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

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Discover The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Explore hidden paths and bamboo tunnels on this aristocratic Cornwall estate.
Location: Heligan, Cornwall
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
Alice in Wonderland at Antony House
Just over the Tamar, Antony House was the location for the hit 'Alice in Wonderland' 2010. Here you can explore its formal gardens, sculptures and the National Collection of Daylilies.
Location: Torpoint, Cornwall
Retreat to Ruthern Valley
Get some peace and quiet in a wooded valley inhabited with squirrels and wild rabbits.
Location: Bodmin, Cornwall
Cycle The Camel Trail to Bodmin Gaol
The Camel Trail provides access to the beautiful Cornish countryside along a disused railway line.
Location: Padstow to Bodmin, 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
Head to Lanhydrock for a splendid woodland picnic
Head to finest house in Cornwall for a relaxing picnic with magnificent panoramic views and 900 acres of parkland and woodland.
Location: Bodmin, 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
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
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
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
Take an award-winning tour of Camel Valley
An ex-RAF pilot and his wife grew their wine into an international triumph. Catch a glimpse and a taste in historic Bodmin.
Location: Bodmin, 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
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
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
Enjoy a fairytale stay at Truro’s Water Tower
You’ll feel like a hero or heroine in your very own fairy story as you mount the stairs of Truro’s Victorian Water Tower.
Location: Truro, 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