For residents of the UK and international visitors alike, there are many parts of the country beyond London that are well worth your time. Cornwall is one of the most popular UK destinations whether you are looking for a weekend getaway or want to spend an extended break exploring everything the county has to offer. A Cornwall holiday can be a memorable experience for people from all over the world, and there is so much variety here that it might change the way you look at holidaying in the UK altogether.
One of the reasons Cornwall has earned such a great reputation is its climate. The county enjoys the mildest weather in the UK, with warmer winters and cooler summers than most of England. While Cornwall certainly gets its share of rainfall, it is far less than the national average and considerably sunnier too. This makes Cornwall a great escape from grey city skies at any time of year.
Cornish Beaches make for perfect holidays
One thing most people agree on is that they want to be near the beach on holiday, and Cornwall delivers like nowhere else in Britain. With over 100 beaches — from sheltered coves to wide golden surf strands — there is a beach for every mood and every season. Our beach guide covers them all.
A Cornwall holiday is not only about the beach though (it can be if you want!). The landscape is remarkably varied and the activities are endless. In a single day you could surf at Fistral, explore a hidden cove on the Lizard, visit the Eden Project, and finish with fresh seafood in a harbour pub. If you are staying longer, each of those deserves a day of its own — but for a weekend trip it is a luxury to have so much within easy reach.
Despite its relatively compact size, Cornwall has an astounding amount of variety. Rugged north coast cliffs give way to the subtropical gardens of the south. Former mining landscapes sit alongside ancient fishing villages that have barely changed in centuries. It is a place that rewards slow exploration and return visits.
Cornwall is a peninsula on the southwestern tip of England, surrounded on three sides by the English Channel and the Celtic Sea. The county receives over five million visitors each year, and tourism makes up around a quarter of its economy. You can reach Cornwall via Newquay airport, Exeter airport, or the Great Western Railway mainline from London Paddington — including the iconic Night Riviera sleeper service.
Cornwall… The county of arts and culture
For those less interested in beach activities, Cornwall has a thriving arts and culture scene. The quality of light here — reflected off the sea from almost every direction — has attracted artists for generations. Today that legacy lives on at Tate St Ives, the Barbara Hepworth Museum, Falmouth Art Gallery, and countless independent studios and galleries dotted across the county.
If art is not your thing, there is still plenty to explore. Hill-top castles, cliff-edge fortifications, and ancient churches are scattered across the landscape. Cornwall’s mining heritage has earned international recognition from UNESCO, with 10 sites across the county representing its industrial past. You can experience this first-hand at the Geevor Tin Mine, the largest preserved mining site in the UK.
Another fascinating aspect of Cornish heritage is the Cornish language. Once considered close to extinction, a revival movement has seen it taught in schools and used on bilingual signs across the county. You will have no trouble communicating in English anywhere in Cornwall, but the language adds another layer of character to an already distinctive place.
Cornwall food and drink — home of the world-famous Cornish Pasty
Cornwall is a serious food destination. Being surrounded by ocean means an abundance of fresh seafood, from Padstow crab to Falmouth oysters. Celebrity chef Rick Stein has built a culinary empire here, with restaurants across Padstow and beyond. Paul Ainsworth, Nathan Outlaw, and a growing number of talented chefs have made Cornwall one of the UK’s most exciting dining regions.
The most famous Cornish food remains the pasty — a savoury pastry traditionally filled with beef steak, onion, potato, and swede, seasoned with salt and white pepper. Cornwall’s other great food export is clotted cream, which has Protected Geographical Status and cannot legally be called Cornish clotted cream if made elsewhere. You will find it served with scones and jam in virtually every tea room in the county — just be prepared for the cream-first-or-jam-first debate.
Many beers are brewed locally too, with Sharp’s Brewery, Skinner’s, and St Austell Brewery all producing excellent ales and stouts. Smaller producers are also making waves with Cornish wines, meads, and ciders.
Cornwall has proven itself to be one of the UK’s finest holiday destinations. With its extraordinary coastline, rich heritage, world-class food scene, and genuinely welcoming communities, it is easy to see why millions of people return year after year. If you have never visited, there has never been a better time to plan your Cornwall holiday.
