Cornwall
Cornwall is a peninsula, and that fact decides the holiday. A cottage near Padstow does not put St Ives, Falmouth and the Lizard in easy reach before lunch. People who try to see the whole county from one bed spend the week in the car. Pick a coast, or the far west, and treat the other side as a day trip at most.
The north coast is the Atlantic side: Newquay, the surf beaches, Padstow and Rock, and up towards Bude. It is exposed, popular, and busy in the school holidays. The south coast is generally softer, with Falmouth, the estuaries, and fishing towns such as Mevagissey and Fowey. The far west, from Penzance out to St Ives, Land's End and the Lizard, feels further away because the roads narrow and the main railway is the only fast way in.
Where people actually stay
Self-catering cottages are the default Cornwall week. Hotels and bed and breakfasts cluster in the towns: St Ives, Padstow, Falmouth, Newquay and Penzance have the most choice. A cottage in a valley can be a long walk from both the beach and a shop, which is fine if you expected that and brought a car. Ask who empties the bins, whether the lane is single track, and what the Saturday changeover time is. In July and August the well-known towns sell out months ahead. May, June and September are when you are more likely to choose rather than take what is left.
Newquay is the resort if you want nightlife and surf schools. St Ives is the compact harbour town, with a Tate gallery and beaches on both sides of the headland, and parking that punishes anyone who arrives at noon. Padstow is a food town on the Camel estuary and is small enough that a festival weekend can fill every room. Falmouth has a university, a harbour and beaches along the bay towards Maenporth. Penzance is the practical far-west base, with the railway terminus and the boat to the Isles of Scilly.
Getting around
The railway from London and Exeter runs down to Penzance, with branches to Newquay, Falmouth, St Ives and Looe. It is useful, but it will not replace a car if the cottage is inland. The A30 is the spine. On summer Saturdays it queues, especially around Bodmin and further west. The South West Coast Path is the walking route if you would rather not drive every day. The Eden Project, in a former clay pit at Bodelva near St Austell, is the indoor option when the rain arrives.
Cornwall rewards a slow week in one area. If you want a single promenade and a pier instead, Bournemouth or Torquay are simpler.
Guide me to UK is an independent information site. We do not own hotels or take bookings. Fares, opening hours and timetables change, so confirm them before you travel. Reviewed October 2026.