The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in South West England, England

February 8, 2022 Alice Mieles

Discover the best top things to do in South West England, United Kingdom including Porthminster Beach, Minack Theatre, Jurassic Coast, Fistral Beach, Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, Salisbury Cathedral and Magna Carta, Clifton Suspension Bridge, Exeter Cathedral, Pendennis Castle, Plymouth Gin Distillery.
Restaurants in South West England

1. Porthminster Beach

St Ives England
Excellent
79%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,569 reviews

Porthminster Beach

A favorite place for a family outing, this lovely stretch of beach overlooks Godrevy Lighthouse in the distance.

Reviewed By BO88INS

Excellent beach with a weekly (Tuesday) open air cinema across summer, we watched an afternoon showing of The Greatest Showman - thoroughly enjoyed it. Showings sell out quickly so book in advance to avoid disappointment. VIP tickets best, include popcorn, Gin or soft drink and deck chairs at the front. However, seating was provided for standard tickets and you could get pretty near the front if you arrived early.

2. Minack Theatre

Porthcurno, Penzance TR19 6JU England +44 1736 810181 [email protected] http://www.minack.com/
Excellent
83%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 5,211 reviews

Minack Theatre

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.

Reviewed By SophisticatedLady17 - London, United Kingdom

Following a great scenic drive from St Ives past Zennor, St Just and Sennen Cove we arrived at the theatre. Luckily it was a stunning sunny day. The Covid precautions were well managed and the staff all had a friendly welcoming and positive attitude. The play was brilliant and the actors all very talented. The acoustics were amazing even when doing battle with a passing helicopter! The setting is magical - just make sure you have warm clothes and/or a rug as when the sun goes down, it does get a bit chilly.

3. Jurassic Coast

DT11 0JG England +44 1305 224132 [email protected] http://footscape.co.uk/contact
Excellent
85%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 220 reviews

Jurassic Coast

We offer professional guided walks, tours and fossil hunts anywhere along the full length of the Jurassic Coast and surrounding areas. There is so much to be discovered within the World Heritage site. Not only is there 95 miles of breathtaking coastline, but delve a little deeper and you can physically 'walk throught time' as it reveals 185 million years of life on earth, showcasing the three Dinosaur periods known as Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous. Let us guide you through time so you can experience the wonders that are to be discovered along the way...... We pride ourselves as being Ambassadors for the Jurassic Coast. Plan your walks with us and get the most from your visit, Learn more about the geology and fossils of this world famous coastline. Walks and tours can be tailored to suit all ages and abilities. They are led by a trained & experienced Coastal Leader. Walks and tours can be arranged for individuals, couples, families or groups.

Reviewed By 997DanielC - Middlesbrough, United Kingdom

If you want to avoid paying for parking you can park your cars higher up the hill and walk down to see the sights of the South English countryside. Once you reach the famous coast you'll see it is filled with rocks, watch your step because you can slip and maybe twist your ankle. Look up at the cliffs next to you and you'll history that dates back 80 million years back when dinosaurs still walked the Earth. You can also see that the cliff is in layers, each one piled on top of each other and showing a different time period. Surprisingly when you touch the stone it feels soft and brittle as it easily breaks off in your hands, sometimes some will rain on your head from above. Keep your eyes open and you may even find some real fossils trapped in huge rocks or in the cliff itself; the fossils are of sea creatures called ammonites.Keep walking out to the sea and you'll be surprised by how far you'll get since the rocks are hidden beneath the water, it almost looks like you're walking on the water. Follow the rocks around the edge of the cliff and you'll find some great photo opportunities suck as large rocks sitting on their own in the water that you can jump over too. Once you've finished here there is usually an ice cream van and a Mexican food van nearby, or you can go to the nearby village and visit a pub. Across the road is a museum all about the dinosaurs that had once lived here which takes about an hour to explore.

4. Fistral Beach

Headland Road, Newquay TR7 1HY England +44 1637 850584
Excellent
71%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 4,365 reviews

Fistral Beach

This splendid beach offers excellent water for surfing and body boarding.

Reviewed By mummatash73

Love love this beach ... The facilities are fab.The Life Guards are highly trained & observant ..We are generally here most weekends .And while Covid has played havoc this season in Cornwall & UK .. Procedures are mainly respected with a one way system in place for restaurants /toilets ... Although it is a dog friendly beach.You wouldn’t know it the owners are in a huge majority of cases respectful

5. Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden

Barnoon Hill, St Ives TR26 1AD England +44 1736 791108 [email protected] http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-st-ives/barbara-hepworth-museum-and-sculpture-garden
Excellent
72%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,487 reviews

Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden

Timed tickets are required. Please book in advance from website. 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.

Reviewed By RedJock

Lovely little sculpture garden in the middle of St Ives with some amazing sculptures set in a lovely garden.

6. Salisbury Cathedral and Magna Carta

6 The Close, Salisbury SP1 2EF England +44 1722 555120 [email protected] http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk
Excellent
76%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6,642 reviews

Salisbury Cathedral and Magna Carta

Prepare to be amazed by one of the finest cathedrals in the UK, home to Britain’s tallest spire and largest cathedral close and cloisters. Our original 1215 Magna Carta is the best-preserved copy in existence and our 14th century clock is the oldest working mechanical clock in the world. We suggest 1.5 – 3 hours for your visit, but you can see most highlights in 45 minutes if you are pressed for time. You can enjoy delicious snacks and meals prepared freshly on-site in our Refectory Restaurant and browse our unique range of souvenirs in our Gift Shop. 10-minute walk from Salisbury Train Station | 20-minute drive from Stonehenge| 1.5 hours from London. Tickets must be booked online. There is no charge, but please support our work by giving a donation.

Reviewed By TroutQ - London, United Kingdom

What a great day out! I went mainly to see the Magna Carta but was surprised to discover a fantastic art and sculpture collection. The highlights for me being a sculpture by Anthony Gormley, the amazing font and a magnificent tapestry by Grayson Perry, the worlds oldest working clock and of course the Magna Carta. All the staff inside the Cathedral were helpful and friendly but Rob stood out as a fantastic curator. Thanks Rob for taking us back into the Cathedral to view the rear of the tapestry which we hadn't spotted. Oh and of course its a beautiful cathedral.....

7. Clifton Suspension Bridge

Suspension Bridge Road Leigh Woods, Bristol BS8 4AP England +44 117 974 4664 [email protected] http://www.cliftonbridge.org.uk/
Excellent
69%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 7,556 reviews

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Designed and built in 1836 by a young engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, this 702-foot-long, 250-foot-high suspension bridge gracefully spans the Avon Gorge between Clifton and Leigh Woods.

Reviewed By Margaretlaurieton

An amazing feat of engineering crossing high above the stunning Avon Gorge which in itself is interesting as there is a wealth of rare fauna

8. Exeter Cathedral

Excellent
66%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,879 reviews

Exeter Cathedral

Lift your gaze to the world’s longest uninterrupted Gothic stone vaulted cathedral ceiling. Discover Scott’s sledging flag from the legendary British Antarctic Expedition. Marvel at the medieval astronomical clock. With a thousand years of history, stunning architecture, unique treasures, musical and spiritual heritage, you’ll feel inspired from the moment you step inside Exeter Cathedral.

9. Pendennis Castle

Pendennis Castle, Falmouth TR11 4LP England +44 1326 316594 [email protected] http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/pendennis-castle/?utm_source=Trip%20Advisor&utm_campaign=Local%20Listings&utm_medium=Trip%20Advisor%20Profiles&utm_content=pendennis%20castle
Excellent
58%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,022 reviews

Pendennis Castle

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.

Reviewed By Trucks47 - Newton Abbot, United Kingdom

Had a great few hours touring around the castle and the grounds, amazing views and the weather was on our side????The real highlight were the excellent tour guides of the Keep tower and Half moon battery and special mention to "Sergeant Steve" who was very informative and is a real asset in the service he provides. Good value and well worth a visit.????????????????

10. Plymouth Gin Distillery

60 Southside Street Black Friars Distillery, Plymouth PL1 2LQ England +44 1752 665292 [email protected] http://plymouthgin.com/
Excellent
72%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 928 reviews

Plymouth Gin Distillery

Gin Distillery that offers a variety of three different tours, shop and cocktail lounge Booking advisable for tours

Reviewed By C2026VVcarolinef

A great tour of the distillery, we took a 12 & 15 yr old they got in free, even they enjoyed the tour and smelling and tasting the gin botanicals. The adults got to sample the gin, sloe gin & fruit cup, all delicious. £10 per adult with then a free gin & tonic in the Barbican bar or a miniature to take away, very relaxing. It’s important to book your tour to avoid disappointment. I then bought a bottle of each for home ????

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