they host dj sets and live music events.
Breakfast at La Piccola bakery
La Piccola
La Piccola is such a pretty, small coffee shop offering good coffee options and truly delicious hand-made Italian style pastries. It is positioned close to the train station, so it would be a good stop if you are heading that way.
Loweena Cafe
Lovely owners and really good, thick sandwiches! Just close to the beach. If you fancy a light lunch or a brunch, this place would be a very good choice.
The Cornish Bakery
When in Looe, you must try Cornish pasties! The Cornish Bakery is the perfect spot for some traditional pasties and iced latte.
Bowden Bakery
To try! Bowden Bakery on Fore Street in Looe is famous for being the home of the Cornish Cruffin, which is a delicious pastry that mixes a croissant and a muffin.
Additional organised tours and activities
Mackerel fishing experience
Fishing mackerel in Cornwall
Have you ever wanted to try fishing? There is probably no better place to make this dream come true than in Cornwall! You can book your spot for this fishing experience in a local shop in East Looe. With a rough sea, you might want to consider taking some tablets to defeat sea sickness! I tried to fish for 30 minutes and spent the rest of the experience, staring at the horizon trying not to get sick!
Beyond Paradise TV show Locations Tour
In this 1½-hour walking excursion, you will be guided through the picturesque Cornish coastal town of Looe, and you will explore the filming locations of the popular crime tv series Beyond Paradise.
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