People ask us this question more than almost any other. Cornwall or Devon? Which one's better for families? And honestly, after seventeen years of doing this, my answer is still: it depends on your children, not on the destination. Both are brilliant. Both will give you beaches, pasties, cream teas, rock pools and the kind of holiday your kids will still be talking about in ten years. But they're not the same, and the differences matter when you're booking a week away with children. Here's what I actually think.
Under 3s: Devon. Shorter drive for most of the country, gentler beaches on the south coast, and the South Hams is genuinely one of the best places in England for toddlers. The South Devon beaches - Blackpool Sands, Slapton, Bantham - are sheltered, sandy and calm.
Ages 4–10: Cornwall has the edge. The Eden Project alone is worth the drive. Add Seal Sanctuary, Flambards, pirate boat trips out of Padstow, and some of the most dramatic beaches in the country, and Cornwall at this age is hard to beat.
Teenagers: Cornwall. Newquay's surf scene, coasteering, the general feeling of being somewhere that has its own identity and attitude - teenagers respond to that. Devon has plenty for them too, but Cornwall feels cooler to a fifteen-year-old.
Mixed ages - toddlers and older kids in the same car: This is the trickiest one, and honestly? Go Devon. Devon has more variety in a smaller area. You can do something active for the older ones in the morning and be on a calm, safe beach for the little one by lunchtime without it being a military operation.
The beaches are extraordinary. Not just good-for-England extraordinary, but genuinely world-class. Porthcurno, Kynance Cove, Porthminster in St Ives - these are beaches that stop you mid-sentence. The north coast has the drama and the surf; the south coast has the warmth and the calm. You have options.
The activities are brilliant for mid-primary ages. The Eden Project is the obvious one, but don't overlook the Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, Land's End (genuinely fun with children despite what cynics say), and the Tate St Ives, which is far more child-engaging than you'd expect. Padstow is wonderful for a harbour day - boat trips, crab lines off the quay, a good pasty.
It feels like somewhere. Cornwall has a strong sense of its own identity, its own flag, its own food. Children pick up on that. There's something genuinely exciting about being somewhere that feels different - even within England.
Newquay works for families with teens. Yes, it has a party reputation for a reason, but stay a little outside the town centre and you have Fistral, Watergate Bay, surf lessons and coasteering on your doorstep. Teenagers who'd normally be resistant to a UK family holiday tend to come round when you put a surfboard under their arm.
The drive is shorter. It sounds like a minor point until you're in the car with a two-year-old and a five-year-old asking if you're nearly there. Devon is closer. That matters more than people admit when planning family holidays.
The South Hams is genuinely special for little ones. Salcombe, Bigbury, the sea tractor to Burgh Island - if you have small children and you haven't been to the South Hams yet, put it at the top of your list. The beaches are sheltered, the water is warmer than you'd expect, and the whole area has a relaxed pace that suits little legs and unpredictable nap schedules.
Dartmoor is there when the beach loses its appeal. And it will. Day three, someone has had enough of sand in their shoes. Dartmoor is twenty minutes from most south Devon bases - wild ponies, wide open space, streams to dam and tors to climb. It resets everyone.
Farm stays are exceptional. Devon has some of the best family farm stays in the country - proper working farms where children can feed animals, collect eggs and spend the day doing things that feel genuinely real rather than activity-park real. If a farm stay is on your list, Devon should probably be your first call.
North Devon deserves more credit. Everyone heads for the south coast, but Woolacombe, Croyde and Saunton Sands are three miles of Atlantic-facing beach with a relaxed, slightly less expensive feel than the St Ives end of the world. Great for families who want the surf without the Newquay noise.
Both get booked up fast for the summer school holidays - late July and August in particular. Plan ahead. Really ahead. If you're reading this in June thinking about August, you may already be looking at a limited selection.
Cornwall tends to be marginally more expensive than Devon for equivalent accommodation, particularly in popular spots like Rock, Padstow and St Ives. If budget is a real factor, Devon gives you more choice at the mid-range price point.
For both counties, self-catering cottages make far more sense with children than hotels. You get your own space, your own fridge, your own rhythm. You're not negotiating around restaurant booking times or worrying about noise at 7pm.
Babies and under 2s: Devon, specifically South Devon. Short journey time, sheltered beaches, good farm stay options where you can stay local and not feel the pressure to do big days out.
Toddlers (2–4): Either works, but the South Hams and North Devon are both brilliant. Look for properties with enclosed gardens and something on site - a play area, farm animals, a pool - so you're not relying on good weather for the whole holiday.
Ages 5–9: Cornwall. This is the sweet spot age for the Eden Project, the seal sanctuary, pirate boat trips and the general sense of adventure that Cornwall delivers.
Ages 10–14: Both, but Cornwall for the activities. Devon if they're into walking, wild swimming and outdoor stuff. Cornwall if they want surf, coasteering and feeling independent.
Teenagers: Cornwall. Specifically the north coast - Newquay, Watergate Bay, Bude. Give them a surfboard and some independence and they'll have a better holiday than they expected.
Mixed ages: Devon for flexibility. Cornwall if you're willing to plan more carefully around the different ages.
The weather is the same. Both counties get the same Atlantic weather - beautiful one day, horizontal rain the next. Neither is reliably sunnier than the other. Pack accordingly, have a rainy day plan, and choose a property with good indoor space because you will use it.
The roads are difficult. Cornwall in particular has narrow lanes and very heavy summer traffic. Build in extra time, don't try to do too much in a day, and accept that getting from A to B will take longer than Google Maps suggests in August.
Book direct. On Away with the Kids, you book directly with the property owner and pay the same price as their own website. No booking fees, no third-party markup. Worth knowing before you start searching.
If you've decided on Cornwall, start with our Cornwall family holidays listings - all vetted, all genuinely family friendly.
If Devon is calling, our Devon family holidays page is the place to start, with a good mix of coastal and countryside options across the county.
Can't decide? You're not alone. Honestly, you won't regret either.
Is Cornwall or Devon better for young children? For children under 5, Devon is generally the better choice - the drive is shorter, the South Devon beaches are calmer and more sheltered, and there are excellent farm stays that suit the rhythm of life with toddlers. For children aged 5 and above, Cornwall's activities, beaches and sense of adventure give it the edge.
Which is cheaper - Cornwall or Devon? Devon tends to offer more accommodation choice at the mid-range price point, particularly outside the most popular areas. Cornwall's most desirable spots (Rock, Padstow, St Ives) command a premium, especially in peak summer weeks.
Is Cornwall far to drive with children? For most families in England, yes - it's a long journey, and the last section on the A30 can be slow in summer. If you have young children who struggle in the car, factor that in carefully. Devon is significantly closer for most of the Midlands, North and Southeast.
What's the best time to visit Cornwall or Devon with children? Late May half term and September half term both offer good weather with far smaller crowds and lower prices than the peak summer weeks. If you have flexibility on school holidays, these are the windows worth targeting.
Can you do Cornwall and Devon in one trip? You can, but it's worth resisting the urge. Both counties reward you more when you stay put and explore the area around your base rather than driving between them. Pick one, stay for a week, and you'll get far more out of it.