By rail
Penzance, ~5 h from London
United Kingdom
Cornwall, United Kingdom
Coves, surf and fishing villages
Getting there
By air
Newquay (NQY), the county's airport
Best time to visit
May to September — the long days
Don't miss
St Michael's Mount
St Ives
The Minack Theatre
Land's End
Things to do
The coastal path
St Ives
The Eden Project
Surfing at Newquay
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
What to pack
Swimwear, layers
A quieter corner
Kynance Cove at low tide
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time for Cornwall?
May to September, when the days are long. Pack swimwear and layers.
What should I do in Cornwall?
Walk the coastal path, surf at Newquay, and visit St Ives, St Michael's Mount, Land's End, the Minack Theatre and the Eden Project.
Where's a hidden cove in Cornwall?
Kynance Cove — time your visit for low tide.
What are my options for getting to Cornwall?
Trains run to Penzance, about 5 h from London, or fly into Newquay (NQY), the county's airport. First stop: a Cornish pasty or a cream tea.
About Cornwall
- Coastal
Where it is
Cornwall is a county forming the tip of the south-west peninsula of England, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west and the English Channel to the south, and ending at Land's End.
History
Tin was mined in Cornwall as early as the Bronze Age, and Cornish tin may have been traded as far as the Mediterranean. In the 19th century Camborne and Redruth were centres of the global tin mining industry, and when the mines declined many Cornish miners emigrated around the world; the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
People
The Cornish were recognised as a national minority in 2014, and the Cornish language, which died out as an everyday tongue in the late 18th century, has been revived and is taught and seen on signs. Fishing, farming and tourism are the main livelihoods, and traditions include the 'Obby 'Oss festival in Padstow on May Day.
Known for
- The South West Coast Path
- St Michael's Mount
- Surfing at Newquay
- Cornish pasties and cream teas
- The Eden Project
Did you know?
Both the Cornish pasty and Cornish clotted cream have protected geographical status, a legal guarantee that they come from Cornwall.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.