Things to do & places to visit in Cornwall, United Kingdom

Cornwall is the extreme southwestern peninsula of England. It has the longest stretch of continuous coastline in Britain and it is one of the sunniest areas in the UK. With picturesque villages, Celtic ruins, light blue waters, gardens and parks and unique architecture it certainly is among the most scenic areas of England. Home of many events and festivals and the land of Cornish pasty, it is definitely worth visiting.

Cornwall #7 destination in United Kingdom 2023. The average rating score is 4.49 based on 90.8k traveler reviews, of 39 attractions. Timezone: Europe/London, current date and time: Wednesday, May 01, 2024, 8:55.

Top things to do (39)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Minack Theatre (5.499 reviews)
- Amazing & Captivating
Theaters

This open-air theatre is dramatically situated on the cliffs at Porthcumo, near Land's End, and hosts a season of plays and musicals from March to November. See more..
5.0 Newquay Activity Centre (2.568 reviews)
- Exhilarating Sea Kayaking Experience with the Newquay Activity Centre.
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM Adrenaline & Extreme Tours • Surfing & Windsurfing • Water Sports

I booked onto a Sea Kayaking afternoon session with 3 members of my family on Friday 15th October 2021 at the Newquay Activity Centre. Our Instructor Amy was very friendly and gave us excellent tuition which made us feel very safe to keep afloat and fully enjoy the whole experience. This was especially important as the 3 of the 4 us had never sea kayaked before. Amy took us quite far out to sea on a wonderfully warm and sunny October afternoon to practice our skills and explore the old Smugglers' caves, explaining the history as she went along. At all times Amy had an eye on us and our safety. Part of the group wanted to have fun in the sea and practiced changing Kayaks and take photos which we watched with great entertainment. Overall, it was an exhilarating experience and I would highly recommend it - we will be back next year to repeat this activity and try other activities on offer with the Newquay Activity Centre. See more..
5.0 The Lizard and Kynance Cove (2.012 reviews)
- Stunning views, idyllic
Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

After a fairly short walk from the car park we found ourselves in what seemed to be a Caribbean cove... pure turquoise waters, powdery sand and a lovely sailboat anchored in the bay. If only the water was Caribbean temperatures! Nevertheless, worth steeling yourself to get in the clear blue sea at Kynance, it really is another world. Great cafe, we had cheese sandwiches ehich were VERY generously filled, followed by delicious Cornish ice creams. Tip: the charge at the car park ticket meter was £10 but on the app was only £4! See more..
5.0 Screech Owl Sanctuary (1.369 reviews)
- Littls gem
Wednesday: Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

Owl Sanctuary & Animal Park based in Mid Cornwall. In our 33rd Year of education, conservation and rehabilitation for a wide range of owls and other animals. A small family run visitor attraction, offering a great day out for all the family. See more..
5.0 Cornwall FootballGolf Park (1.222 reviews)
- Excellent fun and great leveller
Wednesday: Spent 2-3 hours Sports Complexes

FootballGolf uses the same rules as golf but players kick a football into a hole. Think Crazy golf or adventure golf but supersized and kicking a football ball instead of using a golf ball and putter. There are hazards and obstacles along the way which make the game fun and enjoyable for everyone and a great outdoor activity. Players have to kick around, through, over or under various obstacles. The game of FootballGolf is suitable for anyone 5 years old to 80 years old. We have two 18 hole courses set over 18 acres with stunning surroundings. See more..
5.0 Davidstow Airfield & Cornwall At War Museum (1.219 reviews)
- A Superb Experience.
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Military Museums

An incredible collection put together with a lot of passion and hard work over the years. Plenty of time, or more than one visit, is necessary to absorb the content, not just that of the overall museum, but of each section within. So many fascinating artifacts and things to see, at times it was almost overwhelming to take it all in. Friendly and very helpful staff / volunteers, I highly recommend anyone to pay a visit to this museum, especially if having an interest in military and / or aviation history. I look forward to visiting next year and taking one of the Airfield tours. Thank you for the hospitality and taking the time to chat. See more..
5.0 Lizard Adventure (873 reviews)
- Dad and young boys. Amazing experience to give memories for a lifetime!
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Climbing Tours • Water Sports • Stand Up Paddleboarding • Kayaking & Canoeing

One of the highlights of our week in Cornwall which can be done in any weather. Myself and my two boys 8 & 10 where in a group with another family with slightly older children all for a 3hour Coasteering adventure. The day before we had joined in with lots of other member of the public jumping off the harbour walls at Porthleven which for our 8 year old helped to build his confidence. The instructors Nick and JP were absolutely fantastic with the whole group and managed to get a great rapour with us all over the 3 hours especially our 8 year old who can be very independent and literal with communication. Everyone in the group had an amazing time. My boys cannot stop talking about it and have absorbed all the techniques and safety instructions given by the instructors. Thankyou so much Nick, JP and Lizard adventures! We will definitely be back!!! See more..
5.0 Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre (760 reviews)
- A great place for big and little kids! and plenty to learn.
Spent 2-3 hours Military Museums • Speciality Museums • History Museums

A great family tourist attraction. Informative - and interesting aviation heritage and activity museum. Ideal for young and old. Indoor and outdoor exhibits. Sit inside the cockpits of some fantastic aircraft... See more..
5.0 Kernow Coasteering (752 reviews)
- Extremely professional and so much fun!
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Adrenaline & Extreme Tours • Climbing Tours

My family have been coastereering three times with ‘Kernow Coastereering’ and we’ve just booked again for this Summer! My kids absolutely love it and spend the whole rest of the holiday reliving it and chatting about it. The company are very professional, with safety clearly their priority. They’re also really encouraging and enthusiastic - making sure everyone gets their full support regardless of their ability. Highly recommended! Don’t delay, book ASAP because they full up very quickly. See more..
5.0 Cornish Wave Surf & Adventure (720 reviews)
- Family coasteering
Wednesday: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM Surfing & Windsurfing

Fantastic experience. Booked a family coasteering session with an 8 and 11 year old to be able to take it at our own pace. Adam our instructor was great and really encouraging. The kids loved it and we all felt completely safe. Can’t wait to do it again. See more..
5.0 Bare Feet Coasteer (634 reviews)
- Fun and enjoyable
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Adrenaline & Extreme Tours

We booked this experience for the whole family (2 adults and 2 boys aged 12 and 15). We all found it fun and enjoyable, and liked that it pushed us out of our comfort zones and challenged us. Nick calmly guided us through the basics and offered opportunities to take part in a variety of jumps gradually building up to higher level each time. There was lots of encouragement to try every aspect the coast had to offer, but no pressure if you preferred to take a different less challenging route. Every single one of us had a blast and enjoyed the experience on our own terms. A fabulous way to experience the beautiful cornish coastline from a different perspective. Both instructors made the experience fun, and we even got to learn a little local history along the way. Photos of the session are also included in the cost of the experience and shared after the event. Happy to recommend :-) See more..
5.0 Kidz R Us (625 reviews)
- Amazing Show
Theaters

Kidz R Us is an extraordinary youth theatre group, working with around 100 young people a year, aged seven and up. A not-for-profit arts charity, we aim to encourage the participation of young people in the performing arts and behind-the-scenes crafts, both for their own personal development and the benefit of the wider community. Production standards are high and since being formed in 1994, we have produced over 70 shows and won numerous awards. Kidz R Us was a finalist in the Best Arts Project category of the 2010 National Lottery Awards and is a recipient of the prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. Our Artistic Director, Phil Barnett, was awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2012, and we are honoured to have Sir Tim Rice as our Patron. See more..
5.0 Tarquin's Cornish Gin (620 reviews)
- Excellent, fun and informative.
Wednesday: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Distillery Tours

Had a brilliant time celebrating a friend’s 60th birthday as we all love gin. Well worth the money, got to try any of the gins we wanted, would have loved (and would have been happy to pay a little more) to stay a little longer to savour the gins with their accompaniments. Very informative, interesting and fun! Well worth a visit, highly recommend - make sure you a have a good friend (in my case wonderful husband) to be your chauffeur as we left feeling rather squiffy. See more..
5.0 Global Boarders Surf School Gwithian Beach (418 reviews)
- Fantastic Stag Do activity
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM Sports Camps & Clinics • Surfing & Windsurfing

I recently organised a stag do with a day of coast steering and surfing. Chris and Steve were great throughout the day showing flexibility when our large group turned up slightly late due to transport. They also condensed their surfing lesson to let us have more time in the water when I informed them we needed to leave slightly early. Overall I would highly recommend Global Boarders to others thinking of organising big events as they very easily coped with our group of 16 and were very professional the entire day. See more..
5.0 Coast Boat Trips in Cornwall (343 reviews)
- A highlight of our stay in Cornwall
Boat Tours • Private Tours • Dolphin & Whale Watching • Photography Tours • Speed Boats Tours • Day Trips

A highlight of our stay! The trip was excellent value for money and at all times the safety of passengers and the welfare of the animals/marine life was paramount. We were lucky enough to have a marine biologist as our commentator and he pitched his talk at just the right level for all on board. Full marks for Coast boat trips! See more..
5.0 Stoked Surf School Perranporth (150 reviews)
- 100% recommend - great experience
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Surfing & Windsurfing

We had an amazing time, I was with a hen party and we did a group surfing lesson and it was so much fun. There was a range of experience between us so Julian and Ollie made sure they catered for everyone! I personally have never surfed before in my life and they got me standing up on the board by the end of our lesson. Ollie and Julian were so welcoming and made us feel at ease the whole time. I honestly can’t recommend them enough, if you are down in Perranporth you 100% need to get a lesson with them. See more..
5.0 Minack Theatre (5.499 reviews)
- Amazing & Captivating
Theaters

This open-air theatre is dramatically situated on the cliffs at Porthcumo, near Land's End, and hosts a season of plays and musicals from March to November. See more..
4.5 The Lost Gardens of Heligan (6.764 reviews)
- A Good Day Out……..
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Historic Sites • Gardens

Heligan is one of the most mysterious estates in England. Lost to the brambles of time since the outbreak of WW1, this Sleeping Beauty was re-awakened in 1990 to become Europe’s largest garden restoration project. Today Heligan’s 200 acres are a paradise for the explorer, wildlife, plant lover and garden romantic. See more..
4.5 St. Michael's Mount (5.406 reviews)
- Somewhere I always wanted to visit
Wednesday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Islands • Castles • Gardens

Cross the causeway where a legendary giant once walked. Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims, or boat hop to an island where modern life meets layers of history. Discover an evocative castle, a sub-tropical garden paradise and a close-knit island community. Assistance dogs only. See more..
4.5 Tintagel Castle (4.735 reviews)
- Very interesting day out
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Ancient Ruins • Castles • Mysterious Sites

Immerse yourself in history, myth and stunning scenery at Tintagel Castle on Cornwall's rugged north coast. Inextricably linked with the legend of King Arthur, for centuries this dramatic castle and coastline has fired the imaginations of writers, artists, and even the brother of a king. Now it's your turn to be inspired. Book online now to get the best price and get ready for a legendary, great-value family day out at one of Cornwall’s must-see attractions. Don’t miss: - Journey across the spectacular award-winning footbridge - Meet Gallos, the larger-than-life bronze sculpture of an ancient king - Explore Merlin’s Cave and paddle in rock pools on the beach - Take in dramatic coastal views and look out for wildlife on the clifftops See more..
4.5 Fistral Beach (4.479 reviews)
- Early Evening visit to Fistral
Beaches

This splendid beach offers excellent water for surfing and body boarding. See more..
4.5 Healeys Cornish Cyder Farm (3.684 reviews)
- Plenty To Do - Lovely Staff
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Breweries • Farms

Deep in the heart of the Cornish countryside, we've been making the most of our orchards for over 30 years. Whether it's getting to the core of great flavour or thinking outside the box, we know what it takes to make apples special. Optional tours and experiences take you on a Cyder making journey - from apple to Cyder! Take a tractor ride through our Orchards, and sample at least 20 varieties of Cyder, wine and preserves. See more..
4.5 Lanhydrock House and Garden (3.195 reviews)
- Beautiful House and Gardens
Wednesday: 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM Spent More than 3 hours Historic Sites • Gardens

This 19th-century high-Victorian country house is one of the most fascinating in England. Colourful gardens, riverside walks and family friendly cycle trails. See more..
4.5 Padstow Harbour (2.660 reviews)
- Sunday family tour
Piers & Boardwalks

Being Sunday the town was quite packed yet the experience really enjoyable. The car park in the port was full so ended up parking at the entrance to the city and take a bus for a total cost of £10,60 for three of us. The harbour is really beautiful and packed with shops and bars and wonderful views across the bay. See more..
4.5 Trebah Garden (2.578 reviews)
- Family day
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM Spent 2-3 hours Gardens

A sub-tropical paradise with a private beach at the bottom, the result of 180 years of inspired and dedicated creation. This magnificent 26-acre Cornish ravine garden features a rich collection of rare and exotic plants, trees and shrubs. See more..
4.5 Perranporth Beach (2.278 reviews)
- Beautiful beach
Beaches

Perranporth Beach - owned and managed by Perranzabuloe Parish Council for the enjoyment of both local residents and visitors. See more..
4.5 Pendennis Castle (2.170 reviews)
- Interesting castle and history
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Historic Sites • Castles

Explore one of Henry VIII's finest coastal fortresses, Pendennis Castle, which has defended Cornwall against foreign invasion since Tudor times. Discover how the castle has evolved, and experience the sights and sounds of battle. Explore the fascinating new exhibition which examines the role of the castle as part of Fortress Falmouth during the First World War. See more..
4.5 Porthminster Beach (1.631 reviews)
- Cinema on the Beach
Beaches

A favorite place for a family outing, this lovely stretch of beach overlooks Godrevy Lighthouse in the distance. See more..
4.5 Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden (1.547 reviews)
- Relaxing
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 5:15 PM Spent 1-2 hours Gardens • Art Museums

The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden contains the largest group of Hepworth's works, permanently on display where she lived and worked from 1949 until 1975. You can book your tickets in advance on the website, or on the day in the museum. See more..
4.5 St. Nectan's Glen (1.514 reviews)
- Beautiful waterfall.
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Valleys • Waterfalls

Great place, well behaved dog friendly, keep on leads at some points. Lovely mile walk from the car park on the main road. Free to walk all the way to the cafe, you only pay for entry to the waterfall itself. The waterfalls are impressive, beautiful and serene spiritual feel around the place, I would definitely recommend a visit if this is your style. The WALK is not pushchair friendly, and definitely not wheelchair accessible. See more..