Truro is widely considered the main shopping town and commercial heart of Cornwall. As the county's only city, it features the most comprehensive mix of high-street brands (including Marks & Spencer and Debenhams), independent boutiques, and the Truro Farmers Market.
What is the best town to use as a base in Cornwall?
Good bases near Lands End would be St Ives (small town, very pretty, lots of shops and plenty of places to eat and drink; lovely beach also), Porthleven (on the Lizard coast), which is smaller than St Ives but again some lovely places to eat and drink and some lovely walks. The Roseland Peninsula is also nice.
Newquay. Beautiful beaches, spectacular coastal scenery and a thriving nightlife all serve to make Newquay Cornwall's premier resort, attracting tens of thousands of visitors every year. Particularly famous for its association with surfing, Newquay boasts an array of fantastic beaches.
The town is known for its maritime history, and you can find nautical-themed items, as well as art galleries and unique boutiques. The picturesque fishing village of Padstow is famous for its food scene, but it also offers boutique shopping. You'll find artisan shops, gift shops, and local produce stores.
Some of the best places to visit in Cornwall to go and see include St Austell, Mevagissey, upmarket riverside town of Fowey, St Ives Bay, popular Newquay, enchanting fishing villages and harbours; Port Isaac, Portreath and Mousehole as well as beach towns Perranporth, Porthcurno and Polzeath.
St Ives. St Ives is such a great spot and is well-known as one of Cornwall's best places to visit. It has a bit of everything that is so great about Cornwall - a pretty fishing harbour, beautiful white sandy beaches, excellent surf, and some great art galleries to boot!
As Cornwall's only city, Truro is the most comprehensive shopping destination in the county. Its Georgian architecture and cobbled streets create a picture-perfect backdrop for a day of retail therapy. Here, you'll find a strong mix of national brands alongside an array of independent retailers.
While Cornwall is generally considered safe, areas with higher crime or antisocial behavior (ASB) often cited include Bodmin, Liskeard, Newquay, Penzance (Quay area), St Austell (Central), Redruth, and Camborne, often due to poverty, deprivation, or issues linked to substance abuse and street drinking, though these areas aren't inherently "dangerous" and many residents find them safe, especially compared to other UK regions. Specific hotspots for ASB can include town centers like Truro's, and deprivation is higher in areas like Penzance Quay and St Austell Central.
At a whopping average selling price of £1.1million and £1.09m, St Mawes and Rock are currently the most expensive places to live in Cornwall … but are they worth it?
Newquay Town Centre is full of independent eateries, cool coffee shops and an eclectic mix of shops, while the beaches are the most famous in the country.
If you're planning your first trip to Cornwall, I am sure St. Ives and Penzance will make a great impression with beautiful sandy beaches, lots of charming independent shops and delicious fresh food.
Newquay. The surfers paradise of Newquay gets the first spot on my list because its the place I stayed during my first ever trip to Cornwall, and I loved it! ...
Mawgan Porth is sometimes known as “Hollywood-on-Sea” thanks to the number of celebrities snapping up properties in this gorgeous part of Cornwall. David Beckham, Kate Winslet, Stanley Tucci and Jason Statham are among the celebs spotted on the beach at Mawgan Porth.
St Ives: it's Cornwall's top tourist town for a reason! Land's End: the landmark attraction is over-touristy, but the coastline around Land's End is well worth hiking around.
