Where to Stay in Cornwall: Area Guide for 2026

Cornwall is about 80 miles long, and its narrow lanes make every journey slower than the map suggests. Pick a base close to what you want to do, and you spend the week on the coast instead of in traffic.

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The quick answer

Compare the main bases

Price level is our comparison of typical accommodation between these towns, not a quote. Our places to stay pages show current prices.

Staying 10 days or more? Split it between two bases, one north and one south: St Ives then Falmouth, or Newquay then Fowey. Moving costs half a day, so one base is simpler for a week.

Newquay

In one line: Cornwall’s busiest resort and its surfing centre, with a string of beaches.

Best for: Surfers of any level, groups of friends, families with teenagers.

Skip it if: You want traditional Cornwall. It is the county’s most commercial town, with chain shops and crowds from Easter to September.

Beaches: Fistral, which hosts international surf competitions, plus the town beaches. Watergate Bay is north of the town; Crantock and Holywell Bay are to the south.

Getting there: Railway station in town, and Cornwall Airport Newquay about 5 miles away, with direct flights to London and other UK cities.

Where to stay:

• Minerva Guesthouse - family-run B&B on The Crescent, 100m from Towan Beach
• Tolcarne Beach Apartments - apartment sleeping 7 in three bedrooms, 100m from Tolcarne Beach; dogs welcome
• Headland Hotel - Victorian hotel overlooking Fistral Beach; dogs welcome

All Newquay accommodation →

Padstow

In one line: A harbour town on the Camel Estuary and Cornwall’s food capital - Rick Stein opened his first restaurant here in 1975.

Best for: Foodies, couples, cyclists, walkers.

Skip it if: You are coming in July or August and dislike crowds. The harbour car parks fill early and restaurants need booking ahead.

Beaches: None in the town itself. Harlyn Bay, Constantine Bay and Trevone are a short drive west, and a passenger ferry crosses to Rock for Polzeath’s surf beach.

Getting there: No railway station - drive, or take the bus from the nearest stations. The Camel Trail cycle path runs from the harbour along the estuary to Wadebridge and Bodmin.

Where to stay:

• The Old Custom House - hotel on South Quay, right on the harbour; no parking on site
• Seasteps Padstow - two-bedroom apartment sleeping 4 on Duke Street, with a terrace; dogs welcome
• Padstow Townhouse - B&B on the High Street with parking, a few minutes’ walk from the harbour

All Padstow accommodation →

St Ives

In one line: Cornwall’s most popular town - four beaches, Tate St Ives and an artists’ colony that dates back to the 1880s.

Best for: First-time visitors, couples, art lovers, families with younger children.

Skip it if: You need cheap or easy parking. Accommodation usually costs more than in Penzance or Falmouth, and town-centre car parks fill early in summer.

Beaches: Porthmeor (the surf beach, next to the Tate), Porthminster (sheltered, good for families), Porthgwidden (small and tucked away) and the harbour beach, which covers at high tide.

Getting there: Branch line from St Erth on the main London to Penzance line. In summer the train or the park-and-ride beats driving into town.

Where to stay:

• Tregony Guest House - B&B 300m from Porthmeor Beach and Tate St Ives; dogs welcome
• Primrose Valley Hotel - nine-bedroom hotel with on-site parking, 400m from Porthminster Beach
• St Ives Balcony Flat TreCar - one-bedroom flat for 2 with a balcony and private parking

All St Ives accommodation →

Penzance

In one line: The working-town alternative to St Ives - less polished, usually cheaper, and the best connected base in the far west.

Best for: Rail travellers, budget-conscious visitors, day trips to Land’s End, the Minack Theatre and St Michael’s Mount.

Skip it if: You want a sandy beach in town. The town beaches are narrow; the better ones are a short drive or bus ride away.

Beaches: Marazion, facing St Michael’s Mount, is just east of the town. Sennen Cove, one of Cornwall’s best surf beaches, is near Land’s End.

Getting there: The end of the main line from London Paddington, including the Night Riviera sleeper. The Scillonian III sails from the harbour to the Isles of Scilly.

Also here: Jubilee Pool, an Art Deco seawater lido from 1935 with a geothermally heated section, and Penlee House Gallery for the Newlyn School painters.

Where to stay:

• Artist Residence Cornwall - hotel on Chapel Street with its own restaurant; dogs welcome
• Bay View Terrace - Victorian house sleeping 4 near the seafront, with a wood burner
• Holbein House - B&B on Alexandra Road

All Penzance accommodation →

Falmouth

In one line: A port and university town with beaches, museums and a year-round life.

Best for: Families, couples, sailors, anyone who wants a real town with beaches attached.

Skip it if: Surf is your priority. The south coast here is sheltered.

Beaches: Gyllyngvase (sandy, lifeguarded in summer), Castle Beach and Swanpool, all walkable from town.

Getting there: Branch line from Truro. The King Harry Ferry crosses the River Fal to the Roseland, and a passenger ferry runs to St Mawes.

Also here: Pendennis Castle (English Heritage) and the National Maritime Museum Cornwall. Trebah and Glendurgan gardens are on the Helford River south of the town.

Where to stay:

• Bosanneth - adults-only B&B with parking, 200m from Gyllyngvase Beach
• The Falmouth Hotel - seafront hotel 100m from Castle Beach; dogs welcome
• Central Falmouth Flat with Free Parking - one-bedroom flat sleeping 3, with sea views

All Falmouth accommodation →

Fowey

In one line: A steep harbour town on the River Fowey, still shipping china clay, with Daphne du Maurier connections.

Best for: Couples, walkers, sailors, literary travellers.

Skip it if: You want surf or big sandy beaches.

Beaches: No beach in town. Readymoney Cove is at the harbour mouth below St Catherine’s Castle, and Polkerris has a larger beach to the west.

Getting there: No station in town - the nearest are on the main line nearby. Ferries cross to Polruan (passengers) and Bodinnick (cars), and the 4-mile Hall Walk circuit uses both.

Where to stay:

• The Old Quay Hotel - waterfront hotel with harbour views and parking; dogs welcome
• 1 Cobbs Well - stone cottage sleeping 5 with a garden and parking, 900m from Readymoney Cove; dogs welcome
• Wellingtons B&B - B&B with parking and a garden; dogs welcome

All Fowey accommodation →

Looe

In one line: A traditional fishing town split into East and West Looe, built for bucket-and-spade family holidays.

Best for: Families with young children, walkers, budget travellers.

Skip it if: You want a foodie or arty town - try Padstow or St Ives.

Beaches: East Looe Beach is sandy and sheltered in town. Looe Island, a nature reserve with grey seals, is a short boat trip away. The coast path to Polperro is about 5 miles.

Getting there: The Looe Valley branch line runs from Liskeard on the main line.

Where to stay:

• Nelsons Cottage - Victorian cottage sleeping 6 in East Looe, 100m from the beach
• Penwyn Bed and Breakfast - adults-only B&B above the harbour with parking; dogs welcome
• Fieldhead Hotel - hotel with parking and a garden, 300m from East Looe Beach; dogs welcome

All Looe accommodation →

Lostwithiel

In one line: Cornwall’s medieval capital, inland on the River Fowey - a quiet, central base that is usually cheaper than the coast.

Best for: Day-trippers who want to see a lot of Cornwall, walkers, rail travellers.

Skip it if: You want to walk to the beach each morning.

Beaches: Fowey and its coves are about 6 miles south. Bodmin Moor and Restormel Castle are close by, and the Eden Project is about 5 miles west.

Getting there: Station on the main London to Penzance line.

Where to stay:

• Penrose Bed & Breakfast - Victorian B&B with cooked breakfast; dogs welcome
• 13 Castle Hill - stone cottage sleeping 3, with a wood burner and garden
• Coinage Hall - two-bedroom cottage sleeping 4, close to shops and pubs; dogs welcome

All Lostwithiel accommodation →

Also consider

Smaller places that suit a particular kind of trip:

• Bude - four beaches in walking distance and a tidal sea pool, near the Devon border. Good for surf and space; a long way from the far west.
• Port Isaac and Polzeath - Doc Martin’s fishing village is steep and best for a day visit; Polzeath has a gentle surf beach for families.
• Marazion - opposite St Michael’s Mount, with a beach on Mount’s Bay. A quieter alternative to Penzance.
• Sennen Cove - one of Cornwall’s best surf beaches, near Land’s End. Remote, with few facilities.
• Porthleven - harbour village with Kota and Kota Kai, and a food festival each April.
• Mullion - the largest village on the Lizard, for coast path walking and Kynance Cove.
• St Mawes - small and smart on the Roseland, with a year-round ferry to Falmouth.
• Mevagissey - fishing village close to the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project.
• Truro - Cornwall’s only city, central for day trips, with its cathedral and Pannier Market.
• Bodmin Moor - open moorland and dark skies; most stays are in Bodmin on its edge.

When to go

• July and August: busiest and most expensive. Book as early as you can and expect queues for parking.
• May, June and September: fewer crowds and often settled weather. Prices drop once the school holidays end.
• October to March: quiet beaches and the lowest prices. Many restaurants close or cut their hours, but St Ives, Falmouth and Penzance stay open year-round.

Browse all places to stay in Cornwall →

For more on choosing a property, see our guide to the best cottages in Cornwall.

This guide was last updated in October 2026.

Related guides:

• Getting to Cornwall - Transport options
• Cornwall Summer Holidays - Peak season planning
• Best Beaches in Cornwall - Beach guide
• Romantic Cornwall for Couples - Couples’ recommendations
• Why Visit Cornwall - Background on the county
• Hen & Stag Weekends - Group breaks