Best places to visit in Cornwall: top attractions and prettiest places

Port Isaac and Tintagel Castle

The region’s coast is certainly the star. Personally, I find the most scenic part of Cornwall to be the Lizard Peninsula, especially spots such as Kynance Cove.
For decades Newquay has been crowned as England’s surf capital, making it one of the best places to visit in Cornwall to ride the waves or learn to surf. Still, there are plenty more reasons to add a stop in Newquay to your itinerary.

St Michael’s Mount

While it’s always best to see wildlife in the wild rather than captivity, this spot isn’t one of your typical Cornwall attractions like a zoo as the primary purpose is rehabilitation rather than entertainment.
The main reason to visit Truro is for the more significant cultural offerings than elsewhere. Head to the Royal Cornish Museum, where you can learn more about the region’s history and a little about the Cornish language. Visit the Victorian cathedral – unusual for its three spires. Or even try to catch a show at the Hall for Cornwall, a popular performance venue.
Port Issac’s history is tied to fishing – an industry that peaked here in the early 19th century – and thankfully, due to the protected status of the harbour, the fishing village has remained quaint and historic, even if the industry is less prominent.

The Lizard Peninsula

With plenty to see and do, from galleries and gardens to museums and the open-air lido, Penzance has established itself as one of the best places to visit in Cornwall. Of particular interest is the Egyptian House, a listed building with an interesting facade. Penlee House, home to some excellent paintings from the nearby art school’s alumni, is also worth a visit.
If you want a Cornwall holiday with a relaxing vibe, you might want to consider staying on the peninsula rather than in one of the larger towns. Book a beach stay in Porthleven for a proper bolthole experience. It’s one of the most dreamy spots on the Cornwall coast, and your morning coffee will taste even better with those breezy sea views.
For the weather alone, summer is the best time to visit Cornwall. However, in the peak summer months of July and August, and also UK school holidays, the region becomes busier. I suggest visiting in spring for wild-flower-lined trails or late September for a more peaceful, yet hopefully still sunny, beach break.
Cornwall is ideal as both a long weekend break or a one-week road or beach trip – it really depends on how much time you have. With a car, you could ‘tick off’ some of the main attractions in three days, but you’ll want to take it slower for a beach holiday.

Truro

Thanks to limited road access, little development and swathes of unadulterated verdant-backed coast, it retains all the charm of a time gone by. Idyllic villages such as Coverack and Cadgwith are the perfect places to stop for a fish and chips lunch, while turquoise-lapped coves like Kynance Cove are some of the very best places to visit in Cornwall for a dip.

Just be aware that it’s not the cheapest place to visit in Cornwall. Between the car park, attractions and higher-priced foods and ice creams for a family, the costs can quickly add up.

St Ives

For centuries St Ives has been one of the most popular places in Cornwall for a UK staycation, and the second you lay eyes on the expansive beaches – particularly impressive at low tide – you’ll see why.
An old market town, St Austell has played an essential role in the region’s mining and China Clay industries. You’ll still spot reminders of the town’s historic importance, such as the bygone Cornwall Coliseum. Nowadays, it’s the gateway to some of Cornwall’s best attractions, and home to the St Austell brewing company, which you can visit for both a tour and a pint.
While the cathedral towers above everything else and is worth a visit, the city still keeps a laid-back Cornish vibe. There are plenty of independent pubs and coffee shops – Lemon Street Market is a gem – and it’s a good base or place to pick up supplies, especially from the fresh produce market.

What makes the Minack so special is the backdrop of the ocean and the sea breeze throughout the open-air performances in the summer months. Even if there isn’t a show scheduled during your visit, you can still visit the theatre during the day. It’s a wonder, both for the ingenious design but also the magnificent setting.
Cornwall is a place you usually visit for the coast and quaint villages. However, if you want museums and urban comforts, head to Truro, the region’s only city.
Cornwall is one of the prettiest regions of England with an interesting history due to the mining and national minority language. However, the main reason to visit is for surfing, sand, seafood and the dramatic coastline.

*Article produced in partnership with Aspects Holidays, written from my own experiences travelling through Cornwall

Newquay

Unique and fascinating, the Minack Theatre is one of my favourite places to visit in England and certainly one of the more unusual of Cornwall’s attractions.

Snuggled around a small harbour in North Cornwall, Port Isaac is your typical dreamy coastal village and one of the best places to visit in Cornwall for first time visitors. A cluster of white-fronted homes atop a low-slung cliff, the village looks down on the pocket-sized beach and bobbing fishing boats below.
First imagined as a pilgrimage site and initially owned by France’s Mont St Michel, Benedictine monks constructed the first church here in 1135. Later the island became a fortress before becoming one of the most popular Cornwall attractions. 

Further north, around a 30-minute drive along the coast, is one of the most famed Cornwall attractions, Tintagel Castle. However, the best way to arrive is by following the Cornish Coastal Path, which links the two locations together. This 10-mile stretch takes in dramatic rock formations and lesser-visited beaches. It’s particularly spectacular in spring when the wildflowers arrive.
Nearby, you’ll also find the Tudor Pendennis Castle, one of Cornwall’s best attractions. Henry VIII constructed this fortification to defend the nation from the French, and much of the original structure – mainly the keep – still stands today. You can walk the extensive grounds, complete with historic cannons, visit the museum, and learn more about the outposts’ role in WWII.
At the trail’s end, Bedruthan Steps Beach awaits one of the most breathtaking in Cornwall. However, the real magic is found along the path, with sheltered coves and rocky vistas aplenty. If this long stretch is too much, the turquoise waters of Porthcothan Beach are just as splendid. From Padstow, it’s around 13 miles one way to this point, or there’s a circular six-mile route from Bedruthan.

Bodmin Moor

While Penzance is a popular base in Cornwall, thanks to the many amenities, I’d suggest booking a cottage near the harbour. This way, you can have the best of both worlds; a waterfront view with all the benefits of being in a town.
So, while it’s great to visit and admire the seal’s and pups’ healing, it’s even better to know that once they are strong and healthy again, they will return to the wild to enjoy life in nature.
The Lizard Peninsula is one of my favourite stretches of coast in the whole country, second only to the Jurassic Coast in my home region of Dorset.

Coastal Mevagissey, however, is the postcard-perfect Cornish village. It’s one of the best places to visit in Cornwall to devour fresh seafood in a wooden-clad pub, with the colourful homes and boats around the harbour being the cherry on top.
Accessed from the town of Marazion, a sometimes slightly submerged brick causeway links the mainland with the island. While St Michael’s Mount doesn’t have quite the same level of grandeur as its French counterpart, the medieval castle atop – now a family home – adds something special, making it one of the best places to visit in Cornwall.
Life in Falmouth – like much of Cornwall – is all about the sea. However, in this coastal town, it’s taken a little further thanks to the National Maritime Museum.

Firstly, the gardens are vast, covering more than 200 acres when you include the woodlands. Suspended bridges and moss-covered statues dot the gardens, which, until around 30 years ago, were being reclaimed by the elements.

Land’s End

Inside this impressive space, you’ll find plenty of stories of Cornwall’s seafaring past and full-size replicas and real boats from days gone by. Sadly, the ticket prices are a little steep, in my opinion, as London’s outpost is free, but they do allow entrance for one full year.
If you only have time for a short visit, then don’t miss Tintagel Castle, St Ives, St Michael’s Mount and The Eden Project. These four attractions are some of the top places to visit in Cornwall. However, it’s a region best explored slowly so that you can see many more places on this list.
Whether you’re staying here or visiting for the day, it’s well worth exploring the town and surrounding areas. If chasing swell isn’t your thing, then fret not, for there are plenty more adventure activities, such as coasteering experiences along the low-slung yet dramatic cliffs.

While most visitors to Cornwall will enjoy their treks and rambles along the coast, a special mention is reserved for inland Bodmin Moor.

Cornish Seal Sanctuary

This town in west Cornwall is perhaps most famous for its pirate past, highlighted in the opera The Pirates of Penzance, dating to the days of Queen Victoria. Yet, while the real-life pirates are long gone, the town retains plenty of other reasons to visit.
Situated in south Cornwall – Lizard Point claims the title of the most south-westerly point on the mainland – the whole peninsula has that get-away-from-it-all vibe. Indeed, there are two things you’ll want to bring here: walking shoes and a camera.

Nearly 100 years ago, Rowena Cade set about to create something extraordinary. Chiselling the theatre into the cliff face herself, the Minack Theatre was born, bringing a unique spectacle to the south coast of Cornwall.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Amongst the granite slabs and barren pastures, you can find an abundance of ancient monuments. In fact, the location is noted as one of the best places in all of Europe for Neolithic and Bronze Age sites. King Arthur’s Hall, a megalithic ceremonial site, is one of the most famous.
These two cute spots not far from the Devon border can be easily combined, as Mevagissey is just a 20-minute drive or bus from St Austell’s train station.
To arrive, you’ll need to take a short flight or ferry – the latter being my personal tip. Not only is it less carbon intensive than flying, but the short journey offers great perspectives of the coast and can often be cheaper.

If you’ve made it this far south, you’ve likely covered all of Cornwall’s best places to visit and earned yourself another celebratory fish and chips on the beach! Next up, it’s time to discover some of the other best places in South West England!

Penzance

Nowadays, it’s become a little too ‘theme park’ for my liking. However, there is no denying it’s a magical spot to enjoy the sunset with a cold one. Pop into the 17th-century pub for a pint and myths of seafaring pirate history, or take the kids to one of the child-friendly attractions.
Whether you’re planning a long weekend or an extended vacation, here are some of the best places to visit in Cornwall to get you started.

Padstow and Bedruthan Steps 

Close to Mevagissey you’ll find The Lost Gardens of Heligan, something of a hidden gem in Europe. Even if you’re not a ‘garden person’, you may find your interest piqued by one of Cornwall’s best attractions, especially when you learn its story.

A vast moorland in northeast Cornwall, Bodmin is a wild place which will be of particular interest to those interested in geological history. What makes Bodmin stand out as one of the best places to visit in Cornwall, though, is its history.

Falmouth

Cornwall offers a variety of accommodation options ranging from small B&Bs to lavish castle stays. Cottages and holiday homes are popular options, with companies such as Aspects Holidays providing a local and specialist alternative to Airbnb.
With a fascinating history related to the UNESCO-listed old mining sites, a rich and storied culture thanks to the Cornish language and the region’s independent past, and those beautiful golden sands, Cornwall’s charm is infectious no matter where or when you visit.

In Padstow, you’ll find a tranquil coastal town fronted by a still-working fishing port. These regular catches ensure it’s the go-to for fresh seafood dishes served by celebrities. Both Rick Stein and Michelin-starred chef Paul Ainsworth have restaurants here.

Isles of Scilly

Perhaps you’ve heard of Mont St Michel, the Abbey-crowned island which is a popular weekend break in France. Well, did you know Cornwall has its own ‘little sister’ to this famed location?
Being one of the larger towns in the region, you’ll find many excellent restaurants and ample accommodation. As such, Newquay makes for a decent base. Just keep in mind in summer, the population of 20,000 can multiply some five times.


While it will cost you to enter The Eden Project, I’d say it’s worth it – especially as you could easily spend more than half a day taking it all in.

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