Cornwall - 91 Attractions You Must Visit

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About Cornwall

One of the UK’s favourite summer destinations, holiday makers flock to Cornwall for its sandy beaches and surf-ready waves but look beyond the coastline and you’ll be rewarded with world-class galleries, fantastic food and many one-of-a-kind attractions.

Types of Attractions in Cornwall

Activities Around

List of Attractions in Cornwall

National Trust - Cotehele

National Trust - Cotehele

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

The National Trust's Cotehele, Cornwall, is a Tudor house with superb collections, garden, quay and estate. The house was probably founded around 1300 and various alterations were made in the early fifteenth century. It includes a mill, 15 century chapel and Cotehele Quay. They receive around 100,000 visitors a year to its Barn Restaurant and Edgcumbe Arms Tearoom.

National Trust - Glendurgan Garden

Glendurgan Garden is a National Trust property in Cornwall, England. The garden was created in the early 19th century by Alfred Fox, who planted a variety of jungle plants from South America. Today, the garden features a wide variety of plants, as well as a maze made out of cherry laurel. Glendurgan Garden is a beautiful and tranquil place, and it is well worth a visit if you are ever in Cornwall.

National Trust - Lanhydrock

Lanhydrock was built in 1630-42 for the Robertes family who rose from merchants and bankers to the peerage as Barons of Truro and then Earls of Radnor. The house was partly destroyed by fire in 1881. It gives an extraordinary glimpse into the life of a Victorian country house from the children's nursery wing and the splendid comforts of the state rooms to the fascinating warren of kitchens.

National Trust - Lizard Point

The Lizard Peninsula is a special place to visit and explore with miles of coast and countryside, beaches, wildlife and history. Home to mainland Britain's most southerly point, some of the nicest and lesser-known beaches in Cornwall and some completely unique wildlife there really is something for everyone. The Lizard peninsula is also renowned as the birthplace of modern communication, where Marconi undertook some of his pioneering radio experiments.

National Trust - Trelissick Garden

National Trust - Trelissick Garden

Iconic Buildings

Botanical Gardens

The National Trust's Trelissick, Cornwall, is a house and garden set in an estate with extraordinary maritime views. It was positioned in one of the most spectacular locations with stunning views looking over the Fal River and towards Falmouth, all within easy reach of Truro . Home to the Copeland family up until 2012, the original house dates back to the 1750s and is now open to the public.

Newlyn Art Gallery

Newlyn Art Gallery

Art Galleries

Newlyn Art Gallery is a beautiful art gallery that has a long history of contemporary art-making in the far west of Cornwall and has celebrated contemporary art and supported the artists that produce it for 125 years. The gallery was conceived as a home and exhibition venue for the Newlyn School of Art the works of which are now largely located at Penlee House Gallery and Museum in nearby Penzance.

Newquay Zoo

A beautiful zoological garden which was located within Trenance Leisure Park in Newquay, England. It now covers over 13 acres of land, as well as housing over 130 species. It also has an immersive tropical house exhibit which houses rainforest plants and animals including a sloth, tropical birds, reptiles and insects.

Paradise Park and JungleBarn Cornwall

Paradise Park is a wildlife sanctuary based in the picturesque harbour town of Hayle in Cornwall. Paradise Park was created by Mike and Audrey Reynolds and first opened its doors in 1973. Conservation is the main focus of the park which is home to a large number of endangered species. Paradise Park is a world leader in Parrot conservation.

Pencarrow House & Garden

Pencarrow House & Garden

Iconic Buildings

Pencarrow house and gardens has been the friendly family home of the Molesworth-St Aubyns for almost 500 years. Tucked away on the edge of Bodmin Moor, this Cornish Georgian gem offers plenty to do for all, including families, with a Grade 11 listed garden, Iron Age fort, children’s play area, café and gift shop.

Pendennis Castle

Pendennis Castle

Iconic Buildings

Pendennis is one of Henry VIII's finest seaside castles. And despite its peaceful setting, it has a rich and poignant history. The castle has defended Cornwall since Tudor times and played a vital role protecting the coast during the two World Wars. The heritage agency Historic England considers Pendennis to be "one of the finest examples of a post-medieval defensive promontory fort in the country.

Penlee House Gallery & Museum

Penlee House Gallery & Museum

Iconic Buildings

Museums

Penlee House is a museum and art gallery located in the town of Penzance in Cornwall. The gallery is the perfect place to discover the works of the Newlyn School and Lamorna artists. The museum covers the history of West Cornwall, from amazing archaeological finds to fabulous ceramics, social history and fashion.

Pentire Point

Pentire is a stretch of coast in North Cornwall that boasts beautiful headlands jutting out into the Atlantic sea. If you look to the south and west you'll see the expanse of Padstow Bay, where the mouth of the River Camel and its tributaries were 'drowned' by melting ice after the last glaciation and now form wide creeks. One of the iconic location where you can spend some nice time.

Perranporth Beach

One of the largest stretches of unbroken sand on the North Coast. At one end is Perranporth, the archetypal beach town with the high street backing onto the sand. Progressing towards Penhale Point an extensive network of sand dunes rise behind the beach. This is a Special Area of Conservation and also home to a buried church. It’s the beach everyone raves about and billed as a great place for surfing, snorkeling, sailing, and generally splashing around.

PK Porthcurno

PK Porthcurno is a multi-award winning museum experience that explores the story of how the world connects. From 1870 when the first undersea telegraph cable from India came ashore here, to the fibre optic cables which carry virtually all our communications today.

Poldark Mine & The Cornish Heritage Collection

Poldark Mine is the only complete tin mine in Cornwall open for underground guided tours and is generally regarded as one of the most historic locations in the annals of Cornish Mining History. The mine is on several levels and the guided tours by experienced Cornishmen receive many accolades for their unvarnished presentation and the real atmosphere in the mine itself. Its features include underground guided tours through ancient tin mine workings, a museum of industrial heritage.

Polzeath Beach

This large beach north of Wadebridge attracts a multitude of surfers due to its easily accessible location and long slow breaking consistent waves. The beach itself is enormous at low tide, extending around half a mile in all directions. At high tide however the beach shrinks to just a small patch of sand in front of the village. This area is rich in both sealife and birdlife with dolphin sightings common along with the odd puffin too.

Porth Beach

Porth beach is a famous white sand beach and has a large area of flat golden sand that offers safe bathing. There's level access to the beach and there is pleasant walking around Porth Island. The long tidal drop reveals many beautiful rock pools and some fascinating sea life; in addition, due to its position being protected by headlands on both sides, it is very sheltered.

Porthcurno Beach

Porthcurno Beach is about three miles east of Land`s End on the south coast of West Cornwall. It faces south-east and lies in the western corner of lovely Porthcurno Bay. The beach is a great place to hang out for a day. Cool down on warm days with a swim in the pristine water and relax in the shade provided by the high cliffs looming over the sand.

Porthmeor Beach

Situated in the shadow of the iconic Tate St Ives building, Porthmeor is sandy, safe beach popular with surfers and swimmers alike in an ideal location just a stone’s throw from the centre of St Ives where you’ll find ancient pubs, trendy cafes and lots of art galleries the town is famous for. The beach consists of a long stretch of golden sand overlooked by numerous artists' studios and the Tate Gallery. Porthmeor is also St Ives' most dramatic beach facing the full force of the Atlantic Ocean

Porthminster Beach

The moon-shaped Porthminster Beach is among the prettiest stretches of sand in St. Ives. Sheltered by grassy headlands and in proximity to the town center, the beach is an ideal family vacation spot with excellent facilities and clean conditions. Swim with the kids in the calm, pristine water and enjoy views of the glimmering sea.

Map of attractions in Cornwall

Comments

For more information about Cornwall, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornwall