Best things to do in Cornwall

With its craggy charm and deep Celtic roots, Britain’s westernmost county of Cornwall has always captured the imaginations of artists, writers, surfers and hikers – anyone, in fact, who’s drawn to wild landscapes, dramatic coastline and a benign climate. England's glorious southwest has a lot to offer, and Cornwall is the perfect place for an unforgettable staycation. Here is our list of the best things to do in Cornwall.

This page is inspired by our Rough Guide to Devon and Cornwall, your ultimate guide for visiting Cornwall.

1. Land's end - one of the best things to do in Cornwall for the great outdoors

It would be hard to compromise the potency of the majestic headland of Land’s End though the hotel and amusements complex that dominates the land approach comes pretty close. Once past it, however, you can relax: 60ft-high turf-covered cliffs provide a platform to view the Irish Lady, the Armed Knight, Dr Syntax Head and the other wind-eroded outcrops scattered out to sea.

Beyond the sea you can spot the Longships lighthouse, a mile and a half out, and sometimes the Wolf Rock lighthouse, nine miles southwest, or even the dim outline of the Isles of Scilly, 28 miles away.

Tracking the coast is one of the best things to do in Cornwall for diverse wildlife, from busy fulmars and herring gulls to Atlantic grey seals “cottling” out to sea. In early September, colonies of seals haul themselves out of the water to breed on the rocks below Longships lighthouse. Other regular passengers on the fast currents include dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks, for which a pair of binoculars would be useful.

2. Minack Theatre

At the top of steep steps on the western side of Porthcurno Beach 60yd above the sea, Porthcurno’s famous Minack Theatre was founded by local benefactor Rowena Cade as a venue for amateur plays put on by her friends and family. The theatre staged its first production (The Tempest) in 1932, and subsequently expanded as its fame spread – it now holds 750 seats, though the basic Greek-inspired design remains intact.

The spectacular backdrop of Porthcurno Bay makes this one of the best things to do in Cornwall for theatre lovers and the eclectic programme of plays, operas and musicals frequently sells out during the season. The weather can be cold and blowy but cancellations are rare. If you can’t make it to a performance, you can at least nose around the site and follow the story of the theatre’s creation at the Exhibition Centre.

Where to stay in Porthcurno

• For couples: Tater-du
• For convenient location: The Rest House

3. St Michael's Mount

Five miles east of Penzance, some 400yd from the mainland village of Marazion atop a promontory, St Michaels’ Mount presents a fine spectacle – an irresistible lure to anyone travelling along the long curve of Mount’s Bay. As well as the castle, the lush gardens are well worth exploring.

Above the island’s harbour – historically used by the fishermen of Marazion, as their village never possessed its own – it’s a steep climb to the castle itself, up the cobbled Pilgrims’ Steps. The series of surprisingly small rooms within displays a wealth of weaponry and military trophies, period furniture and a feast of miniatures and larger paintings.

The site can be accessed on foot along a cobbled causeway, or by ferry at high tide. A couple of cafés provide refreshments and local bands play at the harbour on most Sundays in July and August.

4. Port Isaac

Five miles east of Polzeath, the quintessential Cornish fishing village of Port Isaac is wedged in a gap in the precipitous cliff walls. Already celebrated for its crab and lobster catch, Port Isaac has also achieved fame for its appearances in films and TV productions as well as for having spawned the Fisherman’s Friends male choir.

Consequently, there is a regular trickle of day-trippers here, but Port Isaac still preserves its air of seclusion, with granite, slate and whitewashed cottages tumbling steeply down to a largely unspoilt seafront. A trip to a pebble beach and rock pools which are exposed to the low tide is one of the best things to do in Cornwall in summer.

Half a mile to the east, the coast path brings you to Port Gaverne (pronounced Gayverne), a small cove with a pebble and sand beach, and sheltered bathing. Head a couple of miles west of Port Isaac and you’ll reach Port Quin and a more dramatic coastline.

Where to stay in Port Isaac

• For sunset views: Glamping Pods Nr Port Isaac
• For unique character: The Slipway

Find more accommodation options to stay in Port Isaac.

5. Carnglaze Caverns & St Nectan's Kieve

Seven miles east of Bodmin and reachable from the A38 two miles south, St Neot makes a good entry point for the southern tracts of Bodmin Moor. As one of the moor’s prettiest villages, it also strongly merits a visit in its own right, not least for its fifteenth-century church.

But among the best things to do in Cornwall in this region is to visit Carngleys Caverns, which are a complex of caves formed by slate mining in the area. The caverns consist of three main chambers, one of which is flooded and is an underground lake with clear azure water. You can take a guided tour of the caverns, and explore the collection of minerals provided in the first cavern.

St Nectan's Kivet, located near Tintagel, is a water basin fed by a waterfall on the Trevillet River. Kieve is known not only for its natural beauty but also for its spiritual and mystical significance. It is believed to be a sacred place, and some visitors leave photographs, inscriptions and prayers on the rock walls of the waterfall.

6. Bodmin Moor

A miniature wilderness just ten miles in diameter and watered by a quartet of rivers Bodmin Moor is the smallest, mildest and most accessible of the West Country’s great moors, its highest tor rising to just 1375ft from a platform of 1000ft.

Though bisected by the main A30, the moor’s bare, desolate appearance conveys a sense of loneliness quite out of proportion to its size, its emptiness only accentuated by the scattered relics left behind by its Bronze Age population. Its remote air has also engendered a slew of literary and legendary associations, notably in the annals of King Arthur and the fiction of Daphne du Maurier.

According to Arthurian mythology, Dozmary Pool, lying at the centre of the moor, was where Sir Bedivere hurled the sword Excalibur at the bidding of King Arthur. The diamond-shaped lake usually preserves an ethereal air, though it’s been known to run dry in summer, dealing a bit of a blow to the legend that the pool is bottomless.

One possible access point for hikers to the lake is from Jamaica Inn, outside Bolventor off the A30. In a previous incarnation the inn was described in Daphne du Maurier’s novel of the same name as being “alone in glory, four square to the winds”, but it’s now a popular coach stop, stripped of any vestigial romance.

7. Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, Boscastle

For a break from Hardy, check out the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, an intelligent, comprehensive and non-gimmicky account of witchcraft and sorcery through the ages, displayed in themed galleries.

Look out for the “dark mirrors” – which are supposed to see into the future – and “healing poppets” (dolls) used in cursing, with pubic hair and nail clippings sewn onto them. You can even listen to a rare recording of occultist Aleister Crowley intoning his poetry and excerpts from “The Gnostic Mass”.

• For price and quality: The Wellington Hotel
• For luxury: Reddivallen Farmhouse

Find more accommodation options to stay in Boscastle.

8. St Mawes

In a secluded spot at the mouth of the Percuil estuary and facing Falmouth across the neck of the Carrick Roads, St Mawes is a select enclave of cottages, villas and abundant gardens, sloping above a simple harbour. A stroll around the village could take in St Mawes Castle, a good spot to soak up the stirring estuary views.

At the western end of St Mawes, the small and pristine St Mawes Castle was, like Falmouth’s Pendennis, built during Henry VIII’s reign from 1539 to 1543, based on designs by the king’s German military architect Stefan von Haschenberg. Both castles adhere to the same clover-leaf design, with a central round keep surrounded by robust gun emplacements.

St Mawes, however, has more architectural interest, with three semicircular bastions surrounding the four-storey central tower, and some of the best examples of decorative stonework. Although its design was considered revolutionary at the time, the castle retained such medieval features as the oubliette, a deep, square shaft just inside the entrance on the right where prisoners were detained, now covered by a glass roof.

Where to stay in St Mawes

• For stylish stays: Hotel Tresanton
• For couples: The Idle Rocks

Find more accommodation options to stay in St Mawes.

9. Tintagel

Seven miles northeast of Port Isaac, the village of Tintagel is a magnet for visitors on account of its fabled castle, whose scanty ruins stand on an outcrop of the nearby coast. Apart from this and a medieval manor house restored by the National Trust, the village amounts to little more than a dreary collection of bungalows, guesthouses and souvenir shops milking the area’s associations with King Arthur for all they’re worth.

The most evocative approach to the site is from Glebe Cliff to the west, where the Norman parish church of St Materiana sits in windswept isolation.

At low tide, you can visit Merlin’s Cave at the base of the promontory, where the wizard is supposed to have taken the infant Arthur to keep him safe. Look out for the unobtrusive rock carving of Merlin’s head at the mouth of the cave, one of several artistic installations dotted around the site which have led to accusations of the “Disneyfication” of Tintagel.

Where to stay in Tintagel

• For relaxing stays: Bosayne Guest House
• For beachfront stays: Port William Inn

Find more accommodation options to stay in Tintagel.

10. Experience eco adventures in Eden

Exploring the Eden Project is absolutely one of the best things to do in Cornwall. In fact, it’s a high point of any visit to southwest England. At once a global garden, an environmental educational tool, an art gallery, and a playground, it offers multiple experiences on one 35-acre site.

From the Visitor Centre, you can take the little train between the biomes, among them the awe-inspiring Rainforest Biome. Glorious with tropical plants, and home to an exhilarating canopy walkway, this is the world’s largest greenhouse. Meanwhile, the massive Mediterranean Biome re-creates the landscapes of the Mediterranean, California, and South Africa.

Whichever zone you’re exploring, an ethos of education - underpinned by serious environmental ambitions - has been slickly integrated into the curation. The same goes for engaging children too - Eden’s landscapes and exhibits have been engineered to encourage curious young minds to explore and learn in a playfully creative way.

11. Feast on history in Falmouth

This Cornish town makes for a pleasant and welcoming place to visit (or stay), with guesthouses, villas and gardens lining the quiet roads between the beaches and the station. Falmouth has also undergone a revival focussed around the redeveloped Discovery Quay.

Here the state-of-the-art National Maritime Museum Cornwall dominates the landscape. It’s a stunning structure, with a floor-to-ceiling glass viewing gallery, a large collection of boats, lots of hands-on displays, and opportunities to see traditional boat builders at work.

One of the best things to do in Cornwall for history buffs is to head to Pendennis Castle. Reached via thrilling Castle Drive (it encircles the headland), the castle boasts a Tudor gun deck, underground tunnels and a World War II observation post. It also offers one of the West Country’s most scenic views, which is really saying something.

Where to stay in Falmouth

• For stunning harbour views: Greenbank Hotel
• For couples: Gyllyngvase House

Find more accommodation options to stay in Falmouth.

12. Gander Glorious Gardens

Nestled in three wooded valleys near Falmouth, the National Trust-managed Glendurgan Garden is a paradise of rare subtropical plants. A meander down through the garden takes visitors to the charming hamlet of Durgan on the Helford River - one of the best things to do in Cornwall to watch birds and build sand castles. The site is also home to a lovely laurel maze that’s been bamboozling visitors for over 180 years

Neighbouring Trebah Garden is another sub-tropical stunner. First planted in the 1840s in a steeply wooded ravine, an abundance of palms, tree ferns and giant gunnera give the impression that you’re very far from England. What’s more, secluded Polgwidden Cove lies at the bottom of the garden.

Heading towards Mevagissey, the Lost Gardens of Heligan deliver history and natural beauty in spades. Decades of inattention during WWI meant the gardens were all but lost to time and the elements until a huge garden restoration project got underway. The grounds are now beautifully restored, with boardwalks through a subtropical area, lakes, wetlands and woodlands in the Lost Valley, and exotic fruits in the walled garden.

13. Hike the Lizard Coastal Walk

Hiking Cornwall's Lizard Coastal Walk to Lizard Peninsula, the most the southerly tip of mainland Britain, can't come more recommended for lovers of the great outdoors. Routing through dramatic cliff scenery, rare wildflowers and fascinating historic spots, it’s a seven-mile walk that typically takes around three hours to complete, beginning and ending at golden-sanded Kynance Cove.

Renowned for its serpentinite rocks, it looks especially stunning at low tide when the green and red of the shiny snakeskin-esque rocks - backed by the Prussian blue of the sea - are at their most resplendent.

Along the way, the walk passes Pentreath Beach, Polpeor Cove (look out for the disused Victorian lifeboat station), Lizard Lighthouse, and Pen Olver - the perfect place for a picturesque picnic. The hike also offers excellent opportunities to see seals and basking sharks, with plenty of bird life to watch for too.

14. Take in art at Tate St Ives

Given that St Ives has long been one of the best things to do in Cornwall for artists, it’s perhaps little wonder that the town has its own Tate Gallery. While the Tate St Ives might be smaller than her London sisters, she’s big on impact and perfectly formed. In fact, the gallery’s building and location opposite Porthmeor Beach look like a spectacular painting, while the public roof garden and restaurant serve up breathtaking views.

Tate St Ives holds a permanent collection of works by celebrated St Ives painters (among them Ben Nicholson, Peter Lanyon, Patrick Heron, Sir Terry Frost and Alfred Wallis) while also housing displays from the main Tate Collection, with a focus on works with Cornish connections.

An integral part of the Tate St Ives experience is the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden in Trewyn Studio on Barnoon Hill. Hepworth wrote that “finding Trewyn Studio was a sort of magic” and it has to be said that magic is very much in evidence here today, as is the artist’s dynamic spirit.

Where to stay in St Ives

• For peaceful stays: 27 The Terrace
• For price and quality: Anchorage Guest House

Find more accommodation options to stay in St Ives.

15. Surf in style around Newquay

Some of Britain’s best surf beaches are found along Cornwall’s north coast, with tourist hub Newquay a major magnet for water sports lovers. Fistral Bay is the biggest of the town’s three beaches and the location of major surfing championships and events.

For families based in the Newquay area, the Blue Reef Aquarium has to be one of the best things to do in Cornwall. With an underwater tunnel at its heart and 40 themed habitats - from Cornish coasts to tropical seas - animal lovers have the opportunity to see the likes of loggerhead sea turtles, reef sharks, caiman and pufferfish.

More conservation-minded animal experiences can be enjoyed at Newquay Zoo. With an admirable focus on saving animals through captive breeding, the zoo is home to almost 1000 of the world’s rarest and endangered animals.

Northern Cornwall is a hiker's paradise and this tailor-made hiking trip includes the most scenic parts. You will start your journey in London with some unique activities to get to know the city, before setting off on a 5-day walk across Cornwall. End your trip in Bath and explore the backdrop of Bridgerton.

16. Explore the idyllic Isles of Scilly

Characterised by crystalline waters and soft sands that provide an especially spectacular backdrop for romantic getaways, the subtropical Isles of Scilly seem a million miles from Britain. Yet this cluster of five inhabited islands (and over 100 smaller uninhabited islands) is a mere 28 miles southwest of Land’s End.

Steeped in myth and legend, the islands have been inhabited for at least 4000 years, as countless Bronze Age burial mounds testify. Among these ancient gems is Bant’s Carn Burial Chamber on St Mary’s. Only three miles at its widest point, St Mary’s is the largest island and home to the Isles of Scilly Museum, which makes for a fascinating stop-off between scenic strolls.

The islands’ mild climate means subtropical plants thrive here, and there’s no better place to experience this exotic vibe than Tresco Abbey Garden. Landscaped in the 19th century, it contains rare plants from 80 countries, ranging from Brazil to New Zealand, and Burma to South Africa. Tresco is also known for its paradisal, near-empty soft sand beaches - you could be forgiven for thinking you’re in the Caribbean.

For more ideas about what to see and do in Cornwall, take a look at our Rough Guide to Devon and Cornwall. Also, read our guide to the best road trips in the UK and find some ideas for your holidays in England.

If you prefer to plan and book your trip to England without any effort and hassle, use the expertise of our local travel experts to make sure your trip will be just like you dream it to be.

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