Our most recommended things to do in Cornwall

Bodmin: Bodmin Jail Entry Ticket & Dark Walk

1. Bodmin: Bodmin Jail Entry Ticket & Dark Walk

Step into the past with skip-the-line entry to the Bodmin Jail in Cornwall where over 55 executions took place. Uncover the dark history of this haunted site built by King George III and explore the recently renovated wings and cells. Feel the cold against your skin as you walk down the Naval Wing. Travel just outside the town center to find Bodmin Jail and marvel at its imposing structure on the skyline as you reach the entrance. Count yourself lucky as you walk into the prison as a visitor and not as an inmate. Face a cold walk along the original Naval Wing and get a first-hand impression of what the dreary days and nights behind bars were really like. Look into grimy cells and listen to stories of prison punishments. Learn about the tragedies within these walls and the tales of the criminals who called Bodmin Jail home. Exit the prison after seeing the only original and fully working Victorian hanging pit in the United Kingdom.

Doc Martin Tour

2. Doc Martin Tour

If you’re a fan of the TV show Doc Martin, this fully guided walking tour will take you around the fictional Cornish seaside village of Portwenn. In reality, it is filmed on location in Port Isaac, a small and picturesque fishing village on the Atlantic coast of north Cornwall. Now in its seventh series and popular with fans around the world, this Doc Martin tour is the best way to see the main locations from the show which first aired in 2004. The walking tour is led by a local who has been involved in the filming of Doc Martin itself as an extra and shares many anecdotes about the filming of this show.  Locations from the show that you will see include the Doc’s house and surgery, Louisa’s school, Mrs Tishell’s pharmacy and much more. However, the village itself has a long and fascinating history dating back to King Henry VIII and your guide will show you hidden village paths, historical buildings, beautiful views and give you an insight into local life. There will be plenty of photo opportunities along the way. 

Devon and Cornwall: 5-Day Tour from London

3. Devon and Cornwall: 5-Day Tour from London

Discover the landscapes and history of the wild Southwest of England on this 5-day minicoach tour. Combining the best of Devon and Cornwall, including the Jurassic Coast, Dartmoor, Lands End, Tintagel Castle, 2 nights in the Roman city of Exeter, and 2 nights in the harbor town of Falmouth, this tour offers a unique view of a beautiful part of Britain. Day 1 Depart London and travel through the old kingdom of Wessex to the historic city of Winchester. The former capital of Anglo-Saxon England boasts a magnificent cathedral and the Norman Great Hall. From this bustling city, head to a quieter but equally profound place, the standing stone circle of Stonehenge. Having explored this mystical place, your tour will continue to Exeter, the Romans most southwesterly fortified settlement and your base for 2 nights. Day 2 Your morning is spent exploring the magnificent wilderness of Dartmoor, the ancient "Clapper Bridge" at Postbridge, and the historic market town of Tavistock, home to Francis Drake. Return to Exeter in the early afternoon to explore the Roman town, with its underground passages, ancient walls, Royal Albert Memorial Museum and famous 12th-Century Norman Cathedral. Day 3 Head west to the North Cornish coast and the Elizabethan fishing village of Boscastle. Indulge in a cream tea, take a stroll out to the dramatic headland or learn a spell or two in the Museum of Witchcraft. Travel to the village of Tintagel and the ruins of its headland Castle, whose romantic cliff-top setting is purportedly the birthplace of King Arthur. After lunch, the tour heads to Port Isaac where you can get your Doc Martin fix and fall in love with this picturesque fishing village, before heading south to the bustling port town of Falmouth for the next two nights. Day 4 Explore the most westerly tip of England on this magnificent day, taking in St. Michael’s Mount, the incredible Minack Theater, built into the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the beautiful National Trust beach at Porthcurno. Look out for pirates at Penzance! England’s most westerly point beckons at Lands End before following the dramatic coast, with windswept moors and old stone Celtic communities, up to the artistic haven of St. Ives. Return to Falmouth for the night. Day 5 This morning you say farewell to Cornwall and travel back through the Devon countryside with stops for photos and refreshments before arriving in the famous little town of Glastonbury for lunch. Glastonbury Tor rises high above the town and has mythical connections with King Arthur and Avalon. From here you will return back eastwards to London, a city completely removed from the experiences you have enjoyed in the magical counties of Devon and Cornwall. Staying in a range of locally owned, friendly B&B's and guesthouses, you will enjoy en suite facilities, and tranquility in scenic locations in the lovely southwest of England.

Newquay: Introduction to Surfing Lesson

4. Newquay: Introduction to Surfing Lesson

Enjoy a surfing lesson that is tailored to beginners with this attraction ticket in Newquay. Participate in a group lesson that breaks down everything from beach safety to how to ride a wave. Be welcomed by your instructor at the surf shop. Listen as your instructor provides you with an introduction to surfing talk and a quick overview of the day's activity. Put on your wetsuit and hop in the water. Take it easy with a lesson that takes place in waist high water with no need for strong swimming skills. Learn in with the support and guidance of your surf coach who will ensure your learning needs are met throughout the experience. Find out how to manage your surfboard and get comfortable with your board in the water. After a quick break and recap on the beach, cover some tips and techniques on how to pop up on your board and ride a wave back to shore. Leave with new skills that will last a lifetime.

UK/Europe: eSim Mobile Data Plan

5. UK/Europe: eSim Mobile Data Plan

Stay connected with an eSIM mobile data plan for use in the UK and Ireland. Get a plan for 43 European countries if you like. Choose from different data volumes to suit your needs. Use hotspot sharing if needed. Benefit from high speed data with technical support if needed. Check that your device is eSIM compatible and lock-free, then buy it and download the QR code. Print the code, or display it on another device, then scan it to activate. Make sure you have WiFi or internet access before you activate the plan. Connect to the internet and stay in touch with friends. Follow the troubleshooting guide in your voucher if you cannot connect to the internet. Use the technical support if needed, and make sure you have data roaming turned on. If you need more data, you can purchase another plan to top up so you can continue using it. Network coverage for 43 European regions: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, and Vatican City.

Porthmeor Beach: Tate St. Ives Gallery Entry Ticket

6. Porthmeor Beach: Tate St. Ives Gallery Entry Ticket

Explore the intense period of artistic rebirth that followed Morocco’s independence, forged by the experimental teaching methods of the Casablanca Art School in the 1960s and 1970s. Tate St Ives is the first of this kind of museum in the UK. Enjoy and explore the modern stories of artists and the town of St Ives, discover 100 years of art, celebrating how West Cornwall has welcomed and inspired artists and revealing new connections to artists from around the world. Some of the works include artists Alfred Wallis, Marlow Moss, Barbara Hepworth, Partou Zia, and Bob Law.

Newquay: Coasteering Adventure

7. Newquay: Coasteering Adventure

Discover the raw beauty of the coast on this tour from Newquay. Make your way to caves and inlets as you participate in adventure swimming, climbing, and rock hopping. Feel safe with a local guide and high-quality safety equipment.  Meet your guide at the shop and make your way to the shore. Gear up with the help of your guide and begin your trip. Swim through sluices and whirlpools. Feel your heart pound as you leap from cliffs and scramble up gullies.  Find large sea caves and admire the serenity of secluded sections of coast. Learn sea survival skills from your guide that you can take with you on future trips to the coast. 

Newquay: Sea Kayaking Tour

8. Newquay: Sea Kayaking Tour

At our activity center close to Towan beach, you'll first learn the safety precautions and fundamentals of kayaking. We are in a great location, just 5 minutes' walk from Towan Headland and close to some amazing gulleys, inlets, and protected coves. Our facility was specifically created with heated locker rooms, hot outdoor showers, storage, and lockers for your belongings. In our cozy and secure center, you may change before starting your kayaking trip in Newquay. Two of the gorgeous, somewhat-secret coves in Newquay are where we take off and land. We embark on an adventure as we make our way down a rocky slope to the water's edge. Since you are truly taking in the finest of Newquay's coastal edge, the view is breathtaking and the area is home to some amazing coastal species. The kayaks will be waiting for you in the cove as we carefully make our way down to the water. A alternative viewpoint from which to see this magnificent coastline is provided by kayaking. You'll paddle along the tidal zone and discover hidden bays like Adventure Gulley and Dead Man's Cove, which are well-known for their thrilling coasteering opportunities!

From Bristol: 4-Day Cornwall, Devon & Stonehenge Tour

9. From Bristol: 4-Day Cornwall, Devon & Stonehenge Tour

Day 1 You begin your journey down into the south-west of England. You’ll stop in at cute villages and enjoy a scenic drive through Exmoor National Park, a beautiful mix of moorland, woodland, coast and rivers. We like to keep things flexible this morning, so your driver-guide will touch base with you throughout the day. Next stop is Dunster; this medieval village is dominated by its Norman Castle, which you can view as you wander the village. You will visit the incredible ruins of Tintagel Castle. Sitting snug on the clifftops of North Cornwall, this historic 13th-century castle is believed to be the birthplace of King Arthur. The time is yours to explore this wonderful site. We depart Tintagel and head for the coastal city of Falmouth, our overnight base for the next two nights. Day 2 The day begins with a visit to one of Cornwall’s most loved destinations: the fishing town of St Ives. Get in touch with your inner seaside dweller as you wander this idyllic harbour town. Your next destination is a must in our opinion. Land’s End is a legendary spot that has inspired people since ancient Greek times when it was referred to as ‘Belerion’, or ‘Place of the Sun’. We head for a lunch break to an open-air theatre perched atop rugged cliffs. Yes, we’re talking about the incredible *Minack Theatre. *Please note that due to availability, we may be unable to visit this theatre. Your guide will let you know as you go. The last stop of the day is in Marazion, where you’ll get a chance for a photo of the jaw-dropping St Michael’s Mount. This rocky island is home to a medieval church and castle, and is England’s very own Mont Saint-Michel. Day 3 This morning we keep things flexible, with possible stops as we start heading north again. You then arrive in Tavistock, an ancient stannary (tin-mining district) and market town. You have free time to explore the only town in Devon to hold world heritage status. Your journey continues east into Dartmoor National Park, a stunningly craggy landscape filled with forests, rivers, wetlands and tors. You’ll stop in the picturesque village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor, where the folk song of “Widecombe Fair” has been immortalized. Your adventure in Dartmoor National Park continues with a visit to the rocky granite outcrops of Haytor before you head to Exeter for the evening. Day 4 The last day of your tour stops at Durdle Door, one of Dorset’s most photographed landmarks, and the uniqueness of Lulworth Cove. Then you’re off to Shaftesbury, which is the epitome of a quaint English market town. It also has a fascinating history going back to Saxon times. The final stop of the day is the iconic and mind-boggling Stonehenge. It’s been around for around 5,000 years and to this day, people still flock to it in wonder. You among them? There are plenty of legends surrounding these massive stones and how they ended in such a formation.

Newquay: Adventure Gully Coasteer

10. Newquay: Adventure Gully Coasteer

Get ready to encounter a fantastic cave filled with exciting natural features. You'll navigate big jumps into our renowned crystal-clear deep-water gully in addition to strenuous but enjoyable traverses (horizontal climbing). You'll pick up a ton of very cool abilities, like wild swimming, technical navigating, and how to swim, climb, and scramble into sea tunnels without getting hurt. Additionally, you will get knowledge of how to cross sluices, natural rapids, and large gully wash troughs. You will encounter a variety of marine animals along the route, which our knowledgeable and engaging team of teachers will be eager to inform you about.

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What people are saying about Cornwall

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 208 reviews

Search for deals. We got in at a very good price. Such a shame this attraction wasn't available at this standard when our children were young. Nonetheless as pensioners we found it fantastic. Once you've finished the attraction make sure you ask to go in and visit one of the hotel rooms attached. In each case 3 cells knocked into one to make a tremendous luxury room, with baths in most cases. Brilliant.

The Dark Walk was amazing. Very informative and something different. The whole thing was a great learning experience

Thoroughly enjoyed the day. Took our old teenagers for something a bit different and they had a good time too.

Very informative with a clear picture of what Port wenn was like

Absolutely brilliant experience, highly recommend a visit there