Cornwall has so many amazing all-weather activities. From fascinating history and inspiring arts and culture to wild water sports and nature and ecology, there’s something for everyone. Discover 20 amazing all-weather activities that make Cornwall arguably the best holiday destination in the UK. 

1. Go Surfing! Newquay

Bohemian Newquay is the home of surfing in the UK. Head to Fistral Beach Surf School to learn how to surf the waves or try a variety of other water sports, including windsurfing, water skiing, wakeboarding, paddle boarding and kayaking. You don’t need a sunny day to enjoy water sports so if it rains that’s okay because you’re going to get wet anyway!

2. Shipwreck TREASURE Museum, Charlestown

For fans of BBC TV’s Poldark, the Charlestown Shipwreck Treasure Museum is a must-see place to go. The museum offers a unique insight into the history of Charlestown with an opportunity to explore the underground tunnels once used to load clay on to ships moored in the harbour. The museum houses Europe’s largest private collection of rare shipwreck artefacts that bring stories of the sea to life with rich tales of treasure and tragedy. The museum overlooks the Historic Port of Charlestown and admission also includes access to the inner harbour and the tall ship, ‘Kajsamoor’, with guided tours available.

3. Flambards, Helston

Flambards is a large theme park with a great variety of interesting, immersive and educational indoor attractions. In the Victorian Village, you can walk through life-sized replica recreations of cobbled streets and alleyways connecting over 50 shops. Britain in the Blitz recreates a London street during the second world war Blitz and Chemist Shop Time Capsule is the real-life Edwardian chemist shop with all of its original pills and potions that lay dormant for 100 years. There are also museum exhibitions of wedding dresses through the ages, a collection of vintage and classic motorcycles and an interactive aviation experience. You can buy tickets at a reduced price to the overall entrance price for indoor attractions only. 

4. The Eden Project, near St. Austell

A fun, fascinating and thoroughly educational day out for all ages can be had at the Eden Project near St. Austell. The Eden Project is home to massive biomes or greenhouses where you can experience the largest indoor rainforest in the world inside an amazing giant biome complete with waterfalls, canopy walkways, rope bridges and over 1,000 plant varieties.

5. Tintagel Old Post Office, Tintagel

Tintagel Old Post Office is a picturesque medieval building that dates back to the 14th century and features a carefully restored Victorian post office. A rare surviving example of a medieval domestic building in this area constructed of locally quarried slate, you can find out how the 600-year-old traditional Cornish longhouse began life as a yeoman farmhouse.

6. Sterts Theatre, Liskeard

Sterts Theatre is a live theatre performances take place in a 400-seat amphitheatre lined with wooden benches and covered by a giant tent. When the sun goes down for evening performances, the audience is invited to bring cushions and blankets, or you can borrow them for a small donation. During autumn and winter most shows take place at the Sterts Studio, a smaller theatre space located within the main building next to the cafe and bar.

https://www.sterts.co.uk/your-visit

7. Vintage Cinemas, Truro and Wadebridge

If you love going to the cinema or you’re a fan of Art Deco, you should visit the Regal Cinema in Wadebridge, which dates back to 1931 and shows all the latest films, or the Plaza Cinema in Truro, which first opened in 1936.

8. Carnglaze Caverns, near the village of St Neot

Take a subterranean tour of Carnglaze Caverns ending at the crystal-clear blue/green waters of the underground lake. You will walk down a flight of 60 steps taking you about 150m into the hillside and 60m below ground.

9. Bodmin Jail, Bodmin

Enjoy historical and paranormal tours, ghost walks and scary cinema showings at Britain's most haunted venue. You can also explore Bodmin Jail after dark, in the company of its resident medium - if you’re brave enough! The experienced Psychic Medium and Energy Therapist will tutor you in the basics of Reiki and energy management but can you break out of the Jailbreak escape room? 

10. Lanhydrock, Bodmin

Lanhydrock is a splendid late Victorian country house near Bodmin Moor, one of several amazing National Trust properties in Cornwall. Explore Victorian life, from the servants’ quarters and kitchens to the luxury of the rooms the family lived in and see a whole suite of rooms dedicated to the children of the house. 

11. Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay

At the Blue Reef Aquarium, you can walk through the incredible underwater tunnel to get a close-up view of the beautiful sea creatures of this beachside aquarium. Here you can see exotic giant Pacific octopuses, reef sharks and pufferfish as well as beautiful angelfish and turtles, you can find out about the conservation work done to help these amazing animals.

12. Pirate’s Quest, Newquay

Travel back in time to the swashbuckling pirates and buccaneers of the 18th century and learn about Cornwall’s history of smugglers in this hour-long interactive experience. Complete with treasure maps and children’s activities, at Pirate's Quest you’ll discover why pirates wore eye patches and drank rum. 

13. Trerice, near Newquay

Trerice is a 16th Century Elizabethan manor house with a Dutch-style gabled facade This delightfully small house is an architectural gem with elaborate plaster ceilings, ornate fireplaces and beautiful interiors to explore. Children can have fun dressing up in Tudor costumes, playing traditional games or doing brass rubbings.

14. Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, Boscastle

The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic holds the world’s oldest and largest collection of witchcraft-related artefacts in the world with around 3,000 exhibits. The museum represents the diversity of magical practice through educational and uniquely entertaining exhibitions with events and workshops on folklore, straw craft and a late night candelit opening.

15. Prideaux Place, Padstow

Prideax Place is a stunning Elizabethan manor house on the edge of Padstow that dates back to 1592. Now an international film location with stunning architecture and intricately designed interiors, the house offers breathtaking views across the ancient deer park and the Camel Estuary to the distant outlines of Bodmin Moor. The grounds also feature an interesting variety of other unique buildings, including the Gothic Double Dairy, the 18th Century stone Temple and the 18th Century Stable Courtyard.

16. Rick Stein’s Restaurants, Padstow

Celebrity chef Rick Stein's famous seafood restaurants make the pretty fishing port of Padstow in North Cornwall a foodie's paradise. You can enjoy old fashioned fish and chip or contemporary fine dining with a twist and learn to make your favourite dishes in workshops at the cookery school.

17. Tate St. Ives Art Gallery, St. Ives

Tate St. Ives is a wonderful art gallery with exhibitions, festivals and workshops plus children’s art activities and events including talking and practical making activities designed to bring artworks to life for blind or partially sighted visitors and friends.

18. Barbara Hepworth Museum, St. Ives

The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden in St. Ives is home to a wonderful variety of nature-inspired sculptures by Barbara Hepworth, the key figure in the British abstract art movement in the 20th century.

19. PK Porthcurno TELEGRAPH Museum, near Penzance

Formerly the largest telegraph station in the world, PK Porthcurno is a fantastic museum that tells the story of the communications revolution since 1870. Featuring extensive exhibitions with interactive exhibits, activities and dressing up, you’ll explore the underground tunnels and learn all about secret wartime communications to present day communications technology.

20. The Laura Ashley Tea Room at the Cornwall Hotel, St Austell

Finally, you can’t leave Cornwall without trying a traditional Cornish pasty and the classic Cornish cream tea. The stylish Laura Ashley Tea Room at the Cornwall Hotel with its unique Woodland Lodges, serves both these Cornish favourites with their Afternoon Tea and also have a vegan option with a coconut cream tea! 

Whether you’re surfing the waves, enjoying a traditional Cornish cream tea or visiting some of these fantastic attractions, Cornwall is the place to go, whatever the weather.