Whether you’re on a day trip with family or on a romantic break with your other half, there are plenty of things to do in Cornwall. Take advantage of the often stunning weather by surfing off Atlantic coves, ambling across granite moors or striding out on the South West Coast Path across Cornwall’s sandy beaches and wild flower-strewn clifftops. Got green fingers? Potter around lush gardens that can be found at Cornwall’s National Trust sites and in the modern biomes of the Eden Project alike. Explore super-quaint harbour towns, like Padstow and St Ives, where many a celebrity chef has taken up residence, and tuck into an endless list of Cornish delicacies – crumbly Yarg cheese, meat-stuffed pasties and Cornish cream teas with clotted cream – on England's southwest toe. Visit Cornwall for all of this and much, much more.
Places to visit in Cornwall
24 hours in St Ives
Featured
Travel to this sun-kissed Cornish town, in the far South West, for chilled-out beach cafes, sweet surf spots and a thriving art scene.
Leap into the surf at some of Cornwall’s most spectacular beaches
Surfing is every bit as much fun as it looks and the true Cornish experience is not complete without riding the waves at one of Cornwall’s golden beaches, with well-trained instructors.
Location: Across Cornwall
Go rugged and budget in Cornwall
Newly renovated, situated on the rugged cornish coast and cheap as chips.
Location: Boscastle, Cornwall
July events: Penzance Literary Festival
A literary festival on the Cornish coast with a distinctly local flavour and a relaxed atmosphere that’s ideal for book lovers.
Location: Penzance, Cornwall
September events: Sample some fantastic seafood at the Newquay Fish Festival
Feast upon the edible delights that swim Cornwall’s waters as local chefs cook up a treat, right before your eyes, at the Newquay Fish Festival.
Location: Newquay, Cornwall
Escape modern life with a stay at Skipper’s Cabin
Enjoy the splendid isolation and dramatic sea views in the rustic retreat that is Cornwall’s Skipper’s Cabin.
Location: Padstow, Cornwall
Enjoy jazz, art and sunsets in St Ives
Some say it’s the painterly light that makes St Ives so special. For others it’s the great swathes of golden sand.
Location: St Ives, Cornwall
Take a walk through Tresco Abbey Garden
Tresco Abbey Garden has unique climate conditions that allow for the growth of exotic and unique plant life.
Location: Isles of Scilly, Cornwall
Explore the Barbara Hepworth Museum
Whether you’re a garden lover, art aficionado or simply a St Ives devotee you can’t fail to fall for the magic of the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.
Location: St Ives, Cornwall
Enjoy a coastal escape at Whitsand Bay Fort
Stay in your very own lodge at this premier coastal holiday resort a few miles west of Ocean city Plymouth and east of Looe.
Location: Cornwall
Keep the family entertained all day long at Pollaughan Farm
After you’ve all trampolined and played tennis, muck in and feed the animals on this winter family getaway.
Location: Truro, Cornwall
Relax and reconnect on a romantic Cornish coastal break
It’s all about you and your time together at Headland Hotel and Spa, where you can connect with each other, the ocean and the wild Cornish coastline.
Location: Newquay, Cornwall
Enjoy a contemporary beach stay at the Watergate Bay Hotel
The Watergate Bay Hotel irresistibly combines dramatic coastline, adrenaline-fuelled sports, gorgeous accommodation and brilliant places to dine.
Location: Watergate Bay, Cornwall
Relax in Idyllic St Ives
St Ives is a picturesque fishing village with an artistic flair. Take in the character and charm of this quaint retreat.
Location: St Ives, Cornwall
Escape to Port Isaac for a coastal break
Port Isaac is a traditional fishing village with a vibrant local community in north Cornwall, home to the TV series Doc Martin starring Martin Clunes.
Location: Port Issac, Cornwall
Get Your Blood pumping in Newquay
With iconic surfing beaches, this town a favourite holiday destination for fun in the sun, and anything else the weather might throw at you.
Location: Newquay, Cornwall
Escape on a romantic break to Merchants Manor Hotel
Hot tubs hidden away in a secluded garden, snooze-inducing massages, and an award-winning restaurant serving sublime locally-sourced dishes; welcome to Merchants Manor.
Location: Falmouth, Cornwall