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Cornwall Towns & Villages: Where to Go

From surf towns to fishing villages, here's a guide to Cornwall's most popular places, with what to do, the best nearby beaches and how to get there.

Falmouth

Harbour town with a castle, maritime museum, sandy beaches and ferries.

Padstow

Foodie fishing port on the Camel estuary, with the Camel Trail and gorgeous beaches.

Newquay

Cornwall's surf capital, with a beach for every mood and big family attractions.

Penzance

Art Deco lido, a seafront promenade and the gateway to the far west and Scilly.

St Ives

Galleries, golden beaches and a scenic branch-line train ride.

Fowey

Pretty estuary town with ferries, a castle cove and Daphne du Maurier links.

Looe & Polperro

A seaside town and a fishing village, linked by a beautiful coast path walk.

Bude

Family seaside town with a free tidal sea pool, surf beaches and a canal.

Land's End

Mainland England's most westerly point, with huge cliffs and the walk to Sennen.

Which town should I stay in?

For surfing and nightlife: Newquay.
For food and pretty harbours: Padstow or Fowey.
For exploring the far west without a car: Penzance, which has the main line, buses and the Scilly ferry.
For a family seaside base: Falmouth, Bude or Looe.
For art and beaches: St Ives.

Planning a trip? Our free trip planner helps you sort places into days.