Renowned for incredible beaches, miles of coastline and steeped in history, Cornwall is incredibly popular for a UK staycation. Whether you like surfing, exploring or simply just sunbathing (when there is sun!), there is something for everyone in Cornwall.
With so many things to do and see I’ve put together this blog about the best things to do in Cornwall.
Catch A Show At The Minack Theatre
Built in 1929, The Minack Theatre is an open-air theatre situated in Porthcurno. The theatre is perched on the cliffs above Porthcurno beach, making it the perfect setting for a live performance.
Each year there is an array of plays which you’re able to book to see, including classics such as Shakespeare’s works as well as modern plays and live music performances. Catching a show at The Minack Theatre should be something included on your bucket list!
If you have the time, I’d highly recommend heading down to Porthcurno beach as it’s a stunning beach.
Soak Up The Sun At Kynance Cove
Kynance Cove is not only the most photographed place in Cornwall, but it’s also regularly featured as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and no wonder why, I instantly fell in love with the beautiful beach as soon as we had arrived.
It is essential to plan your trip here by the tide as the beach will essentially disappear at high tide and you don’t want to get stranded!
If you have the time, why not walk the 2.5-mile coastal path between Lizard Point and Kynance? Both of which are popular places to visit when in Cornwall.
Kayak Around St Michael’s Mount
Only accessible via the Causeway at low tide, St Michael’s Mount origins date back thousands and thousands of years.
Cornwall is home to some of the most incredible beaches in the world, so why not do some exploring in the sea? Kayaking around St Michael’s Mount is one of the best things I did when in Cornwall. We did it with Ocean High, which I’d highly recommend. We hired a double kayak for 2.5 hours which cost us £30. There is the option for a single kayak, as well as hiring for 1 hour too. If you fancy trying stand-up paddleboarding, there’s the option to do this too!
Surf At Newquay Beach
Newquay is known as the UK’s surf city, so when in Cornwall, surfing at Newquay Beach is a must. There are a few surf schools you can do lessons with, we did ours with Fistral Beach Surf School. For £40, we took part in a two-hour beginner group surf lesson, perfect if you’ve never surfed before (like me!) or haven’t in a while.
If you’re a keen surfer, you’re also able to hire equipment from Fistral Beach Surf School, whether that’s a surfboard, kayak or paddleboard.
Visit The Eden Project
Did you know that The Eden Project has only been open since 2001? Constructed of bubble-like biomes, The Eden Project is one of the most popular attractions in Cornwall, seeing over 1 million visitors per year on average.
There are two different biome’s at The Eden Project; Rainforest and Mediterranean, each allowing you to experience sights from other countries, all under one roof. If the weather is also on your side, be sure to explore the beautiful gardens.
It costs £28.50 for an adult ticket (they also offer concessions), you can book tickets here, they’re currently using timed ticketing slots (this blog was written during the pandemic), so it’s essential to pre-book.
The Eden Project also hosts musical performances, called Eden Sessions.
Enjoy A Cream Tea
You can do this anywhere but there is no place like enjoying a cream tea than in Cornwall (as well as Devon of course!). There are of course many incredible places to enjoy a cream tea, but I’d recommend finding somewhere overlooking the sea. I had an incredible cream tea at The Headland Hotel (which was enjoyed after surfing on Newquay Beach too!), Polpeor (near The Lizard Peninsula) also offers incredible views.
Other recommendations include; The Market Place (St Ives), Miss V’s (Truro) and Boscastle Farm Shop.
Cornwall is an incredible place to visit, with so much to see and do, you will need more than one trip to fit everything in! I well and truly fell in love with Cornwall when I visited and will be sure to keep visiting every single year.
You can read my blogs about my weekend in North Cornwall and West Cornwall here for more inspo too!
