As one of the Celtic Nations and the most southwestern county in the United Kingdom, Cornwall has a lot to discover. There are many things to do in Cornwall, from its natural beauty and stunning beaches to exceptional food, and a range of historical and cultural attractions, you will never feel bored. In this blog, we will discover the best places to visit in Cornwall, some hidden gems, amazing food to try, and tips for experiencing attractions. Let’s dive in!
What to Do in Cornwall?
If you are coming to this county for the first time, you may be wondering what to do in Cornwall. Well, although it’s a small county, there are quite a lot of things to do in Cornwall. Cities like Newquay, Bude, St Ives, and Falmouth are popular among tourists. You can experience the water sports along the coastal lines, admire historical relics, and taste other special traditional foodie from locals in these places. Keep reading and find out more!
Top Things to Do in Cornwall
Whether you are visiting Cornwall for the first time or the second time, you can’t miss the following best places to see in Cornwall UK. These places have the perfect combination of natural beauty and historical vibe.
1. Minack Theatre
Visiting the Minack Theatre, whether you are just visiting the theatre or planning to watch a Shakespeare play, is one of the must-do things. Set at the clifftop of a rocky outcrop, the ocean view serves as the natural backdrop of this theatre, and the sound of waves is the natural background music of the play. This magnificent theatre was built in the 1930s by Rowena Cade. Many classic works are played daily in this special theatre. Aside from the play, you can also take a relaxing walk in its subtropical gardens.
2. Eden Project
The Eden Project is one of the best places to see in Cornwall UK. You can’t visit Cornwall without visiting the famous Eden Project. You can find the world’s largest indoor rainforest in the iconic Biome, you can also witness the wisdom of ancient Greeks in the Mediterranean Biome. In an era when preserving natural habitats is becoming increasingly important, the Eden Project is a meaningful and educational destination for both adults and children. A raining day will make the experience better!
3. St Michael’s Mount
Visiting St Michael’s Mount is one of the best things to do in Cornwall. This magnificent castle is accessible on foot during low tide. While at high tide, a boat is needed to take you there. It’s an ancient medieval castle full of legends and mysteries.
4. King Arthur & Tintagel Castle
If you are a legend and mystery enthusiast, there is another interesting place to go: Tintagel Castle. Tintagel Castle is a medieval fortification situated atop a cliff on the coast. You can also go down to the beach and have a look at Merlin’s Cave, a great wizard back then. It’s one of the things to see in Cornwall.
5. The Lost Garden of Heligan
The Lost Garden of Heligan is another one of the best places to visit in Cornwall. This garden was once magnificent and luxurious during the Victoria era. However, it was severely damaged during the First World War. By 1990, Tim Smit had restored the lost garden. Visitors can explore the wonder of the Jungle, Productive Gardens, The Mud Maid & Giant’s Head, Italian Garden, etc. in this garden.
6. Pendennis Castle
Pendennis Castle, located near Falmouth, was built during the Tudor era to protect this county from naval attackers. Visiting the old castle and learn how it works as a defensive structure is one of the cool things to do in Cornwall.
7. Bodmin Jail
Bodmin Jail is definitely one of the best places to see in Cornwall UK. Built in the late 18th century, Bodmin Jail functioned as a medieval dungeon back then, and was the only jail that had capital punishment, executing 55 public hangings. Now, this jail has been converted into a place for visitors to experience the eerie and thrilling, you can experience the Dark Walk, Night Ghost Tour, and even stay overnight in a hotel within the jail.
8. Go to the Beaches
As a coastal peninsula, going to the beach is definitely one of the best things to do in Cornwall UK. There are many choices when it comes to the beach. Some popular beaches include St Ives, Carbis Bay, Fistral, and Bude, etc. You can even try to surf and other water activities at these beaches.
9. St Ives
In St Ives, you can go to beaches and experience plenty of water sports. St Ives has some of the best beaches in the UK, and one can’t miss taking a boat trip to explore the amazing coastline of St Ives Bay, you can spot seals, dolphins in the right season. There is a beautiful art museum nearby, to visit: the Tate St Ives.
10. Cornish Seal Sanctuary
You can see many adorable seals in the Gweek Seal Sanctuary. The seal sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates those injured, or orphaned seals around the Cornish and Devon coastline. It’s one of the child-friendly places to go in Cornwall.
11. Land’s End
Land’s End is the most southwestern point of mainland United Kingdom. Visiting Land’s End is one of the things to do in Cornwall. In this place, you can see the tumultuous waves and the mysterious and fantastic view of the Atlantic Ocean. Except that, Visitors can also experience 4D cinema, King Arthur Experience and shopping around Land’s End.
12. Trebah Garden
Trebah Garden, as one of the 10 most beautiful gardens in the UK, is one of the best places to visit in Cornwall UK. Visitors can admire the century-old trees, falls, private beach, relic of the Second World War, and seasonal flowers. In spring, rhododendrons, magnolias, and camellias welcome you, in summer, a giant gunnera welcomes you, Hydrangeas in Autumn welcome you and champion trees in winter welcome you.
13. Doc Martin Tour in Port Isaac
If you are a big fan of the TV series Doc Martin, you can’t miss Port Isaac. In this village, you can find almost every iconic scene in the series, like Doc Martin’s Surgery, Mrs. Tishell’s Pharmacy, Luisa’s School, and Portwenn School, etc. You are also experience the authentic Cornish rural life in this process. You can book a Doc Martin tour to immerse yourself in this place. It’s one of the best things to do in Cornwall.
14. Quaint Village of Mousehole
Mousehole is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Cornwall. In Mousehole, you can experience the quaint fishing village and peaceful village life. There are many interesting tales about this village, including raids by the Spanish, smuggling, cholera epidemics, and being one of the last outposts of the Cornish language.
Hidden Gems in Cornwall
Bodmin Moor: The wildest part, features Bronze Age and Neolithic cairns and stone circles, making it a perfect place to explore.
The Jamaica Inn: The smuggling inn in Dickens’s novel. It’s one of the special places to go in Cornwall.
Newquay Zoo: A child-friendly place to go.
Geevor Tin Mine: Explore Cornwall mining heritage here. One of the fun things to do in Cornwall.
Royal Cornwall Museum: The oldest and largest museum in Cornwall.
Lizard Peninsula: A good place for hiking.
National Maritime Museum Cornwall: A good place to learn about naval history.
St Mawes Castle: Renowned as Pendennis’s little sister.
Rame Peninsula: Remote and difficult to access, known as “forgotten Cornwall”
Fowey Estuary: A beautiful medieval town, experiencing a cruise is a must-do.
Lantic Bay: A good place to hike, one of the things to do in Cornwall.
Charlestown Harbour: One of the beautiful places in Cornwall to experience the quaint village life, also one of the best places to visit in Cornwall.
Boat trip to Looe Island: Experience the natural beauty of this island. One of the fun things to do in Cornwall.
Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm: A nice place to enjoy the cider museum and taste some cider.
Lizard Point: The furthest south point in the UK.
Lanhydrock House: It’s Victorian-style houses, one of the cool places to go in Cornwall.
Truro Cathedral: The only cathedral in Cornwall, one of the unique places to go in Cornwall.
Launceston Castle: A castle of immense history and culture.
Isles of Scilly: Experience the subtropical feel of a stunning beach view.
Flora Day: A traditional festival in Helston. It’s one of the special things to see in Cornwall.
Universities in Cornwall
Even though it’s a small county, there are several higher education institutions in Cornwall. Students can receive education in universities like Falmouth University, University of Exeter (Penryn Campus), Cornwall College Sisna Park, etc. Studying in Cornwall, students can study special fields like Ocean Science, Environmetal Science, Marine Biology, etc.
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Cornwall Foodie Bucket List
The food in Cornwall also gives you a lot of surprises. Some traditional Cornish foods like pasty, cream tea are a must-try.
Cornish Pasty
As one of the traditional foods, the Cornish Pasty is a must-try in Cornwall. And just try to eat the Cornish Pasty with your bare hand! The Cornish pasty was originally for miners, the crimped edge was for miners to better hold the pasty without getting it dirt. You can taste the most authentic Cornish pasty at Warrens Bakery in Newquay, which is the oldest Cornish Pasty maker, dating back to 1860. If you are lucky enough, you can also experience the annual World Pasty Championships in Cornwall.
Cream Tea in Cornish Way
The traditional Cornish way to have a cream tea differs from that in neighbouring Devon. The Cornish cream tea is featured with a scone. You need to spread the jam first on your scone, usually strawberry jam, and then add a dollop of cream on top to make sure it doesn’t squash the jam. At last, taste your scone with a cup of strong black tea. One tip for cream tea is make sure the scone is not savoury! Have a Cornish cream tea is one of the best things to do in Cornwall.
Stargazy Pie
You may have seen the weird appearance of stargazy pie, but do you know the bizarre dish is actually from a small fishing village in Cornwall? The inspiration for this pie is from a legend. Tom Bawcock, a fisherman in the Mousehole village, sailed out in a storm to rescue villagers from starvation. He successfully returned with 7 types of fish which were baked into a pie, so the whole town was saved. To make the pie more authentic, bakers need to put the fish head towards the sky, as if it were gazing at the stars. Nowadays, there is annual Tom Bawcock’s Eve on 23rd December, and visitors can admire the colourful lights in Mousehole and taste the giant Stargazy Pie from the locals, it’s one of the best things to do in Cornwall.
Food in Padstow
Padstow is a harbour town, famous for its vibrant food scene. You can taste the famous seafood here. Celebrity chefs Rick Stein and Paul Ainsworth have many restaurants in Padstow, which is why this place is famous and popular among tourists. The seafood is very famous, except for the seafood, you can also taste other traditional Cornish foods like pasties, cream tea. It’s one of the best places to visit in Cornwall.
Street Food in Falmouth
As one of the places to go in Cornwall, Falmouth is another interesting street food option for visitors to explore aside from Padstow. You can taste various foods from pasties with interesting fillings to a bowl of ramen in Falmouth. Street food in Falmouth is a combination of different cultures.
Tips for Experiencing Cornwall Sightseeing Places
There are a lot of things to do in Cornwall, many places worth seeing, and experiencing. However, how can you have an effective trip plan? Below, we give you some tips about experiencing Cornwall Sightseeing Places.
Explore Area by Area
To save time, plan your trip area by area. Each area has numerous attractions. For example, you can start from north east Cornwall, where you can visit the famous Tintagel Castle, Villages of Port Isaac, Padstow’s food, etc. Then you can go to north Cornwall where you can visit Newquay, Bodmin Moor, St Agnes, etc. Just finishing one area’s attractions then move to the next area.
Pick Your Favourite Attractions
If you are not interested in all the attractions, you can pick one or two of your favorites, those must-visit places, and arrange your time and routes.
Visit Off-season
Although Cornwall is a small place, it is a hot travel destination. For a better travel experience, try to avoid the peak season, which is typically in summer. In other seasons, you are able to peacefully enjoy your trip.
FAQs:
In 3 days, you can visit Land’s End and Sennen Cove on the first day, then visit the Minack Theatre, St Michael’s Mount on the second day, and on the last day go to the beach in St Ives. Two or three attractions for each day is recommended, and the content of each depends really on personal preferences.
The prettiest part of Cornwall is very subject. There are so many pretty places in Cornwall, like Port Isaac, St, Ives, Tintagel Castle, Padstow, etc. If you like villages with people, then Port Isaac is for you, if you love beaches, then St Ives might be the prettiest place for you.
There are still a lot of things to do in Cornwall on rainy days, rainy days can sometimes make experience better. Eden Project is a perfect places to visit when it’s raining. Rain makes visitors’ experience of the rainforest biome more real and interesting.
Falmouth, Padstow, St Ives, Bude, and Newauqy are all good places to go for the first time. You can go to the beach, experience village life, natural beauty, and taste delicious food in these places.
The Bodmin, Porthleven, St Agnes, Hayle are among the most visited towns in Cornwall. Due to the sparsely distributed attractions, the most visited towns also vary.
Summer is the best season to go to Cornwall, in summer, visitors can enjoy the beach, admire many gardens, and experience seasonal activities with locals. But summer is also the peak season, you need to book tickets in advance no matter where you go, and there are also traffic jams.
West Cornwall is one of the sought-after parts in Cornwall, close to the small town of Hayle, visitors can go to St Ives to enjoy the beach and the beautiful Tate St Ives Art Museum.
The best way to get around Cornwall is by car. With a car, you can easily reach any place you want to go. Besides cars there is a great rail network in Cornwall, people can take a train to get around the county.
