Looking for things to do in Cornwall? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve visited Cornwall a number of times, and I spent a number of my childhood years growing up in this rugged English county.

Cornwall is a primarily rural county located on the southwestern tip of England. It is particularly well known in the UK as a family-friendly destination. However, it offers something for everyone, with spectacular beaches, lovely coastal hikes, cute fishing villages, ancient monuments, wildlife watching opportunities, castles, art, shopping, and lots more!

In this post I’m going to share all our favourite things to do in Cornwall. These should give you lots of inspiration for your time in Cornwall, whether you are visiting for a day, a week, or more!

As well as some suggestions of what to do, I’m also going to some tips on where to stay in Cornwall and some money saving suggestions for your visit to the county.

I’d also recommend reading our guide to spending a week in Cornwall, which has information on getting around Cornwall, when to visit Cornwall, and getting here and away. We suggest you might want to use the posts together to help you plan your perfect Cornwall trip.

Now though, let’s take a look at all our favourite things to do in Cornwall.

Things to do in Cornwall

This guide has some of our favourite things to do in Cornwall. Whatever your interests, we’re sure you’ll find something to love in our list!

Visit A Cute Fishing Village

Cornwall is surrounded on three sides by the sea and fishing has been a cornerstone of the Cornish way of life for centuries. Even today, with tourism being key to the Cornish economy, fishing still plays an important role in Cornwall.

As a visitor to Cornwall, you will definitely want to visit at least one, if not more, of the lovely fishing villages that are dotted around the Cornish coastline. These were generally built in locations where there were natural harbours to shelter the vessels, which in many cases had the handy side effect of also making them rather photogenic.

With their narrow streets, old houses, colorful boats, and fishing accoutrements, Cornwall’s fishing villages really are beautiful. They are also often a good place to start or end one of Cornwall’s many coastal hikes, and will usually have a number of cafes and shops to explore.

There are a great many lovely fishing villages to visit in Cornwall, but here are several ones you might want to visit on your trip that we have enjoyed:

• Boscastle – found on Cornwall’s north coast, this pretty fishing village has a spectacular zig zag shaped natural harbour. The village itself also has some picturesque streets, and the village and much of the surrounding area is largely owned by the National Trust.
• Port Isaac – a little west along the north coast from Boscastle is Port Isaac, one of the most popular fishing villages to visit in Cornwall. This is largely thanks to it being a filming location for the Doc Martin TV series. It is very picturesque, but do expect it to be busy.
• Mousehole – an absolutely gorgeous fishing village on the south west Cornish coast. The pretty sandy harbour here with the boats and houses in the background is often used in brochures and advertisements. Definitely one of Cornwall’s most photogenic fishing villages.
• Charlestown – found on Cornwall’s south coast, this 18th century fishing village used to be one of Cornwall’s largest commercial ports. The harbour here doesn’t seem to have changed much from the 18th century, and there are usually a number of tall ships moored in the dock.
• Polperro – this is one of our favourite fishing villages to visit in Cornwall. The narrow streets leading down to the harbour are absolutely lovely to wander through, and the walks along the coast here are truly spectacular.

Naturally, this just scratches the surface of some of Cornwall’s beautiful fishing villages, and as you drive the coast here you’ll find many more yourself.

Natural Attractions

If you love the outdoors and nature, Cornwall will make for a wonderful destination for you. Cornwall has one of the lowest population densities of England’s counties, meaning it’s not hard to get away from people and explore nature.

There are of course plentiful locations to do this. I just wanted to mention a couple of options to start you off.

First, Bodmin Moor. This wild expanse of moorland spans across the eastern side of the county, and is home to wild ponies and rolling, granite topped landscapes. The highest peaks in Cornwall are found on Bodmin Moor, and it’s a lovely place for a half or full day hike.

Second, St. Nectan’s Glen. Found near Tintagel in north Cornwall, this is a beautiful waterfall which can be accessed via a 30-45 minute walk through gorgeous peaceful woodland. It is on private land, so there is a small fee to visit, but it is really worth it in my opinion. My only tip, especially if visiting in the summer months, is to go early. There’s limited parking at the trailhead, and the carparks fill up quickly.

Explore one of Cornwall’s Castles

Cornwall has a number of fantastic castles to explore, dotted through the countryside and around the coastline. These can make for a great day out with kids, but of course there’s lots to see and do for adults too!

As you’ll soon begin to realize, many historical buildings, gardens, beaches, and even parking lots, amongst other attractions in Cornwall, are operated by either English Heritage or the National Trust.

As a result, you’ll likely save money be joining one or both of these organisations if you plan to visit a number of attractions in Cornwall. If you live in the UK, chances are you may already have a membership to at least one of these organizations.

If you are visiting from overseas, you can get tourist specific passes, including the English Heritage Overseas Visitors Pass, and the National Trust Touring Pass.

Some castles you should consider visiting in Cornwall are as follows.

Pendennis Castle

Found just outside Falmouth town centre, Pendennis Castle was built in 1539 as part of Henry VIII’s efforts to fortify the English coastline against attacks from mainland Europe. It has a commanding view of the coast as well as the Carrick Roads waterway, which is the third largest natural harbour in the world, and an obvious target for naval attack.

The castle itself consists of a circular keep with mighty stone walls, which was primarily built to house massive cannons. It was extended over the years, and saw action throughout the centuries, with the last use being during the second world war against German fighter planes. In the 20th century, barracks were built to house troops. It was finally decommissioned in 1956.

Today, the castle is managed by English Heritage and is open to visitors. You can visit the castle itself, explore the grounds, and also visit the barracks where there are often special exhibitions. There are also often events. When we visited, we learnt all about medieval medicine and the history of the longbow, which was fascinating. There’s a fee to visit, and it’s free for English heritage members and holders of the English Heritage Overseas Visitors Pass. Find out more on the official site here.

St Mawes Castle

Found on the other side of the Carrick Roads waterway, St Mawes castle is essentially the sister castle to Pendennis. It is similar in design, but not quite the same, consisting of central circular keep surrounded by three circular bastions which served as gun platforms.

Operational from 1542, the history of St Mawes is quite similar to that of Pendennis. However, it became a tourist attraction earlier than Pendennis, opening to tourists shortly after the First World War, from 1920 to 1939.

It returned to duty as an active castle during the second world war, but then returned to tourism. Today, the castle is also operated by English Heritage. You can visit by road, but we think approaching by sea via the foot ferry by Falmouth is a more fun way to arrive.

There’s a fee to visit St Mawes, and it’s free for English heritage members and holders of the English Heritage Overseas Visitors Pass. Find out more on the official site here.

Restormel Castle

Going back a little further in time, Restormel Castle is a ruined Norman castle which dates from 1100, although the current design dates from the early 13th century. Cornwall had four Norman castles, and Restormel is unique in that it’s a circular shell keep design.

There aren’t too many of these left in the UK, with Restormel being the best preserved of all of them. Surrounded by woodland, which at the time was a large hunting ground, the castle was both a fortification and a hunting lodge, and would no doubt have been decorated luxuriously. It was visited by Royalty, and even had piped water!

Unfortunately, the castle fell out of use in the 14th century and started to decline. By the 16th century it was a ruin, with much of the stonework stolen and used for other buildings. However, the beauty of the castle design and its peaceful location meant it became a popular destination for tourists from the mid-19th century. Today it’s operated by English heritage, and you can visit the grounds and explore the ruin.

There’s a fee to visit Restormel Castle, and it’s free for English heritage members and holders of the English Heritage Overseas Visitors Pass. Find out more on the official site here.

Launceston Castle

Another of Cornwall’s Norman fortifications, Launceston Castle is found in the town of Launceston in eastern Cornwall. A timber castle was believed to have been built on this location shortly after the Norman invasion of 1066, however the stone structure as seen today dates from the 12th century.

Unfortunately, the castle slipped into decline as early as the 13th century. It continued to be used primarily as a court and gaol through the centuries, and only closed as a gaol in the 19th century when Bodmin Gaol took over the duties. By this time it had seen it’s fair share of wear and tear!

Today, the castle still sits upon a high defensive mound and dominates the skyline. You can climb to the top of the round tower for wonderful views of the surrounding countryside, and there’s an on-site exhibition which will take you through the castles 1,000 year history.

There’s a fee to visit Launceston Castle, and it’s free for English heritage members and holders of the English Heritage Overseas Visitors Pass. Find out more on the official site here.

Saint Michael’s Mount

One of Cornwall’s most iconic sights, Saint Michael’s Mount is an island off Cornwall’s south coast which is topped by a medieval church and castle. The island is linked to the mainland by a causeway, which can be walked across when the tide is out, otherwise it can be accessed by boat.

There’s plenty to do at St. Michael’s Mount. As well as visiting the hilltop castle, which dates from the 12th century, you can also explore the gardens and grounds. There’s also the 15th century chapel of St. Michael, which can be visited as part of the castle tour.

Saint Michael’s Mount is open to visitors and there’s a fee to visit. It’s managed by the National Trust, and is free for National Trust members as well as holder of the National Trust Touring Pass.

You will want to do a bit of planning ahead for visiting, as depending on the tide times you might have to book a boat ticket to or from the island. This is all explained as part of the ticket booking process on the website here.

Tintagel Castle

Found on a small peninsular island next to the village of Tintagel in north Cornwall, Tintagel Castle is a medieval castle dating from the 13th century. In addition, evidence uncovered in the 19th and 20th century found that there was some form of palace here in the 5th and 6th centuries as well.

Tintagel Castle is perhaps most well known for it’s association with King Arthur (more on this further on in our guide), and it’s been a popular tourist attraction since the 19th century.

Of all the castles in our list, Tintagel is perhaps the most ruinous. It fell into disrepair from the mid-14th century, and never really recovered. However, the location and island are spectacular, and a walk around the headland here is lovely.

There’s a fee to visit Tintagel Castle, and it’s free for English heritage members and holders of the English Heritage Overseas Visitors Pass. Find out more on the official site here.

Of course, there are more castles to explore in Cornwall, but hopefully now you have a good starting point for your search!

Go on a Hike

Cornwall has over 400 miles of coastline, which features rugged cliffs, tucked away coves, sea stacks and spectacular stretches of golden sand. So it is not surprisingly that is one of the areas of the UK best known for its scenic coastal walks.

This entire coastline is part of the South West Coast Path, the UK’s longest National trail, which runs from Minehead in Somerset for 630 miles, all the way around the Cornish and Devonshire coasts, ending in Poole, Dorset.

Whilst obviously not everyone is going to want to set off on a 630 mile hike, the good news is that because the entire Cornish coastline is a part of this well marked route, it is easy to do a short coastal hike pretty much anywhere along the Cornish coastline.

There are almost endless opportunities for hiking Cornwall’s coastline. All you have to do is find a place to park or get public transport to, and set off. Some of our favourite stretches to hike include the area between Botallack Point and Pendeen Lighthouse, the walk between the fishing village of Polperro and Looe, and the coast around Bedruthan Steps.

Of course, if you did want to do a longer hike, this is more than possible. You can plan this yourself, or you can use a tour company which will handle your accommodation, meals and luggage transfers, leaving you to just enjoy the walks, such as this one.

There’s also more than coastline in Cornwall! We particularly like the hikes on and around Bodmin Moor, such as the hike up to Brown Willy and other tors. We’ve also done a part of the peaceful and very flat Camel Trail, which is popular with both walkers and cyclists. You can see some walks on and around Bodmin Moor here. If you’re looking for a longer inland hike, consider the 60 mile Copper Trail, which circles the whole moor.

Regardless of the duration of your hike, we always recommend a good pair of hiking boots as the terrain can be uneven. See our guide to travel shoes for men, and travel shoes for women, for some ideas.

Visit a Garden in Cornwall

Cornwall has a lot of outdoor space, and some of this has been turned into gardens that you can visit. There are a range of different types of garden, so we’ve put together some of our favourite in the below list which you can choose from depending on your interests.

Some of these might showcase a specific type of plant or habitat, whilst others have art installations. Some might be part of a country house estate, and these can be both formal and less formal gardens. Often you can get a ticket for these properties which just includes the garden, or one which includes a house visit or tour.

Here are some of our favourite garden attractions you can visit in Cornwall.

Eden Project

One of Cornwall’s most well-known garden attractions, the Eden Project is definitely somewhere you’ll want to consider visiting.

The site, which is found on a former clay pit, is home to two massive enclosures, constructed from overlapping geodesic domes. The largest of these cover almost four acres of land and is home to a rainforest environment. It’s the largest indoor rainforest in the world. The second dome is a little smaller, and is home to a Mediterranean climate.

Honestly, you don’t even need to have a huge love of gardens to enjoy visiting the Eden Project. The domes are just incredible to see and walk around in, and the variety of plantlife on display is amazing. My only tip is to bring layers and plenty of water, because it is very tropical in the rainforest dome, so you’ll want to be able to get down to a t-shirt – even in winter!

As well as the two biomes, there are lots of outside garden areas, as well as art installations and exhibits. There’s also on-site dining and a large shop. Overall, there’s plenty to do here to easily fill half a day. This is an excellent family friendly attraction! There’s a fee to visit, and you can find out more and book tickets here.

Lost Gardens of Heligan

The Lost Gardens of Heligan are a 200 acre garden near to the coastal fishing village of Megavissey in southern Cornwall. They are amongst the most popular gardens in the UK. Their romantic name comes from their history.

From 1766 until the First World War, the gardens were maintained as part of the Heligan Estate, which is also home to Heligan House. The extensive gardens had multiple areas, including an Italian garden and a Sundial garden.

However, many of the gardeners died during the first world war, and the house was let out following the war.

In the subsequent years, the gardens declined dramatically, to the point where they were so overgrown they were considered “lost” to time. However, in 1990, the gardens were “rediscovered”, and a massive effort to restore them took place. This garnered national media attention, including a multi-part documentary.

The gardens opened to the public in 1992, and have been a popular visitor attraction ever since. Covering 200 acres, there’s a lot to see and do, and the garden has won numerous awards, including being named the second finest garden in the UK (after Kew Gardens).

The Lost Gardens of Heligan are open for visitors, and as well as the gardens themselves, there’s an on-site shop, dining, and rare breed farm park. You can find out more about visiting, including opening times and prices, on the official website here.

Tremenhere Sculpture Gardens

Whilst other gardens in Cornwall have art and sculptures dotted throughout, Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens put these objects front and centre as part of the garden experience.

The gardens themselves, which are found just outside Penzance in a sheltered valley, cover a 20 acre site. They offer lovely views across St. Michael’s Mount, and the gardens themselves dates from the 1830s. However, they have only been open to the public in their present form since 2012.

On site you’ll find a variety of plant species, including tropical and exotic plants. Naturally, as the name suggests, there are also a great many art installations on-site, including work by internationally renowned artists such as James Turrell, David Nash and Richard Long. there’s also a café, gift shop and nursery on site.

There’s a fee to visit, and you can find out more about opening hours and prices on the official website here.

Caerhays Castle and Garden

If you’re visiting Cornwall in the Spring (February – mid June), then we definitely recommend considering a trip to Caerhays Castle and Garden. This lovely castle and garden only opens during the spring month, when the gardens are resplendent in color.

The gardens, which spread across 140 acres of hillside, are filled with Magnolias, Carnellias and Rhododendrons. Many of the plants here are over 100 years old, dating from the pioneering gardening work of the plant hunters Ernest Wilson and George Forest. Between them, these two individuals spent years in countries like China, finding species they could send home.

The result is a spectacular array of plants, quite unlike anything we’d seen before. To see so many impressive examples in full bloom is quite a site. As well as the plants, there are also a great many trees on site which belong to the register of Champion Trees.

The garden is definitely at it’s best in mid-Spring, around April, when the blooms are at their best. It’s also only open over the spring months. You can also visit and tour the castle, more on that in our guide to historical homes elsewhere in the post. There’s also a café on site. There’s a fee to visit, with tickets available for just the garden, or garden and castle. More on the official website here.

Pencarrow House and Garden

Pencarrow House and Garden is another excellent house and garden option, found on the western edge of Bodmin Moor. These grade II listed gardens cover 50 acres of land, and include formal gardens, ancient woodlands and even an iron age hill fort!

The gardens themselves date from 1831, and are home to 160 conifer species, 700 rhododendron species and 60 camellia species. There’s also an Italian garden, a granite rockery and a lake.

When we visited it was pouring with rain, but we still enjoyed walking the beautiful gardens and seeing the colorful rhododendrons. There are many trails through the woods and gardens, and you could easily spend a few hours on site here.

If you’re visiting Cornwall with children, Pencarrow House and Gardens are free for under 16s, making this a really family friendly day out option. Dogs are also allowed on the garden grounds, although not inside the house.

Tickets are available for just the gardens, or you can book a ticket which includes the gardens as well as a guided tour of the house. There’s also a cafe on site. Find out more about opening times and ticket prices on the official site here. You can also download a voucher to save £1 on your visit here.

There are of course more gardens you can visit in Cornwall! For more inspiration, check out this list of gardens in Cornwall managed by the National Trust.

Explore the Art Museums and Galleries in Cornwall

Cornwall has long been known as a popular location for artists. With the arrival of the railway to Cornwall in 1877, a combination of relatively easy access, plentiful subject matter and a low cost of living meant that many artists came to Cornwall.

This tradition has continued over the years, with a number of art style represented, from impressionist landscapes through to the more modern and abstract arts, centred in the St. Ives community. Today, Cornwall is home to numerous artists and art galleries, as well as some excellent museums. If you’re searching for art in Cornwall, here are some options we recommend.

Tate St. Ives

Opened in 1993, and a part of the Tate group of museums, the Tate St. Ives is the most visited art gallery in Cornwall. It has a lovely beach front position overlooking the ocean, and the collection houses works from the likes of both international artists like Picasso, Pollock and Rothko, as well as local artists like Barbara Hepworth.

Works from the permanent collection are on display, and there are also rotating exhibits featuring both international and local artists.

St. Ives is well known as a hub for the artist community in Cornwall, as as well as the Tate, you’ll also find a great many galleries selling works. So if you are looking to buy some art, St. Ives is a good place to start!

The Tate has a fee for visiting, and you can find out more on their official website here.

Falmouth Art Gallery

The town of Falmouth on Cornwall’s south coast has a number of attractions, including Pendennis Castle and the National Martime Museum of Cornwall. It’s also where you’ll find the Falmouth Art Gallery.

This free art museum has a collection of over 2,000 artworks, including works by old masters, Victorian artists, French and British impressionists and surrealists. Given Falmouth’s links with the sea, it’s appropriate that there are also a number of works by artists who specialised in maritime themes. Naturally, Cornish artists such as the well regarded John Opie are also represented.

If you’re looking for a free art museum in Cornwall with a wide ranging collection that covers a number of periods and styles, we’d definitely recommend the Falmouth Art Gallery.

Royal Cornwall Museum

The Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro includes a great many items and exhibits that cover the history of Cornwall. Art lovers of course will be interested in the museum’s art collection, which includes thousands of pieces of art from Cornish artists, and which depict Cornish scenes over the centuries. You can see an example of the collection online here.

There’s also an extensive decorative art collection, as well as an amazing collection of over 60,000 photographs of Cornish life and culture, dating from 1845 to the present day.

There’s a small fee to visit the Royal Cornwall Museum. It’s free for those under 18. Find out more about prices and opening times on the official website here.

Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden

Barbara Hepworth was a British sculptor who lived and worked in St. Ives for almost 40 years. She was an internationally sculptor who produced a great many works in the Modernism style. She was also one of the leading figured in the St. Ives artistic community and movement.

Today, her home, which includes her studio and garden in the centre of St. Ives, is operated as a museum and sculpture garden by the Tate. A visit will take you through the life of the artists, and includes a number of her works, the tools she used to make them, and archive content including photography and articles from the artist’s own collection.

If you are interested in diving deeper into one of Cornwall’s most well known and loved modern artists, this is a must-visit stop. There’s a fee to visit, and you can see opening hours and prices on the official website here.

Visit A Historical House in Cornwall

As well as lovely landscaped gardens and impressive castles, Cornwall also has a number of beautiful historical houses that are open for visits. Some of our favourites include the following, some of which are also included in our favourite gardens in Cornwall elsewhere in this guide.

Caerhays Castle

Whilst Caerhays Castle was designed and built to look like a castle, I’m including it in the historical homes section as that’s really what it was. The owner, John Bettesworth-Trevanion, wanted a home that looked like a castle, and he employed the renowned architect of the time, John Nash, to do just that.

I think it’s fair to say that Nash (who was responsible for Buckingham Palace and Marble Arch, to name but a few of his designs) succeeded at his task. The early 19th century castle was modelled to look like a Norman castle, complete with crenallations, towers and a stone construction.

Caerhays Castle is still privately owned and occupied, but during the spring time it is open for visiting, as are the spectacular on-site gardens. We very much enjoyed our tour here. You can find out more about visiting Caerhays Castle on the official website here.