Attractions in Cornwall

71 places from our Cornwall guide, from Falmouth & the Helford to St Ives & West Penwith. Each links to its area guide and, where we have one, its official site.

Saved on this device only.

Attractions

Attractions in Cornwall

71 places · showing 60

Banjo Pier, Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coastOther sight
Pier

Banjo Pier

Banjo-shaped pier at Looe, the first of its kind and a model for others.

  • Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coast, Cornwall
Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, St Ives & West PenwithMuseum
Museum and garden

Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden

Studio and garden where the sculptor Barbara Hepworth lived and worked from 1949 until her death in 1975, kept much as she left them.

Outdoor
  • St Ives & West Penwith, Cornwall
Bedruthan Steps, Newquay & the North CoastPark or nature
Cliffs and beach

Bedruthan Steps

Stretch of coast between Padstow and Newquay, part-owned by the National Trust, with rocks standing along Bedruthan beach.

Outdoor
  • Newquay & the North Coast, Cornwall
Boscawen-Un, Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s EndOther sight
Stone circle

Boscawen-Un

Bronze Age stone circle near St Buryan with nineteen upright stones in an ellipse.

  • Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s End, Cornwall
Botallack Mine, Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s EndOther sight
Mine ruins

Botallack Mine

Former mine on the cliffs near St Just, part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site since 2006.

  • Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s End, Cornwall
Camel Trail, Padstow & the Camel EstuaryPark or nature
Cycling and walking trail

Camel Trail

Shared path for walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users along a former railway, running from Padstow to Wenford Bridge.

Outdoor
  • Padstow & the Camel Estuary, Cornwall
Cape Cornwall, Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s EndPark or nature
Headland

Cape Cornwall

Small headland four miles north of Land's End near St Just, long believed to be Cornwall's most westerly point.

  • Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s End, Cornwall
Carbis Bay, St Ives & West PenwithPark or nature
Beach

Carbis Bay

Beach and village about a mile south-east of St Ives, with the South West Coast Path passing above.

Outdoor
  • St Ives & West Penwith, Cornwall
Charlestown Harbour, Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coastOther sight
Harbor

Charlestown Harbour

Port on the south coast developed in the late 18th century from the fishing village of West Polmear.

Outdoor
  • Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coast, Cornwall
Church of King Charles the Martyr, Falmouth & the HelfordCathedral or church
Church

Church of King Charles the Martyr

Parish church in the center of Falmouth, dedicated to Charles I.

Indoor
  • Falmouth & the Helford, Cornwall
Chysauster Ancient Village, St Ives & West PenwithOther sight
Ancient village

Chysauster Ancient Village

Late Iron Age and Romano-British village of courtyard houses, cared for by English Heritage.

Free entry (venue site)

Entry: according to the venue’s own page, read Oct 25, 2026. Special exhibitions and events may be charged. Source

  • St Ives & West Penwith, Cornwall
Constantine Bay, Padstow & the Camel EstuaryPark or nature
Beach and village

Constantine Bay

Village and beach on the Atlantic coast, about three miles west of Padstow.

Outdoor
  • Padstow & the Camel Estuary, Cornwall
Daymer Bay, Padstow & the Camel EstuaryPark or nature
Beach

Daymer Bay

Bay and beach on the east side of the Camel estuary.

Outdoor
  • Padstow & the Camel Estuary, Cornwall
Eden Project, Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coastOther sight
Visitor attraction

Eden Project

Visitor attraction in a reclaimed china clay pit, dominated by two large Biomes housing thousands of plant species.

Booking advised

Booking: the venue’s own page advises booking ahead (read Oct 25, 2026). Source

  • Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coast, Cornwall
Fistral Beach, Newquay & the North CoastPark or nature
Beach

Fistral Beach

Beach in Fistral Bay, half a mile west of Newquay between Towan Head and Pentire Point East.

Outdoor
  • Newquay & the North Coast, Cornwall
Geevor Tin Mine, Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s EndMuseum
Mine and museum

Geevor Tin Mine

Tin mine at Pendeen that worked from 1911 to 1990 and now has a hard rock museum.

Booking advisedIndoor

Booking: the venue’s own page advises booking ahead (read Oct 25, 2026). Source

  • Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s End, Cornwall
Godrevy Lighthouse, St Ives & West PenwithOther sight
Lighthouse

Godrevy Lighthouse

Lighthouse of 1858 to 1859 on Godrevy Island, about 984 feet (300 meters) off Godrevy Head, marking the Stones reef.

  • St Ives & West Penwith, Cornwall
Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth & the HelfordPark or nature
Beach

Gyllyngvase Beach

Town beach on the south-east side of Falmouth, looking across Falmouth Bay.

Outdoor
  • Falmouth & the Helford, Cornwall
Harlyn Bay, Padstow & the Camel EstuaryPark or nature
Beach

Harlyn Bay

Bay on the north coast, about three miles from Padstow.

Outdoor
  • Padstow & the Camel Estuary, Cornwall
Jubilee Pool, Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s EndOther sight
Lido

Jubilee Pool

Grade II listed Art Deco sea-water lido on the Penzance seafront, about 300 feet long.

  • Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s End, Cornwall
Kelsey Head, Newquay & the North CoastPark or nature
Headland

Kelsey Head

Coastal headland and Site of Special Scientific Interest with an Iron Age hill fort.

  • Newquay & the North Coast, Cornwall
Lamorna Cove, Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s EndPark or nature
Cove

Lamorna Cove

Village, valley and cove on the Penwith peninsula, popular with artists of the Newlyn School.

  • Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s End, Cornwall
Lappa Valley Steam Railway, Newquay & the North CoastHeritage railway
Heritage railway

Lappa Valley Steam Railway

Miniature railway with a 15-inch gauge line from Benny Halt to East Wheal Rose, where there is a leisure area.

  • Newquay & the North Coast, Cornwall
Leach Pottery, St Ives & West PenwithMuseum
Pottery and museum

Leach Pottery

Pottery founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada, now with a museum and a working studio.

Indoor
  • St Ives & West Penwith, Cornwall
Looe Island, Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coastPark or nature
Nature reserve

Looe Island

Small island and nature reserve a mile off Looe, also called St George’s Island.

Paid entry (venue site)Outdoor

Entry: according to the venue’s own page, read Oct 25, 2026. Special exhibitions and events may be charged. Source

  • Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coast, Cornwall
Lusty Glaze, Newquay & the North CoastPark or nature
Beach

Lusty Glaze

Beach on the north-east side of Newquay, privately owned but open to the public for much of the year.

Outdoor
  • Newquay & the North Coast, Cornwall
Maenporth, Falmouth & the HelfordPark or nature
Beach

Maenporth

Cove and beach about two miles south-south-west of Falmouth, facing east across Falmouth Bay.

Outdoor
  • Falmouth & the Helford, Cornwall
Marazion Marsh, Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s EndPark or nature
Nature reserve

Marazion Marsh

RSPB reserve west of Marazion that holds Cornwall's largest reed bed.

Outdoor
  • Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s End, Cornwall
Mawgan Porth, Newquay & the North CoastPark or nature
Beach and village

Mawgan Porth

Beach and small settlement north of Watergate Bay, about four miles north of Newquay.

Outdoor
  • Newquay & the North Coast, Cornwall
Men-an-Tol, St Ives & West PenwithOther sight
Standing stones

Men-an-Tol

Small formation of standing stones on moorland about three miles north-west of Madron.

  • St Ives & West Penwith, Cornwall
Merry Maidens, Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s EndOther sight
Stone circle

Merry Maidens

Late Neolithic stone circle about two miles south of St Buryan.

  • Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s End, Cornwall
Morrab Gardens, Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s EndGarden
Garden

Morrab Gardens

Municipal garden of 1.2 hectares south of the town center, known for Mediterranean and sub-tropical plants.

Outdoor
  • Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s End, Cornwall
National Lobster Hatchery, Padstow & the Camel EstuaryOther sight
Visitor center

National Lobster Hatchery

Marine conservation charity on the South Quay that rears lobsters for release into the sea.

  • Padstow & the Camel Estuary, Cornwall
National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth & the HelfordMuseum
Museum

National Maritime Museum Cornwall

Independent maritime museum in a harbourside building at Falmouth, with a boat collection and a boatbuilding workshop.

Indoor
  • Falmouth & the Helford, Cornwall
Padstow Museum, Padstow & the Camel EstuaryMuseum
Museum

Padstow Museum

Small local museum with artifacts and documents about Padstow and its docks.

Indoor
  • Padstow & the Camel Estuary, Cornwall
Pendennis Castle, Falmouth & the HelfordCastle
Castle

Pendennis Castle

Artillery fort built by Henry VIII between 1540 and 1542, later enlarged with ramparts and bastions, guarding the mouth of the River Fal.

  • Falmouth & the Helford, Cornwall
Pentire Head, Padstow & the Camel EstuaryPark or nature
Headland

Pentire Head

Headland and peninsula about a mile square on the north Cornwall coast, with Pentire Point and The Rumps at its tips.

  • Padstow & the Camel Estuary, Cornwall
PK Porthcurno, Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s EndMuseum
Museum

PK Porthcurno

Museum of global communications at Porthcurno, where many submarine telegraph cables came ashore.

Paid entry (venue site)Indoor

Entry: according to the venue’s own page, read Oct 25, 2026. Special exhibitions and events may be charged. Source

  • Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s End, Cornwall
Polkerris, Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coastPark or nature
Beach and village

Polkerris

Small village and beach on St Austell Bay, part of the Menabilly estate.

Outdoor
  • Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coast, Cornwall
Polzeath, Padstow & the Camel EstuaryPark or nature
Beach and village

Polzeath

Small seaside village with a sandy beach popular with holiday-makers and surfers.

Outdoor
  • Padstow & the Camel Estuary, Cornwall
Porthmeor Beach, St Ives & West PenwithPark or nature
Beach

Porthmeor Beach

Surfing beach on the north-west side of St Ives, below Tate St Ives.

Outdoor
  • St Ives & West Penwith, Cornwall
Porthminster Beach, St Ives & West PenwithPark or nature
Beach

Porthminster Beach

Beach with almost half a mile of sand on the south-east side of St Ives.

Outdoor
  • St Ives & West Penwith, Cornwall
Prideaux Place, Padstow & the Camel EstuaryHistoric house
Country house

Prideaux Place

Grade I listed Elizabethan house built in 1592 above Padstow, home of the Prideaux family for over 400 years.

  • Padstow & the Camel Estuary, Cornwall
Readymoney Cove, Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coastPark or nature
Beach

Readymoney Cove

Sandy beach south of Fowey harbor, sheltered by cliffs near the mouth of the estuary.

Outdoor
  • Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coast, Cornwall
Restormel Castle, Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coastCastle
Castle

Restormel Castle

Almost perfectly circular Norman castle above the River Fowey near Lostwithiel, one of the four chief Norman castles of Cornwall.

  • Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coast, Cornwall
St Anthony Head, Falmouth & the HelfordPark or nature
Headland

St Anthony Head

Southern tip of the Roseland peninsula, overlooking the entrance to Carrick Roads, with the former St Anthony Battery.

  • Falmouth & the Helford, Cornwall
St Catherine's Castle, Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coastCastle
Castle

St Catherine's Castle

Free entry (venue site)

Entry: according to the venue’s own page, read Oct 25, 2026. Special exhibitions and events may be charged. Source

  • Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coast, Cornwall
St Mawes Castle, Falmouth & the HelfordCastle
Castle

St Mawes Castle

Clover-leaf artillery fort built by Henry VIII between 1540 and 1542, facing Pendennis Castle across the Fal.

  • Falmouth & the Helford, Cornwall
St Michael's Mount, Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s EndPark or nature
Tidal island

St Michael's Mount

Booking advised

Booking: the venue’s own page advises booking ahead (read Oct 25, 2026). Source

  • Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s End, Cornwall

How the flags work

What we show, and what we leave out

Every flag below comes from a source you can open. Where we hold no report, the list says "not stated" or shows nothing: it does not guess. Check the venue before you travel, because prices, hours and booking rules change.

  • Type. Our own grouping of each place's kind in our destination guides (for example museum, castle or garden). It is a filter, not a rating.
  • Entry (free or paid). Shown only where the venue's own website says so in plain words, read on Oct 25, 2026. 3 places here are marked free and 3 paid; the other 65 are not stated. "Free" means general admission: special exhibitions, events and facilities can still be charged. The words we relied on are on the sources page.
  • Booking advised. Shown only where the venue's own page recommends or requires booking ahead (4 places so far). A place without the flag may still be worth booking.
  • Step-free. Reported status only, from OpenStreetMap contributors or the venue's own access page: 0 places have a step-free or partly step-free report. The step-free filter hides places with no report; that does not mean they are not accessible. Contact the venue.
  • Indoor or outdoor. Our rules for the kind of place (13 indoor, 0 partly covered, 26 outdoor; the rest are not classed). It says nothing about opening hours or shelter on the day.
  • Family-friendly. Places marked family-friendly in our guides (0 so far).
  • Nearest to me. Straight-line distance from the position your device reports when you choose it. The position stays in your browser.
  • Saved on this device. Places you have saved with the heart. They are kept in this browser only, and appear in My trip.

Sources

  1. Our destination guides: the places, descriptions and positions come from their "Things to do" pages, which link each venue's official site.
  2. Venue websites, read on Oct 25, 2026 for free-entry, admission-price and booking wording. Each flag and the words behind it: flag sources.
  3. OpenStreetMap contributors (opens in new tab), for reported step-free tags.
  4. Our free things guide, which lists places whose own websites say entry is free.