Top Things to do in Cornwall
What to do and see in Cornwall, England: The Best Free Things to do
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.
Restaurants in Cornwall
1. Porthminster Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,569 reviews
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. Gwithian Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 471 reviews
Reviewed By OldBear - Wigan, United Kingdom
A safe beach with RNLI Beach patrols on this and Godrevy Beach. It’s ideal for swimmers but more of a magnet for surfers and body boarders. Surf hire and surf lessons are also available. There are a few car parks, the closest being a National Trust which is free to NT members but the vehicles are crammed in with very little to to maneuver in parts. The beach is a five minute walk. There is also a grassed car park further up the hill which ideal for picnics , both locations provide nice views of St Ives Bay and nearby Godrevy Lighthouse and St Ives.
3. The Lizard and Kynance Cove
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,933 reviews
Reviewed By 882rachelw - Bristol, United Kingdom
First we visited Lizard Point with its stunning views, then we drove on to the beautiful Kynance Cove. Our holiday had taken on a bit of a Poldark theme and it’s clear to see why this stunning place was chosen for coastal beach scenes for the series. It was late afternoon by the time we visited so the car park was relatively empty. Being National Trust members, you just simply scan your card and parking is free. Annoyingly the tide times had been rubbed off of the public notice board so we took a chance and walked down the shorter path (which I agree some may consider quite steep and challenging), and luckily found we could still get down on to the beach this way. The views were amazing and we spent lots of time watching the crashing waves starting to reclaim the beach and climbing and walking along the cliff top watching the tide coming in from all angles. The colour of the sea and the sky at this time of day was simply breathtaking. It seemed we had timed our visit perfectly as the beach was rather empty, apart from the occasional nutter braving the waves resulting in a unnecessary visit from the life boat services. A trip here really blew the cobwebs away and made us realise how beautiful our coastline really is! We made memories that day that I will cherish forever. I’m not sure I’d have been so keen on a visit on the overcrowded summer days that other people describe though! I think it depends on what you want from a beach. I’m less about the bucket and spades and more about the breath taking views and the walking!
4. Museum of Cornish Life, Helston
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 218 reviews
Explore 19th and 20th century Cornish culture and industry in the heart of Helston. Browse our spectacular collections housed in Helston's historic market buildings - much bigger than it looks from the outside! Explore the way our grandparents and parents lived and wonder at the way things were done only a few years ago. "A Treasure Trove of Memories and Curiosities!"
Reviewed By trazza22
Brilliant and free! My 7 year old loved the pumpkin quiz and the toy section. The wedding dresses and old medicines were also great. We had a lovely morning looking around and the staff were lovely and friendly too. A huge plus was that it is dog friendly.
5. Fistral Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,365 reviews
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
6. Porthmeor Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,174 reviews
This half-mile-long beach with firm sands is a popular recreational area around St. Ives, where all amenities are available, including beach chalets.
Reviewed By P5169HXdavidr
Great beach with good amenities and a great surf school easy access and very clean well worth a visit
7. Sennen Cove Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 533 reviews
Just north of Land's End is England's most westerly beach, with good breaking surf for beginners.
Reviewed By Biggusrachus
We spent a day at Sennen Cove and the whole family caught some brilliant waves on our bodyboards. A really stunning location, great for surfing/bodyboarding or just playing on the beach. The RNLI Lifeguards were particularly helpful and active throughout the day and spent a lot of time in the water looking out for people and helping to keep them within the flagged areas as the wind kept blowing people too far across. Probably now my favourite beach so far in Cornwall!
8. Merlin's Cave
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 616 reviews
Located below Tintagel Castle, the birthplace of King Arthur, this cave is believed to be where Merlin lived. The caves are accessible from a footpath, but fill with water at high tide.
Reviewed By 127carolf - Godalming, United Kingdom
You can visit these caves without going inside the castle, offering a jeep ride down and back for a small fee, well worth it, a small beach is at the bottom.. lovely and relaxing
9. Padstow Harbour
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,558 reviews
Reviewed By RachieShillito - Doncaster, United Kingdom
Had an amazing day here today despite being really busy, parked in the park and ride at the top of the hill £5 all day and free bus down to Padstow - well worth it as the town car park is always full! Had fun crabbing on the harbour, had lovely fish and chips from Chips Ahoy and also went on the ferry over to Rock for the first time today (return tickets are £4 for adults and £2 for children ) - spent a couple of hours exploring the area and enjoying the views!
10. Cornish Coastal Path
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 73 reviews
Reviewed By TravellingPassion78 - Bern, Switzerland
The section Portreath beach - Hayle is gorgeous to walk and not too strenuous. If you start at Portreath, you have to go up and down twice, but then it is more or less flat. If the tide is low, you can walk along the beach from Godfrey to Hayle - amazing! At Godfey, there is a nice beach café for a break. You can get to Porthreath by bus, in Hayle you can take the train or the bus.
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