Cornwall is the southwestern area of ​​Great Britain and is a narrow peninsula characterized by a milder climate than the rest of the country. Known for being one of the most beautiful areas in England , it offers visitors a range of natural wonders, quaint fishing villages and historic residences, as well as enchanting landscapes and wide countryside, pristine beaches and steep cliffs overlooking the sea, lush gardens and important archaeological sites.
If you are planning to explore this magnificent destination, here are all the tips to better organize your trip .
Travel informed: useful information
- Inhabitants : 565.968
- Capital : Truro
- Languages : British English
- Local currency : British pound (£) / Exchange rate: € 1.00 = £ 0.90
- Climate : Oceanic temperate, the mildest and sunniest in the United Kingdom. The average annual temperature varies from about 11.6 ° in the interior to about 9.8 ° for the Isles of Scilly
- Distance from Italy : 2,226 km (2 h 50 min flight to Bristol)
Where it is and how to get there
Cornwall is a county of England and is located at the tip of the southwestern peninsula of Great Britain. It is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and also includes the Isles of Scilly, located 45 km from the coast.
The best way to reach Cornwall from Italy is to land in London , then take a domestic flight and arrive at Newquay Airport, one of Cornwall’s major cities. Domestic flights cost an average of £ 25.00 each way (€ 27.64) – compare flights.
Alternatively, you can evaluate a bus from London to Newquay. They leave approximately every two hours and the journey takes an average of 8 hours (ticket from £ 69.00 / € 76.29). The train is faster, but after about 4 hours you have to change to Par and travel for another 50 minutes, the costs are more or less the same. The expense and the times are greater than the internal flight, which remains the most recommended way.
The main cities
- Truro : the administrative capital of Cornwall, and above all a marina and an important destination for surf lovers; it also houses a beautiful medieval cathedral
- Falmouth : Ideal base for exploring the south coast of Cornwall, offers numerous bars and bistros, beautiful beaches and the finest maritime museum in the county
- Newquay : coastal city chosen by the British as a destination for summer holidays thanks to its twelve sandy beaches. It is the surfing capital of England, as well as a great base for exploring the whole county (has an airport)
- St Ives : Considered as the Saint-Tropez of Great Britain, in the summer it fills with sailboats and tourists, thanks to a lively social life
- Tintagel : A village located on the north coast, it is considered the birthplace of King Arthur. Castello di lui is one of the most fascinating and evocative destinations in the county
10 things to see: places of interest in Cornwall
Tintagel – Cave of Merlin
Tintagel – Statue of King Art
1/13
- Tintagel : a very scenic place, overlooking the sea, and also quite suggestive since it seems that the events related to King Arthur began here. At Tintagel Castle history and myth meet in an enchanting and timeless place
- Port Isaac : picturesque village famous for several films and TV series (Doc Martin and Grace’s grass), which has not lost its authenticity, common in many villages on the British coast
- Polzeath and Porthleven : two of the best places in Cornwall to practice surfing, the first more suitable for those who have just started surfing, the second more suitable for experts
- St Ives : often compared to Saint-Tropez, it is one of the favorite seaside resorts of the British during the summer, a season in which it is filled with tourists who often reach it by sailboat
- Land’s End : As its name suggests, it is the extreme southwestern tip of Great Britain. It is a fantastic place both from a naturalistic and landscape point of view, with cliffs overlooking the sea and rare animal and plant species
- St Michael’s Mount : located off the south coast of Cornwall, it is a small tidal island, i.e. at low tide and connected to the mainland. On the island there is a village with a magnificent castle on the top of the mountain and a medieval church from the 15th century
- Chapel Street-Penzance : is the oldest street in Penzance, full of historic buildings and famous as one of the “most haunted places in the county”. Look for the figure of a smuggler with a gun on the rooftops!
- Lost Gardens of Heligan : an 80-acre park in the heart of Cornwall, a complex of English and Italian gardens, flower terraces and even a jungle, all immersed in an epic fantasy atmosphere
- Eden Project : in a former quarry, under enormous domes, a rainforest and a Mediterranean biome grow. In this complex there are also a large outdoor garden with local plant species and an adventure park
- Newquay : Known for its beautiful beaches and inviting clear Atlantic waters, and famous everywhere for surfing, many of the world’s competitions are held here
The main itineraries in Cornwall
The best way to visit Cornwall is on the road , so that you can savor its true essence in a slow way, without missing any landscape, perfume and glimpse of the ocean.
Cornwall is also a land of myths and legends , so why not visit it by following in the footsteps of the mysterious characters who apparently inhabited
it.Let ‘s find out which are the most popular itineraries in this fascinating land , based on the time available and their own interests:
- In the footsteps of King Arthur : the historical-literary tour includes a visit to the Natural Park of Dartmoor, a stop in Tintagel where, according to tradition, the legendary King Arthur was born, to then continue towards Land’s End, the westernmost tip of the Gran Brittany, St. Ives and St. Michael’s Mount
- Cornwall on the road : the tour includes a visit to Port Isaac and then continue on the road towards Porthcurno, driving along the coast and stopping to admire headlands and cliffs. Stop in Penzance and Porthlevel, then Falmouth, between beaches and castles
- Cornwall with children between legends and nature : departure from Tintagel, a fairytale place par excellence, then stop in the numerous castles such as Launceston Castle, Saint Mawes Castle and Pendennis Castle, up to St. Michael’s Mount where you can discover the legend of the giant Cormoran
What to do in Cornwall: excursions and tours
When to go
Info on climate and best period
Month Average temperatures (min / max) Precipitation (days / mm) January 4/9 ° 25 days / 110 mm
February 3/9 ° 21 days / 90 mm
March 4th / 10th 22 days / 100 mm
April 5 / 12th 20 days / 60 mm
May 8/15 ° 18 days / 60 mm
June 10 / 17th 19 days / 70 mm
July 13/19 ° 20 days / 60 mm
August 13/19 ° 21 days / 60 mm
September 11/18 ° 19 days / 70 mm
October 9/15 ° 23 days / 110 mm
November 6/12 ° 25 days / 100 mm
December 5/10 ° 23 days / 120 mm
- Climate : oceanic but temperate, quite mild and rainy throughout the year. Average temperatures 10 °, almost never fall below freezing. It is one of the sunniest areas in the UK thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream
- Best time: summer, especially June and July, when temperatures are warmer and there is less rainfall
- Period to avoid : autumn and winter are the periods in which rainfall is more frequent and abundant
How much does a holiday in Cornwall cost
Prices, offers and advice
A trip to Cornwall could be quite expensive , especially if you decide to reach it during the high season, between June and September. This area of ​​the United Kingdom is in fact very busy during the summer period , and this leads to an increase in prices for accommodation and activities.
A convenient choice could be to rent a car and stop in the small and characteristic B & Bs , located in the towns and villages of the coast and in the more inland areas. As for airline tickets, if booked in advance with low cost airlines or taking advantage of last minute offers, they could represent the least expense.
Alternatively,if you are short on time and don’t know how to plan your itinerary, you can join a 5 day tour of Devon and Cornwall from London, including accommodation, breakfast and minibus transport for the duration of the trip!
- Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 76.00 per room – look at the offers
- Low cost flights: to London from € 20.00 – check the offers
- Flight + hotel: Return flight + 5 days / 4 nights from € 376.00 per person – see the offers
