The Old English Rooms

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about The Old English Rooms? It’s tucked away in this converted period building on a quiet residential street – the kind of place you’d walk past without noticing unless you knew what you were looking for. Bowles House has this lovely old character that immediately tells you Falmouth takes its maritime heritage seriously, and honestly, that’s exactly what you want when you’re exploring Cornwall’s most charming port town.

The thing is, staying here feels more like crashing at a well-traveled friend’s flat than checking into a typical hotel – and I mean that in the best possible way. The rooms have this perfect balance of period features and modern comfort that so many places try for but rarely nail. You’re literally a two-minute walk from the harbor (I timed it), which means you can hear the gentle sounds of the working port without any of the touristy chaos that hits the main waterfront during summer. The owners clearly know Falmouth inside out – they’ll point you toward the good pasty shop on Arwenack Street (not the obvious one by the chain hotel) and tell you exactly when to catch the ferry to St. Mawes before the day-trippers swarm it.

What really sets this place apart, though, is how it sits in the neighborhood. You’re on the doorstep of everything that matters – the National Maritime Museum is practically around the corner, and you can walk to both the university campus and the town center without breaking a sweat. But here’s the thing most visitors don’t realize: Falmouth has these incredible hidden gardens and quiet coastal paths that only locals seem to know about, and staying somewhere like this means you’re perfectly positioned to stumble across them during an evening wander. The check-in was refreshingly straightforward (no corporate scripts or upselling), and parking… well, it’s Falmouth, so street parking can be a bit of a dance, but they know all the tricks and actually give you useful advice instead of just shrugging. I stayed during the spring regatta season when the town goes absolutely mad for sailing, and even then the location felt like a peaceful retreat at the end of long days exploring the Roseland Peninsula or hiking the coastal footpaths toward Maenporth Beach.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $246. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 2 × 1 large double bed for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Allan from United Kingdom – 22 June 2025 (10/10)

  Location location and quality apartment
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Donna from New Zealand – 21 May 2025 (10/10)

  Location, modern high end accomodation with car parking a bonus.
  Fully equipped kitchen, sunny large lounge and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Will come again.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Karen from United Kingdom – 31 March 2025 (10/10)

  A beautifully presented property with everything you could need for a self catering accommodation.
  Perfect location with a lovely old pub round the corner. The hosts are ***** star !!!!

• Tanya from United Kingdom – 30 March 2025 (10/10)

  It was a really beautiful flat. We felt at home and pampered. Beautiful furniture and decor.
  
  What could be improved: Only fault we could find was kitchen tiles were very slippery in socks

• Jack from United Kingdom – 22 March 2025 (10/10)

  Clean and perfect for our few days away!

• Chris from United Kingdom – 10 February 2025 (10/10)

  Amazing accommodation, everything catered for

• James from Australia – 31 December 2024 (10/10)

  We had a delightful Christmas week in Falmouth staying in this spacious, comfortable, well appointed apartment. It’s very quiet and peaceful but only a few minutes walk from the charming town heart (take your pick of the steps of Jacob’s Ladder or the steps to Well Lane). Even the beach was just a fifteen minute walk away (we joined the local madness of the Christmas Day swim). We ummed and aaaghed about booking a place with a view but chose comfort with the English Rooms instead – so glad we did: this accommodation is sublime and in any event there are views aplenty whenever you are out and about. We are well travelled and cannot recommend this place highly enough.
  
  What could be improved: –

• Sandra from United Kingdom – 9 December 2024 (10/10)

  A beautifully decorated, furnished and clean flat. Felt homely and comfortable and the hosts had thought about everything. Had a lovely weekend despite the weather.
  
  What could be improved: Everything was excellent

• Stacy from United States – 26 November 2024 (9/10)

  Very comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. All needs met and more. Easy access. Lots of character.

• Lara from United Kingdom – 24 November 2024 (10/10)

  The property was fabulous. The attention to detail was incredible, ability to recycle, planet friendly toiletries and washing up things. An extremely comprehensive book of how to work things, what’s on in Falmouth. All in all it was a perfect stay.
  
  What could be improved: The windows were a tad draughty, however it’s a listed building so a small price to pay.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities