Photo: Dietmar Rabich; Cropped by User:Martinvl (CC BY-SA 2.5), via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do in Cornwall
The best holidays are planned around great days out. Here's what's on the doorstep in Cornwall, from big-ticket attractions to rainy-day savers.
🎟️ This weekend near Cornwall
Events from
Skiddle
Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
Truro Audio Tour: A Historic and Cultural Audio Odyssey
Old County Hall, Truro, Truro · 12.0 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sat 14 Nov · 12:00
Truro Audio Tour: A Historic and Cultural Audio Odyssey
Old County Hall, Truro, Truro · 12.0 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sun 15 Nov · 12:00
Truro Audio Tour: A Historic and Cultural Audio Odyssey
Old County Hall, Truro, Truro · 12.0 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Aquariums
8.2 mi from Cornwall
Blue Reef Aquarium
Blue Reef Aquarium sits right on Towan Promenade in Newquay, overlooking the beach, and offers an indoor undersea adventure through more than 40 naturally-themed displays, from roc...
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Museums & Galleries
4.7 mi from Cornwall
Wheal Martyn Clay Works
Wheal Martyn Clay Works is a museum in Treverbyn, Cornwall, telling the story of the china clay industry that has shaped the region for over 250 years. Housed within two Victorian...
7.8 mi from Cornwall
Shipwreck Treasure Museum
The Shipwreck Treasure Museum located in Charlestown, Cornwall, England, was a historical museum housing over 8,000 artifacts from 165 different shipwrecks. Artifacts included the... — Wikipedia
9.3 mi from Cornwall
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Museum
Museum in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom
9.3 mi from Cornwall
Bodmin Town Museum
Bodmin Town Museum sits on Mount Folly in the centre of this ancient county town, housed in the basement of the cinema complex on the site of a former Friary. Run entirely by volun...
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9.5 mi from Cornwall
Discovering42
Discovering42 is an art, sustainability and science museum in Bodmin, Cornwall, where hands-on exhibits bring physics, chemistry, engineering and environmental themes to life. The...
9.7 mi from Cornwall
The National Lobster Hatchery
The National Lobster Hatchery is a marine conservation, research and education charity based in Padstow, Cornwall, dedicated to the European Lobster. Here you can discover how the...
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9.9 mi from Cornwall
Padstow Museum
Padstow Museum is a small, volunteer-run museum telling the maritime, cultural and social history of Padstow, now based at Station House. Inside you'll find interactive exhibits an...
10.1 mi from Cornwall
Lostwithiel Museum
Lostwithiel Museum sits in a Georgian building on Fore Street that has served variously as a Corn Exchange, school-room, butchers, magistrate's court, fire station and jail. Opened...
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10.3 mi from Cornwall
Mevagissey Museum
Mevagissey Museum is a small charity-run museum in Mevagissey, Cornwall, spread across three floors of fascinating and diverse exhibits. There's a kids trail to keep younger visito...
11.6 mi from Cornwall
Royal Cornwall Museum
Royal Cornwall Museum sits in the heart of Truro, just off the main high street, and brings together Cornish art, history and culture under one roof. You can explore the Mineral Ga...
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17.1 mi from Cornwall
Enys Gardens
Enys Gardens, near Ponsanooth in Cornwall, are believed to be the oldest gardens in the county. Set amid woodland, they're maintained in a natural, enchanting style, offering a pea...
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17.3 mi from Cornwall
Polperro Model Village & Land of Legend
Model village and museum of local legends in Polperro, Cornwall, UK
17.6 mi from Cornwall
Polperro Heritage Museum of Smuggling & Fishing
Museum in Polperro, England, UK
18.2 mi from Cornwall
Redruth Old Cornwall Society Museum
Run by the Redruth Old Cornwall Society, founded in 1922, this small museum sits within Tolgus Tin, one of Cornwall's most important industrial heritage sites. Inside you'll find e...
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Theme Parks
6.3 mi from Cornwall
Camel Creek Adventure Park
Camel Creek Adventure Park is a family theme park in St. Issey, Cornwall, offering thrilling rides, energetic outdoor fun, all-weather indoor play and animal zones to explore. Ther...
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21.4 mi from Cornwall
Adrenalin Quarry
Adrenalin Quarry is a family-owned visitor attraction and adventure park in Menheniot, Cornwall, United Kingdom. It opened in Easter 2009, on the site of an old flooded quarry and... — Wikipedia
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26.5 mi from Cornwall
Flambards
Flambards Theme Park was an amusement park on the southern outskirts of the town of Helston in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1976 as the Cornwall Aero Park b... — Wikipedia
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Water Parks
4 mi from Cornwall
Flowrider Cornwall
FlowRider Cornwall is the surf simulator at Retallack Resort, described as Cornwall's only year-round surfing wave. Instructors help riders of any level get up and surfing, with we...
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Zoos & Wildlife
0.5 mi from Cornwall
Screech Owl Sanctuary
The Screech Owl Sanctuary and Animal Park is a home for owls and other animals located near St Columb Major in Cornwall, England. — Wikipedia
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7.5 mi from Cornwall
Newquay Zoo
Newquay Zoo is a 13-acre wildlife and botanical garden attraction in the heart of Newquay, Cornwall, first opened in 1969. You can wander through lush gardens, watch keeper talks a...
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14.4 mi from Cornwall
Porfell Wildlife Park & Sanctuary
Porfell Wildlife Park & Sanctuary is a family-run rescue centre near Looe in South East Cornwall, founded in 1989, where neglected or injured animals are given a permanent home. Yo...
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21.5 mi from Cornwall
The Monkey Sanctuary
The Monkey Sanctuary near St. Martin-by-Looe was a long-standing wildlife sanctuary, originally set up to rescue woolly monkeys from the pet trade and later recognised as the first...
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25 mi from Cornwall
Cornish Seal Sanctuary
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary is a charity attraction in Gweek, Cornwall, dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating grey seal pups found around the Cornish coastline. You can watch res...
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Where to stay near Cornwall
Places to stay within easy reach of these days out.
More around Cornwall
Itineraries
Haunted Britain
From the blog
Cornwall rewards a little planning. The attractions are spread across the county, so the trick is to pick a base, group what's nearby and leave room for the weather to change your mind. This guide sorts the standout places by type, suggests how to pair them into a manageable day and covers where to eat and how to stretch it into a short break.
Family days out
If you have children with energy to burn, Kernow Adventure Park near Falmouth is the obvious place to start. It's listed as a water park, so pack swimwear and a change of clothes. Animal lovers have plenty of choice. Around Looe you'll find The Monkey Sanctuary and The Tamar Valley Donkey Park, which pair well over a day. Elsewhere in the county, the Screech Owl Sanctuary and Spingfields Fun Park and Pony Centre are both worth a look for younger children. Check the location of each before you set off so you aren't caught out by a longer drive than expected.
Rainy day ideas
Cornwall's museums and galleries are your best bet when the sky turns grey. Many are indoors, though it's worth checking how much of each site is under cover before you go.
- Art: Tate St Ives and Penlee House, Gallery & Museum are both listed under Penzance, alongside St Ives Museum and Marizion Museum.
- Maritime stories: the Shipwreck Treasure Museum and Mevagissey Museum, both listed under St Austell, and the Polperro Heritage Museum of Smuggling & Fishing, listed under Looe.
- Something different: Davidstow Creamery Museum, listed under Bude.
Outdoors and the coast
On a clear day, head for the landmarks. Land's End is the classic coastal outing, and the Minack Theatre is one of Cornwall's best-known sights. St Michael's Mount and Tintagel Castle combine fresh air with plenty of history. Wear sturdy shoes, take layers and keep an eye on the forecast, because conditions on the coast can change quickly.
Heritage and history
Cornwall's industrial and wartime past is well represented. Around Falmouth, Michell's Engine House and King Edward Mine tell the mining story, while the Predannick Anti-Aircraft Battery covers a more recent chapter. Bude is a good base for military history, with the Cornwall at War Museum and the RAF Davidstow Moor Memorial Museum both listed there. For castles and grand houses, look at Trematon Castle and Glynn House. The Net Loft is the region's National Trust property.
How to group a day
Keeping each day to one area means less time in the car and more time enjoying yourself. A few combinations that work well:
- Falmouth: Kernow Adventure Park in the morning, then Michell's Engine House or King Edward Mine in the afternoon.
- Penzance: Penlee House, Gallery & Museum with Marizion Museum, or Tate St Ives with St Ives Museum.
- Bude: Cornwall at War Museum, RAF Davidstow Moor Memorial Museum and Davidstow Creamery Museum make a natural trio.
- Looe: The Monkey Sanctuary and The Tamar Valley Donkey Park for families, or the Polperro Heritage Museum of Smuggling & Fishing for something quieter.
- St Austell: Mevagissey Museum and the Shipwreck Treasure Museum.
Where to eat
These places all hold a 5-star food hygiene rating. Kellaway's Fish and Chips is the choice for a seaside supper. Try Dowr and the Victoria Inn are both pubs, and Bread & Butter is a tea room for a mid-afternoon break. Malcolm Barnecutt is a bakery, handy for picking up a picnic before a day out. Check where each one is in relation to your plans, and book ahead at busy times.
Turning it into a short break
With 2,144 places to stay listed on BritStays across Cornwall, you can base yourself close to whichever area appeals most. Over a long weekend, two areas are plenty. You might spend one day around Falmouth and another around Penzance, or pair Looe with St Austell. If you're staying for a week, moving base once, for example from Newquay or Padstow to Bude, saves on driving. Plan an outdoor day and a museum day for each base so you can swap them around depending on the weather.
Practical tips
Opening times and prices change with the seasons, so check each attraction's own details before you travel. Some smaller museums may keep limited hours outside the summer months. Allow extra time on country roads, pack waterproofs whatever the forecast says, and keep a rainy-day option in mind for each area you visit.
Frequently asked questions
What are good rainy day attractions in Cornwall?
Museums and galleries are the best bet. Options include Tate St Ives, Penlee House, Gallery & Museum, the Shipwreck Treasure Museum, Mevagissey Museum and Davidstow Creamery Museum. Check how much of each site is indoors before you go.
Where can I take children in Cornwall?
Kernow Adventure Park near Falmouth is a water park. The Monkey Sanctuary and The Tamar Valley Donkey Park are near Looe. The Screech Owl Sanctuary and Spingfields Fun Park and Pony Centre are also in Cornwall.
Which museums are near Bude?
The Cornwall at War Museum, the RAF Davidstow Moor Memorial Museum and Davidstow Creamery Museum are all listed under Bude, so they make an easy day together.
What is there to do around Falmouth?
You can visit Kernow Adventure Park, Michell's Engine House, King Edward Mine and the Predannick Anti-Aircraft Battery, which gives you a mix of family fun and heritage.
Are there National Trust places in Cornwall?
Yes. The Net Loft is the National Trust property listed for the region.
How many places to stay are there in Cornwall on BritStays?
There are 2,144 places to stay listed on BritStays in Cornwall, so you can choose a base close to the areas you want to explore.
More ways to explore
Not booked yet? See the best places to stay in Cornwall.