Living in Cornwall

Shopping

Falmouth really delivers if you’re into independent shops, and it reflects the diverse student population we have here.

Surfers and skateboarders are well catered for with Fat Face, Sessions and Freeriders.

Music fans should pay a visit to Jam: browse their wide range of CDs, vinyl and art books, or sink into one of their leather sofas with a coffee and a magazine, this is music shopping as it should be.

If you’re a fan of vintage clothing and accessories, or you want something unique, Falmouth has a few places you should set your sights on. Secrets Boutique is the place to find a funky prom dress or vintage accessories. Once a month, feast your eyes on Kitty Gubbins' Vintage Flea Market, an Aladdin’s cave of vintage treasure for you and your wardrobe, plus collectable blues and jazz on vinyl. There’s also a whole host of market stalls scattered around the Moor and the high street, offering loads of funky clothing and jewellery.

For all your fancy dress needs, stop at Party Zone for clothes, props, body paint and much more. There’s far too much to choose from and you’ll spend longer in there than intended, flitting between a Rabbit, Dracula and a Ghostbuster ... and everything in between.

And of course, not forgetting the infamous Trago Mills; a huge department store that sells just about everything, and we mean everything! Their ‘pile it high, sell it cheap’ approach makes it the perfect place for kitting out your room, buying a year’s supply of stationery, or filling your cupboards with cut-price Toblerones!

If you’re looking for the high street favourites, there are a few in Falmouth (Marks and Spencer, New Look, WHSmiths) but you’d be better off catching the train to Truro for the full selection (just 20 minutes from Falmouth or Penryn train stations, see the Transport page for full details).

Food shopping

Local produce

Cornwall is packed full of foodies with a passion for local food and drink, and students here are really keen to support local producers. There are plenty of places around Falmouth that we’re all happy to give our custom to for the most flavourful and fresh food.

For organic local produce from crisps to honey to olive oils and succulent meats, pay a visit to the Courtyard Deli; or try the Natural Store for everything from organic pasties to environmentally friendly household products, with ethically sound cheesecake in between!

For your weekly essentials, there’s a Farmers’ Market on the Moor where locals gather to sell their produce, including seasonal fruit and veg, meat, bread, jam and cheese. For local meat, try butchers Cornish Quality Meats for great pre-marinated BBQ packs, or B.R. Boreham on Killigrew Street.

Supermarkets

For the weekly shop there are quite a few options. If you want great savings, head to Lidl, on the road to Penryn, a ten-minute bus ride from campus. There’s ASDA in Penryn, which is a 10-15 minute walk from campus (free bus twice a week if you buy more than you can carry) and Falmouth has a Tesco Metro and Tesco Express, on either side of the Moor.