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.

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The gatehouse with the drive leading to the house beyond at Lanhydrock, 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.

A view over the River Fal, gardens and the house at Trelissick on a sunny day

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.

A view of a path up Godolphin Hill, Cornwall on a summer's day

Place

Godolphin

An ancient and atmospheric estate with a medieval garden and historic house

The 16th-century manor house at Trerice, Cornwall

Place

Trerice

Elizabethan manor house with fine interiors and delightful garden

A view across the water at low tide at St Michael's Mount in the distance

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.

A gravel path running alongside a flower bed with an arch and building in the background.

Place

Trengwainton Garden

Sheltered garden bursting with exotic trees and shrubs

Pink, blue and white wild flowers bloom on a slope at Glendurgan, Cornwall, overlooking trees

Place

Glendurgan Garden

A historic and exotic wooded valley garden leading down to the Helford River.

The north front of Antony House, Cornwall

Place

Antony

18th-Century house set within a magnificent landscape garden, still home to the Carew Pole family

A view out to sea of a curving headland, the Rumps, at Pentire, Cornwall

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.

The engine house at East Pool Mine at Pool, near Redruth, Cornwall

Place

East Pool Mine

Impressive Cornish Beam Engine and industrial heritage discovery centre. Open by pre-booked tours.

Visitors at the Levant Mine and Beam Engine, Cornwall

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.

Visitors walking through the garden at Trelissick in Cornwall in spring

Gardens and Parks in Cornwall

Side view of Trelissick house and terrace in spring with camellias

Houses and buildings in Cornwall

A family playing in the garden at Lanhydrock, Cornwall

Family-friendly places in Cornwall

Visitor walking along the coastal path on the Rumps at Pentire, Cornwall

Walking in Cornwall

Dog-friendly places in Cornwall

Surfers in wet suits leaving the water and walking up the beach at Holywell, Cornwall

Coast and beaches in Cornwall

A young child peaking at cookies and scones on a table

Places to eat in Cornwall

Visitors exploring the walking trails leading to woodland at Penrose, Cornwall

Countryside areas in Cornwall

Volunteers installing the outdoor gym in the Penrose estate, Cornwall

Volunteering in Cornwall

Visitors sea kayaking at Poldhu Cove, Cornwall

Outdoor activities 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.

Three children run towards the camera, waving streamers. They are dressed in colourful summer clothes and the sun is shining

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.

An outdoor theatre performance taking place in the gardens

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.

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.

A child stands in the earth ditch of an Iron Age fort, which has green moss and ivy covering its banks

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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.

The open hatch to the ROC Veryan bunker on Nare Head in Cornwall

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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.

Two visitors walking through the very ornate West Drawing Room at Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk

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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.

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.

Coastal landscape near Kynance with rocks & thrift in the foreground and the sea in the background.

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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.

Project

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.

Nine performers in long skirts walking out of the sea onto a sandy beach

Article

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.

Stay at a National Trust holiday cottage in Cornwall this year and discover some of the most dramatic scenery in the UK.

Find more places to stay

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.

The exterior of Durgan Quay and Beach Cottages, Cornwall

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.

Whether you’re looking to travel by bus, train, bike or foot, there are many places in Cornwall you can visit without a car.

Family exploring the cycle trails at Lanhydrock, Cornwall

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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.

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Event

Drolla story telling bench and Celebrating People and Place photography exhibition

Penrose, Helston, Cornwall

Drolla 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.