Simon L
03 September 2018
Famed for its golden beaches with turquoise seas and rolling surf, its scrumptious cream teas, fresh fish and chips and locally-brewed beer, its picturesque locations that line the coast and dot the countryside… Cornwall holidays have something for everyone.
Whether you’re looking for a coastal hotel, a cosy self-catering cottage, a boutique B&B, a lively campsite, holiday park or glamping spot, we’ve got the accommodation to suit your needs and your budget.
Read on for inspiration on how and where to spend your Cornish holiday, including tips for families, friends, couples and solo travellers…
Towns and cities in Cornwall:
From the cathedral city of Truro to the rural towns where farmers’ markets are an everyday occurrence, via the quaint fishing villages where you can watch the catch of the day coming in – you’re spoilt for choice when choosing your Cornwall holiday destination. To try and make your selection a little easier, we’ve highlighted 10 wonderful towns, cities and villages in the county.
Newquay
- Famous for: Being the UK’s surf capital
- Must see: Fistral Beach
- When to go: Any time between May and September
- Where to eat: The Fish House - Fistral
- Where to drink: Tom Thumb Bar
Click here for more information on Newquay holidays
St Ives
- Famous for: Its fantastic arts scene
- Must see: The seafront Tate St Ives gallery
- When to go: September when St Ives Festival takes place
- Where to eat: Porthminster Beach Cafe
- Where to drink: The Pilchard Press Alehouse
Click here for more information on St Ives holidays
Falmouth
- Famous for: Its deep natural harbour
- Must see: Pendennis Castle, built by Henry VIII
- When to go: The middle of August for Regatta Week
- Where to eat: The Wheel House
- Where to drink: Beerwolf Books Freehouse, an eclectic bookshop/pub hybrid
Click here for more information on Falmouth holidays
Truro
- Famous for: Being Cornwall’s only city
- Must see: The awesome Truro Cathedral
- When to go: December, for the Victorian Christmas Market
- Where to eat: Craftworks Street Kitchen
- Where to drink: The William IV
Click here for more information on Truro holidays
Padstow
- Famous for: Being a foodie destination
- Must see: Prideaux Place
- When to go: Mid-June, when it’s warm but quiet
- Where to eat: Rick Stein's The Seafood Restaurant
- Where to drink: The Padstow Brewing Company for a tour and a tipple
Click here for more information on Padstow holidays
Penzance
- Famous for: Inspiring Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance
- Must see: Chapel Street's eclectic buildings
- When to go: June for the Golowan Festival
- Where to eat: Old Lifeboat House Bistro
- Where to drink: The King William IV
Click here for more information on Penzance holidays
Looe
- Famous for: Being a former smugglers' base
- Must see: Looe Island, a marine nature reserve
- When to go: End of July/start of August for Carnival Week
- Where to eat: Daisy's Cafe
- Where to drink: The Ship Inn Looe
Click here for more information on Looe holidays
St Austell
- Famous for: The St Austell Brewery
- Must see: The historic and picturesque port of Charlestown
- When to go: Winter, to enjoy the Eden Project’s Festival of Light and Sound
- Where to eat: Kingswood Bar & Restaurant
- Where to drink: The Polgooth Inn
Click here for more information on St Austell holidays
Bude
- Famous for: Its beautifully warm climate
- Must see: Bude Sea Pool
- When to go: Any time – even the winters tend to be mild!
- Where to eat: The Bank Tapas and Grill Restaurant
- Where to drink: The Barrel at Bude
Click here for more information on Bude holidays
Bodmin
- Famous for: The wonderful Bodmin Moor
- Must see: The historic and unique Jamaica Inn
- When to go: Spring is laden with snowdrops, foxgloves and daffodils
- Where to eat: Welcome Stranger
- Where to drink: The St Kew Inn
Click here for more information on Bodmin holidays
Top attractions in Cornwall:
Castles, caves and cliff-clinging amphitheatres – Cornwall is full of wonderful attractions to visit and things to enjoy. Take a look at our five favourite attractions below or check out our things to do in Cornwall guide for more about the region’s best days out.
- What is it? Europe's largest botanical garden restoration
- Where is it? Near Mevagissey
- When's it open? Every day except Christmas Day
- How much is it to get in? £14.50 (adult), £8.50 (student), £6.50 (child), free (under five/disabled visitor companion), £37.50 (family)
- Put in your Sat Nav: PL26 6EN
- What is it? The world's largest greenhouse
- Where is it? Par, near St Austell
- When's it open? Every day except Christmas Day and a handful of days in January for maintenance
- How much is it to get in? £27.50 (adult), £22.50 (student), £14 (child), free (aged 0-4), £71 (family). Advance tickets also available at cheaper rates.
- Put in your Sat Nav: PL24 2SG
- What is it? Working cliffside theatre
- Where is it? Porthcurno
- When's it open? Between April and October, and selected dates in the off-season
- How much is it to get in? For entry: £5 (adult), £2.50 (15 to 11-years-old), 50p (11 and under), free (under two). Theatre performances differ.
- Put in your Sat Nav: TR19 6JU
- What is it? One of the South West's top zoos
- Where is it? Newquay
- When's it open? Every day except Christmas Day
- How much is it to get in? £15.25 (adult), £11.45 (child), free (under three), £13 (senior citizen and student), £47.75 (family). Includes donation to the zoo.
- Put in your Sat Nav: TR7 2LZ
- What is it? Ruins, said to be King Arthur's birthplace
- Where is it? Tintagel
- When's it open? Daily during the spring/summer, but it's closed between October 1st 2018 and spring 2019
- How much is it to get in? £9.50/£10.50 (adult without/with Gift Aid), £5.70/£6.30 (child), free (under five), £8.60/£9.50 (concession), £24.70/£27.30 (family), free (member).
- Put in your Sat Nav: PL34 0HE
Best beaches in Cornwall:
You can’t visit Cornwall without breathing in the sea air at one of its wonderful beaches. More than 400 line the coast: from Bude in the north, down to Porthcurno in the west and Looe in the south. Whether you’re a surfer, a keen rockpooler or simply want to make sandcastles with the littl’uns, there’s a beach here with your name on it! We’ve highlighted five of the best below, but take a look at our essential guide to beaches in Cornwall for even more information.
Fistral
- Where is it? Newquay
- Is it lifeguarded? Yes, between Easter and October
- What sort of beach? Sandy
- Parking? Yes, at nearby pay and display car parks
- Dog-friendly? Yes, all year round
- Postcode: TR7 1HY
Perranporth
- Where is it? 8 miles south-west of Newquay
- Is it lifeguarded? Easter-October
- What sort of beach? Sandy
- Parking? Yes, at nearby pay and display car parks
- Dog-friendly? Yes, but must be kept on a lead during July and August (9am-5pm)
- Postcode: TR6 0ND
Porthcurno
- Where is it? 3 miles east of Land’s End
- Is it lifeguarded? Yes, from May-September
- What sort of beach? Sandy
- Parking? Yes, it has its own designated car park
- Dog-friendly? Seasonal dog ban - Easter Sunday to October 1st
- Postcode: TR19 6JX
Porthmeor
- Where is it? St Ives
- Is it lifeguarded? Easter-end of September
- What sort of beach? Sandy
- Parking? Yes, at nearby pay and display car parks
- Dog-friendly? Seasonal dog ban - Easter Sunday to October 1st
- Postcode: TR26 1JU
Kynance Cove
- Where is it? 2 miles north of Lizard Point
- Is it lifeguarded? No
- What sort of beach? Sand-and-shingle
- Parking? Yes, a National Trust car park 5-10 minutes' walk away
- Dog-friendly? Seasonal dog ban - Easter Sunday to October 1st
- Postcode: TR12 7PJ
Have we whetted your whistle for a holiday in Cornwall? With hundreds of self-catering holiday cottages, we’re sure to have the perfect accommodation for you.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.