The 12 top things to do in Cornwall

Ah, Cornwall – adored for its stunning, sandy beaches, cliff-top walks, idyllic harbour towns and locally sourced seafood. Yet, this wild and beautiful county also has an abundance of attractions and activities to offer. 

From legendary castles to forgotten gardens, surf lessons to eco-adventures, we’ve curated our go-to list of some of the top activities, destinations and attractions in Cornwall. Whether you’re travelling solo, as a pair, with the family or fur-family, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Cornwall, depending on your interests and the mood of the day. 

So please be assured that whatever it is you feel like doing, somewhere wonderful awaits... 

Top things to do in Cornwall:

1. Eden Project, near St Austell
2. Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Gweek
3. Bodmin Jail
4. Tintagel Castle
5. The Lost Gardens of Heligan
6. Pendennis Castle
7. National Maritime Museum
8. Tate St Ives
9. St Michael's Mount
10. Surfing in Newquay
11. Minack Theatre
12. National Lobster Hatchery

Go eco-warrior at the Eden Project, near St Austell

You’ll find this eco-destination 1.2 miles from St Blazey and 3 miles from St Austell. It was built upon a clay mine as one of the UK Millenium Projects and fully opened in 2001. Eden’s botanical gardens offer a wealth of different areas to explore and fun activities for little ones. 

Head into the rainforest biome which houses its own waterfall and 1,000 plant varieties. Children will love crossing the rickety rope bridge with its bird’s-eye views and spotting the free-range roul-rouls, also known as crested partridges. There’s an invisible world exhibition in the Core building, resplendent gardens, a natural adventure play area, a Mediterranean biome, zip-wire activities for the adventurous amongst us, tours and more.

The kids will love the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Gweek

As a registered charity, the Cornish Seal Sanctuary rescues and cares for sick and injured seals or those who have been parted from their mothers, along with other locally found, sea-dwelling creatures in need of some TLC. The charity’s key goal is to rehabilitate and release all marine animals whenever possible and provide a forever home for those who need to stay on. 

More than 70 grey seal pups are rehabilitated each year in the specialist hospital, and recently, the sanctuary temporarily homed six beavers, in collaboration with the Beaver Trust. They also permanently care for several mischievous goats, ten Icelandic rescue puffins and three common seals who are actually all family. ‘Babyface’, at a respectable 44 years young, is Dad to Bo and Buddy!  

Get spooked in Bodmin Jail!

Built in 1779, this old and atmospheric jail gives a fascinating, if somewhat macabre, insight into the Victorian and Georgian prison system. There were 55 executions during its active history, including infamous inmates of their time, whose stories you’ll hear about during your visit.

The ‘Dark Walk’ uses theatre and cinema to plunge visitors back into Cornwall’s shady penal past and tell intriguing tales of the region’s smuggling and mining heritage, as well as the hardships faced by the everyday people of the times and their subsequent imprisonment in Bodmin jail. There’s also The Naval Wing to discover, The Administration Block and for those not faint of heart, the Execution Pit. And yes, there is plenty of paranormal activity reported at the jail and ghost walks on Wednesday and Thursday evenings for ghost-hunting adults and accompanying children over 12 years.

Find your quest at Tintagel Castle

Home to the Cornish rulers of long ago, legend claims this was the medieval birthplace of King Arthur and is thought by some to be the site of Camelot Castle, which is likely why Richard, Earl of Cornwall built his own castle here back in the 1230s.  

Tales of King Arthur continue to attract and enchant huge numbers of visitors to Tintagel Castle year after year. Sense the old magick as you wander through the cliff-top ruins and pledge allegiance to Gallos, the bronze statue of the king. On the beach below, you can explore Merlin’s Cave and maybe enjoy some refreshments at the cafe. Cornwall is home to many wonderful castles, and you can read all about them in our castles in Cornwall guide.

Lose yourself in The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan

Woodlands shielding secrets and sculptures, a farm and of course the rediscovered Victorian gardens make up The Lost Gardens of Heligan, spread over 200 acres. The gardens, with their winding pathways, were rediscovered thirty years ago and lovingly restored. The Victorian Productive Gardens cultivate vegetables, herbs, salad and fruit and once supplied nourishment for the Tremayne family. Today, the produce is served up to dining visitors. 

The Pleasure Grounds are a collection of gardens, once used to wow visitors and residents with their beauty, romance and lavish plantings. Here, you’ll also discover the UK’s only outdoor jungle, with its very own microclimate. With pathways coiling around four ponds, you’ll be whisked away to the tropics as you encounter banana plantations, palms, bamboo plants and an abundance of other exotic plants. 

Let children’s imaginations run free at Pendennis Castle, Falmouth

With views to Falmouth and over the River Fal, Pendennis Castle was built as a fortress by Henry VIII to defend the county and country against its foe. In more recent history, Pendennis Castle was put to use during the two world wars. 

Nowadays, under the protection of English Heritage, the castle hosts exhibitions and showcases a range of weapons from throughout the ages. Pendennis Castle also has a trail, a children’s soft-play area by the cafe and lots of open, green space to let them burn off energy. The castle runs an imaginative schedule of events and activities, with knights, jousting and all you would expect from a castle of such history and heritage! 

Sail away with the National Maritime Museum, Falmouth

Located on Discovery Quay, the National Maritime Museum houses 15 galleries over five floors and, as you might have gathered, there is a lot to discover here. As you enter the Boat Hall, you’ll learn about the history and significance of the small boats hanging above you. Later, ascend The Lookout for panoramic harbour views, while the kids will enjoy dressing up as pirates in the Skull Island Play Zone and racing each other with the model sailboats.

There are various exhibitions and events scheduled throughout the year, including the interactive ‘Pirates’ exhibition which runs until December 2024. This sizeable exhibition cuts deep into the heart of the age-old question: were pirates of the 18th century icons of daring and freedom, or merely marauding, bloodthirsty thieves? If you are staying in Falmouth, or even just visiting for the day, check out our things to do in Falmouth guide. 

Peruse the art at the Tate St Ives

If you’re a fan of modern art, then you may well want to take some time out at the Tate St Ives. Overlooking Porthmeor Beach and the Atlantic, this attractive-looking building houses the artistic works of esteemed artists such as Marlow Moss, Barbara Hepworth, Naum Gabo and Patrick Heron. 

The natural light of St Ives has long drawn artists to the town and the Tate opened in 1993 on the site of the old gasworks. Fittingly, the designs of architects Eldred Evans and David Shalev were chosen when constructing the museum, as they echoed the curves and overall shape of the former gasworks. In 2017, architect Jamie Fobert designed an extension for the building, in the form of a new gallery embedded into the cliffs. For more things to do in St Ives, check out our guide on the town. 

A fairy-tale sea castle awaits at St Michael’s Mount, Marazion

Home to the St Aubyn family, this castle of the sea wouldn’t look out of place in one of the Narnia films. Harking back to medieval times and once the destination of pilgrims, it’s also certainly seen its fair share of bloody battles, and legend claims that a local boy once killed a resident giant on the mount. 

There’s a cafe and restaurant on site, tours and sub-tropical gardens on the castle grounds, and beneath the castle, the cobbled village streets and shops are there to explore at leisure. When the tide’s low, visitors can reach St Michael’s Mount on foot across the causeway. When the tide’s up, there are ferry rides from Marazion Beach opposite.

Surf’s up! Book a surf lesson in Newquay

If you’re feeling energetic and craving some ocean action, then glorious Cornwall’s the place for you! You’ll find plenty of surf hotspots throughout the county, but if you’re staying near Newquay, then the much-celebrated Fistral Beach, just half a mile or so away from the town, is top of the list. 

The Atlantic swells here produce consistently awesome surfing waves and as such, Fistral Beach is used to host various national surf competitions. So, if you or the kids fancy having a go at riding the waves, there are several locally based surf schools offering lessons for all ages and abilities, both within group settings and one-to-one. Newquay is full of things to do, from Newquay Zoo to the Blue Reef aquarium, there's something to keep everyone entertained. 

Catch a show at the Minack Theatre, Porthcurno, Penzance

This dramatically positioned, working theatre built into a cliff face overlooking the ocean, was envisioned and built by Rowena Cade – much of it with her own hands! Though its timeless look makes it seem as if the theatre is ancient, it’s actually less than 100 years old. The landscaped, sub-tropical gardens nurture plant varieties not usually seen in this part of the world and there are various guided tours, as well as an online audio tour available, to help you navigate this unique venue at your leisure.   

From Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat to Carrie’s War and Fisherman’s Friends – there is a huge scope of performances held at the theatre, for all ages throughout the year. All of the details can be found on the website. Be sure to check out our guide on the Minack before your visit!

Adopt a lobster at Padstow’s National Lobster Hatchery!

Cornwall, and Padstow in particular, is famed for its fresh seafood and this Padstow-based charity’s goal is to conserve and research lobsters while educating visitors about seafood sustainability. The charity states that a female lobster can carry up to 20,000 eggs at any one time under her belly, but out in the wild, only one of these is likely to survive. The lobster hatchery is massively improving on these odds and since its creation, the hatchery has released over 250,000 young lobsters into the sea.

If you would like to help with the charity’s mission (or are perhaps looking for unusual wedding favours!), you can adopt and track the progress and release of a baby lobster, pair of lobsters or even an entire family of lobsters! Yes, the world really is your lobster.

Map of things to do in Cornwall

Stay with us

We hope our list of top things to do in Cornwall has left you feeling inspired for your next visit. Feel free to check out the map, pinpointing the locations of each destination. And if you’re already planning your next Cornish staycation, we have a wide range of beautiful cottages available to suit your every need, including plenty of pup-friendly accommodation!