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Discover lots of gardens, historic houses, days out at the coast and more.
Cornwall
Discover the best things to do in Cornwall; from visiting exotic gardens or ancient houses, to exploring the mining history, all encircled by a much-loved coastline.
Places to visit
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Top places to visit in Cornwall
Place
Lanhydrock
Although the Victorian country house and garden are now closed until 1 March, there is 1,000 acres of parkland, woodland and heath to discover at Lanhydrock. Explore two miles of the River Fowey, plus adventurous woodland cycle trails.
Place
Trelissick
A welcoming house and garden set in an estate with surrounding maritime views and woodland walks.
Place
Cotehele
An atmospheric Tudor house with Medieval roots, a mill on a historic quay and a glorious garden with valley views. Visit the wider estate for miles of colourful autumn walks.
Place
St Michael's Mount
Over many centuries, this iconic tidal island has attracted traders, pilgrims, fisherfolk and tales of giants and angels. Explore the cobbled streets of an historic village, beneath the ramparts of a legendary castle.
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Glendurgan Garden
A historic and exotic wooded valley garden leading down to the Helford River.
Place
Antony
18th-Century house set within a magnificent landscape garden, still home to the Carew Pole family
Place
Pentire
Pentire is an exceptionally beautiful headland with far reaching views and managed for wildlife. The café at Pentire Café offers undercover and indoor seating throughout the year.
Place
East Pool Mine
Impressive Cornish Beam Engine and industrial heritage discovery centre. Open by pre-booked tours.
Place
Levant Mine and Beam Engine
High-up on the exposed cliffs on the 'Tin Coast' and part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. Levant Mine and Beam Engine is open by pre-booked tours.
Top things to do in Cornwall
What's on this summer in Cornwall
Ready for a fun-filled summer? Take part in Summer of Play throughout the school holidays, sponsored by Starling Bank. There's plenty of outdoor entertainment on offer too.
Summer of play
Sponsored by Starling Bank, the National Trust’s Summer of Play invites families to enjoy fun-filled activities at the places we look after. Set in stunning gardens and historic houses, expect a festival vibe with games, creative play, sports, and outdoor adventures - perfect for sparking imaginations and making summer memories.
Outdoor entertainment in Cornwall
Watch a show in the great outdoors with a music, theatre or film event at a place near you. Bring some popcorn to watch outdoor cinema, enjoy music under the stars or be gripped by a theatre production held in beautiful surroundings.
Castles and forts in Cornwall
With a rocky island crowned by a castle and an Iron Age hillfort with a wartime bunker, there is a lot of history and beautiful views to admire from these castles and forts in Cornwall.
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St Michael's Mount
The Mount is managed by both the National Trust and the St Aubyn family, working together. This unique partnership supports the Mount's vibrant island community, continuing a remarkable legacy. St Michael's Mount is open throughout the year however, dates and times vary during winter months. Click here to find out more and book your tickets online.
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The Iron Age fort at Trelissick
Travel back through thousands of years of Cornish history to the very impressive Iron Age promontory fort and 18th-century quay. The fort is the only one of its kind in Europe and its well defined ditches and embankments are still clearly visible.
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The wartime bunker on Nare Head
Nare Head, next to Carne and Pendower, is home to an underground bunker, which started life as a Royal Observer Corps post spotting aircraft during the Second World War.
Explorer Pass
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Explorer Pass
Not a National Trust member? If you're planning a trip to Cornwall this year, buy a National Trust Explorer Pass to enjoy unlimited entry to most of the places in our care. With 4, 8 and 14-day options available, the pass can be tailored to fit your trip. Discover where you can visit with the Explorer Pass and how to buy yours.
Our work
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Project
C:UP Lanhydrock Long Gallery ceiling conservation project
The Long Gallery ceiling at Lanhydrock is a masterpiece of Jacobean plasterwork. One of the few parts of the house that survived the great fire at Lanhydrock in 1881, the ceiling underwent a major conservation project to clean and restore it throughout 2024.
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Looking after the Lizard's rare habitats and species
Find out more about how a National Trust recovery project is focusing on unique and vital “microhabitats” found on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall.
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Cornish coastal meadows project
We are working to create 250 hectares of new species rich grassland at National Trust sites across Cornwall. The project, due to be completed by 2026, will help us rise to the twin challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.
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National Trust collaboration with Wildworks in Cornwall
National Trust hosted multiple new artworks in 2024 commissioned for the Hello Stranger community engagement programme led by Wildworks, the UK’s leading landscape theatre company, in an exciting new collaboration. The programme will ran across multiple National Trust places from July 2024 until November 2024, featuring works by Cornish artists and co-produced by communities across Cornwall.
Holidays in Cornwall
Stay at a National Trust holiday cottage in Cornwall this year and discover some of the most dramatic scenery in the UK.
Hayloft
With sea views for miles and a 10-minute walk to family-friendly beaches, this cottage is in a clifftop cluster of restored farm buildings.
Durgan Beach Cottage
A traditional stone cottage just a few metres from the shores of the Helford Estuary.
Cotehele Dairy Cottage
A quiet and luxurious cottage, with access to Cotehele's house and garden.
Places to visit in Cornwall car-free
Whether you’re looking to travel by bus, train, bike or foot, there are many places in Cornwall you can visit without a car.
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Places you can visit in Cornwall without a car
Whether you’re looking to travel by bus, train, bike or foot, there are many places that we care for in Cornwall that you can visit without a car. Here’s a little more information that can help you plan your a car-free day out.
Upcoming events
Event
Friends of Poldhu beach clean
Poldhu Cove, near Helston, CornwallJoin the Friends of Poldhu beach clean on the first Friday of each month.
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Art exhibition by Rosie Mack
Botallack, near St Just, CornwallBotallack Count House welcomes back local artist, Rosie Mack.
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Drolla story telling bench and Celebrating People and Place photography exhibition
Penrose, Helston, CornwallDrolla the story telling bench continues its journey across the protected landscapes. Now stopping at Penrose, alongside a photography exhibition displaying the winning photos from Cornwall National Landscape’s 2024 photography competition.
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A Productive Place
Godolphin, Helston, CornwallTake a look in the Cider House and discover what made Godolphin a productive place. Find out more about the rich wildlife that Godolphin supports.
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25 things to do at Lanhydrock in 2025
Lanhydrock, Bodmin, CornwallPick up a list and find whole year of things to do at Lanhydrock in 2025.
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Trelissick 70: celebrating 70 years of National Trust at Trelissick
Trelissick, near Truro, Cornwall70 years ago, in 1955, Ida Copeland generously gifted the garden and estate of Trelissick to the National Trust. This year we celebrate her donation with exhibitions that tell the story of both the Copeland’s Trelissick and the Trelissick we know...
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The Timeless Tamar - From the Moors to the Sea
Cotehele, near Saltash, CornwallVisit the Victorian Drawing Room for an exhibition by Jane Wilson inspired by South East Cornwall.
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Godolphin Woods Walking Mining Tours
Godolphin, Helston, CornwallEnjoy a short walk through a mining landscape, with one of our volunteer guides, who will highlight the features of mining that remain and tell you more about the historic relationship between Godolphin and mining.
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