In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United Kingdom
Fowey
Fowydh
Spend a half‑day to one full day in Fowey: walk the harbour, visit the castle or aquarium, then grab seafood; longer only for the Regatta.
Fowey is a compact fishing town on the River Fowey in South Cornwall. Its sights cluster around the harbour and are reachable on foot. A short stay covers the castle, aquarium and waterfront pubs; the August Regatta justifies an extra night. Public transport links are limited, so plan arrivals and departures carefully.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Local name
- Fowydh
- Best months
- May–Sep (warm, Regatta in August)
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (cold, reduced bus service)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- GBP
- Money
- Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; some places are card-only.
- Daily spend
- Budget £50–£80 excl. bed · Mid £80–£130 excl. bed · High £130+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines, no registration needed.
- Emergency
- Police / Ambulance 999 · Non‑urgent medical 111
- Plugs
- Types G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Three-pin Type G only; European, US and Australian plugs need an adapter. Bathrooms have two-pin shaver sockets only.
- Tipping
- Restaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.; Pub or bar: Not expected; 'and one for yourself' offers the bartender a drink.; Taxi: Round up or 10%.; Hotel porter: £1–2 per bag.; Tour guide: £5–10 per person for a day tour; free walking tours expect £10–15.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Free refills are common; restaurants will bring tap water if you ask.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 or are card-only. Stations, museums, department stores and pubs (if you buy a drink) are the fallback.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | £2–£3 |
| Fish & chips | £8–£12 |
| Pint of ale | £4–£5 |
| Taxi (5 mi) | £15–£20 |
| Fowey Aquarium entry | £8–£12 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NQY · Cornwall Airport Newquay
- —
- EXT · Exeter Airport
- —
- BRS · Bristol Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Ferry Fowey ↔ Mevagissey
- about £5 each way, 30 min
- First Kernow bus Par ↔ Fowey
- ≈£8 return (check schedule)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walking is easiest; town bus (Yeo's) runs several days a week to the quay and car parks. Taxis are available but can be pricey.
See and do
Known for
- St Catherine's Castle
- Fowey Aquarium
- Fowey Regatta (mid‑August)
- Seafood pubs
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Polruan | Ferry from Fowey quay, 10 min | ≈30 min round trip |
| Mevagissey | Seasonal passenger ferry, 30 min | ≈1 h total |
Sleep
- Old Quay House
- B&B in Victorian seamen's lodgings, £160 per double room
- Fowey Hall
- Upscale B&B, £140 per double room
- Penhale Caravan & Camping Park
- Caravan/camping site
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Sorisaw‑ree |
| Thank you | Meur rasmyoor‑ras |
| How much is it? | Pyth yw?pith yoo? |
| Where is the toilet? | Pleas an gwrys?plehs an ghris? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake at first meeting; 'hi' and first names quickly; avoid: Cheek kisses with strangers
- Conversation: Weather is a safe opener; understatement and self-deprecating humour; avoid: Asking about salary or class
- Queues: Join at the back; avoid: Pushing onto buses or trains before others get off
- Apologies: 'Sorry' is said constantly, even when not at fault; avoid: Taking it as an admission of blame
- Pubs: Buy rounds in a group; wait at the bar without waving money; avoid: Clicking fingers at staff
- Nations: Call Scots Scottish and Welsh Welsh; avoid: Calling the whole UK 'England'
Scams and watch-outs
- Very narrow streets; large cars struggle.
- Limited parking – use Central Carpark or Caffa Mill Carpark and take the town bus.
- Bus frequency drops in winter; check timetables (First Kernow routes 24/25).
Fowey is safe; watch for wet pavements and keep an eye on personal belongings in busy pubs.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Fowey yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- St Catherine's Castle
- Fowey Aquarium
- Fowey Regatta (mid‑August)
- Seafood pubs
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- English Heritage – St Catherine's Castle: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/st-catherines-castle/
- Wikivoyage: Fowey, revision 5277121 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5277121
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/fowey). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.