The town is also a British Centre for shark fishing. Looe Island, where there are no roads, shops or cars, lies about one mile off the coast of Looe and is open to day visitors in the season.
Looe centres on its broad sandy beach, with the characteristic Banjo Pier, a new Lifeboat station and churches of St. Mary's and St Nicholas. Narrow streets forming the main business area of the town, packed with many small shops, restaurants and pubs, and the Old Guildhall, now a museum.
East Looe has a sandy beach which is popular for families with good facilities. Along the cliffs to the east is Plaidy beach, a little further along is the bay and village of Millendreath. The beach at Hannafore on West Looe is mainly rocky, although there are some pebbly and sandy patches, but ideal for exploring the rock pools.
You’ll find a huge selection of restaurants and pubs to choose from with superb views and beer gardens.
Close by is the small picturesque fishing village of Polperro. A very small cove backed by tiny ancient cottages that appear to be almost tottering into the sea at high tide, with a smuggler's museum and a shell fronted house.
You can take advantage of many boat trips along the coast or head for deeper waters for fishing or diving off Europe’s first artificial reef HMS Scylla.