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
A perfect Cornish getaway
This peaceful village used to be a hotbed for smugglers but remains a Cornish delight to escape to at any time of the year.
Location: Cawsand, Cornwall
Go rugged and budget in Cornwall
Newly renovated, situated on the rugged cornish coast and cheap as chips.
Location: Boscastle, Cornwall
Explore the Cornish sea
The Cornish Sea is the unique marine graveyard, and also doubles up as a mecca for scuba divers.
Location: Falmouth, Cornwall
Make your escape to the Isles of Scilly
Clear waters and a balmy micro-climate are just a few of the reasons to head to the Isles of Scilly this summer.
Location: Scilly Isles, Cornwall
Stroll along the ruins of Tintagel Castle
Tintagel Castle is full of legend and mystery, and these evocative ruins have got to be one of England’s most mysterious and romantic spots.
Location: Tintagel, Cornwall
Take a dip in Bude Sea Pool
Take the whole family to this part man-made, part natural sea pool which nestles under the cliffs at Summerleaze beach in Bude.
Location: Bude, Cornwall
Take a visit to Looe Island
Looe Island Nature Reserve is a haven for diverse and fascinating wildlife, from silver-washed fritillaries to grey seals.
Location: Looe, Cornwall
Try sea kayaking in St Austell Bay
With its sheltered beaches and harbours, St Austell Bay is the ideal location for sea kayaking.
Location: St Austell, Cornwall
Ride a horse across Perranporth beach
Enjoy an exhilarating gallop through the Atlantic waves and three miles of golden sand at Cornwall’s popular Perranporth beach.
Location: Perranporth, Cornwall
A warm welcome awaits weary travellers at the Victoria Inn
Reward yourself after a bracing walk along the coast with a pint in one of Cornwall’s oldest watering holes.
Location: Penzance, Cornwall
August events: Eat, drink and be merry at the Newlyn Fish Festival
Celebrate the Cornish fishing community’s hard work and delicious produce at the Newlyn Fish Festival.
Location: Newlyn, 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
Sample a proper Cornish Pasty
There may be a plethora of pasty shops in the country but there's only one place where you can get the authentic pasty experience; Cornwall.
Location: Redruth, Cornwall
Head to St Michael's Mount
It’s not often you get to follow in a giant’s footsteps...
Location: Marazion, 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
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
Sea view rooms and aromatherapy at St Michaels Resort
Kick back, pamper yourself and feel good again at one of Cornwall’s beachside gems.
Location: Falmouth, Cornwall