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.
Discover The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Explore hidden paths and bamboo tunnels on this aristocratic Cornwall estate.
Location: Heligan, Cornwall
July events: Step into a midsummer night’s dream at Port Eliot Festival
Culture galore mixed with the beautiful Cornish countryside makes the annual Port Eliot Festival a truly magical summer event.
Location: Port Eliot, 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
See an open-air play at the Minack Theatre
Carved into a granite cliff face on the southern tip of Cornwall, the Minack Theatre is a wonderfully unique theatrical experience.
Location: Porthcurno, 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
Discover Cornwall’s rugged landscape on the Poldark Trail
Saddle up for Hallagenna’s horse riding trail across Bodmin Moor, taking in some of the stunning filming locations behind the BBC’s Poldark remake.
Location: 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
Discover the Gardens of Cornwall
With over 70 gardens Cornwall is often described as the garden capital of the world, visit for yourself to see the greenery at its finest.
Location: Cornwall