11 Popular Cornwall Attractions to Visit
Cornwall has plenty of unique and exciting places to visit right on our doorstep. Here is a list of our Rose in Vale Hotel top picks, all within 50 minutes of Rose in Vale!
1. Screech Owl Sanctuary
15 miles 
1/2 a day
Named after the founding owner Mr Screech, and one of our favourite experiences all year round, is visiting Screech Owl Sanctuary in St Columb, near Newquay and Wadebridge, only 25 minutes away from the hotel. They hold daily owl displays where you can fly an owl from your own arm as you learn fascinating facts about owls and their rescue and rehabilitation of these animals. Afterwards you can meet some of the friendly owls, goats, ponies, meerkats and alpacas! You can still visit the sanctuary on rainy days as the flying displays are moved inside to their barn.
2. Newquay Aquarium and Zoo
10 miles 1/2 a day each
If you’re looking for things to do in Newquay other than shop and surf, there are two wonderful attractions for you to spend time in. The Newquay Aquarium on Towan beach is a fantastic place to explore 40 naturally themed habitats ranging from Cornish coasts to exotic Caribbean seas. With an exciting underwater tunnel and feeding shows there’s a lot packaged into this hidden gem on the beach. Once you’re well acquainted with the sea life, you can also visit Newquay Zoo located in Trenance Gardens with over a thousand of the worlds rarest and endangered animals and 13 acres of tropical gardens. Both of these attractions are involved in major conservation projects for both sea life and wildlife.
3. Minack Theatre
34 miles 1/2 a day including a matinee performance
Have you ever wanted to watch your favourite play with the soothing sounds of crashing waves, seagull song and coastal wind? Minack Theatre is just that, a place of outstanding natural beauty and one of the best things to do in Penzance, 50 minutes from the hotel. The Minack theatre holds a variety of plays ranging from Vicar of Dibley comedies to Shakespeare romances throughout the year, whatever the weather. The view from the amphitheatre is breathtakingly unique, looking out over the cliff at the Atlantic ocean and local beaches. You can also visit for the view without seeing a show, a must for landscape photography and couple selfies.
4. Cornish Seal Sanctuary
19 miles 1/2 a day
A reason to visit Gweek, near Helston (a 40 minute drive from Rose in Vale Country House Hotel), is for their Cornish Seal Sanctuary where you can experience a close encounter with marine animals and learn about their individual stories. Owned by the Sea Life Trust, the sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates pups from the local coastal waters and release them back into the wild when they are ready. Meet their seals in their underwater viewing areas and head over to penguin beach to spot the Humboldt Penguins. This humble yet fascinating experience is worth a visit when you are in Cornwall.
5. Falmouth Maritime Museum
16 miles 1/2 a day
A unique experience can be found at the Maritime Museum in Falmouth which offers rich and detailed themed exhibitions which highlight important marine issues and makes for a great visit. The large harbourside museum will take you on a worldly story as you climb up onto the rafters. A visit to the Maritime Museum is always fascinating with unusual and rare worldly items and a glass wall beneath the harbour to spot the local portside fish. This is a great place to visit come rain or shine and with so many spots to eat around the square, it can make for a well rounded day out.
6. Eden Project
27 miles whole day
The Eden Project is one of the largest garden experiences in Cornwall, nestled in a huge crater near St Austell, just 45 minutes from Rose in Vale. You can spend a full day here walking through the large gardens and even larger Biomes. Visit the Rainforest Biome for a pleasantly warm and humid experience among tall foliage and the rustling of the animals jumping from branch to branch. Climb up to the viewing vantages to look out over the rainforest and spot more animals in the sky. After a lunch stop (take a picnic or visit one of the many canteens on site) you can visit the Mediterranean Biome and take a Sangria
(or a Mulled Wine at Christmas) from the bar with you as you explore the beautiful cacti, fruits and vegetables grown in Southern Europe. You can also find Summer concerts and exciting year-round events here too.
7. Mevagissey Fishing port, Aquarium and Museum
22 miles whole day
A cute working fishing port to visit is Mevagissey, near St Austell, 45 minutes from the Hotel. This surprising village has more intrigue than you might think, with an aquarium and museum both run on donations. Here you can find a small aquarium which is a charity project raising awareness about the fishing industry. You’ll see various local species, many of which are caught by local fishermen and sold to the harbourside restaurants where you can get a fresh fish lunch with a view. The harbour aquarium is housed in the old R.N.L.I. lifeboat house, which has plenty of fascinating history itself. Walk around the harbour to the other side of the wall and visit the museum dating from 1745 and was part of a boat builder’s yard. Learn about the local boat building and carpentry history and many other Cornish displays such as the apple crusher and cider press, an original horse-drawn, rotating barley thresher and more. Here you will also find 19th and 20th century photos depicting village life in Mevagissey.
8. St Michaels Mount
23 miles whole day
St Michael’s Mount is a spectacular place to visit for its unusual beach walk entry, gardens and castle as well as the small hamlet and harbour. Walk from Marazion, near Penzance, to the ocean dwelling mount during low tide and explore the beautiful castle and grounds. Don’t worry if you can’t beat the tide back, boats will pick you up and drop you back during high tides. Explore many of the castle’s interesting rooms with centuries of history lining the walls, having been a family home for many important figures. The Mount is a must do when visiting Cornwall.
9. Tintagel Castle
43 miles whole day
Explore a little further at Tintagel Castle and discover the realms of King Arthur and the history of Tintagel set high on Cornwall’s rugged north coast. The dramatic Coastline and wonderful waterfall, just a mile outside of the town at St Nectan’s Glen, has inspired writers and artists for centuries. Traipse across the jagged headland projecting into the Cornish sea, cross the bridge to the castle and finally return to visit the quintessential Cornish town and its historic National Trust Post Office to marvel at the medieval manor house. Tintagel is full of myth and wonder as well as medieval history and makes a perfect trip on a sunny day.
10. Lobster Hatchery Padstow
24 miles whole day
Everyone enjoys a luxurious lobster meal, however do you know much about your lobster? The lobster hatchery in Padstow, 45 minutes from the hotel, is the perfect place to learn to love these crustaceans. The National Lobster Hatchery is a marine conservation, which is unique as they work specifically with commercial species – The European Lobster. This unusual site is perfect as an addition to visiting Padstow and we recommend a visit.
11. Heartlands and East Pool Mine
10 miles 1/2 a day each
It’s important to visit some of our world heritage sites, especially the Cornish mines which really put Kernow on the map. Known for its museum, festivals, crafts and markets, Heartlands is a great place to visit with lots of things to do, just 15 minutes drive from our hotel. With 19 acres of Christmas markets, festivals, Museum and a cafe, it’s a lovely place to stroll, learn and shop. Once you’ve soaked up all you can at Heartlands, we highly recommend visiting East Pool Mine less than a mile away. Here you will find one of the largest surviving beam engines in their engine houses. A restored winding engine is active daily with film, displays, models and guides to teach you about the important and dramatic story of Cornish Mining. NB: Sadly Heartlands closed its doors in 2024. We hope they obtain more funding. East Pool Mine is very much open and worth a visit!
Just Some of our recommended Cornwall attractions
This is just a list of some of our favourite Cornish attractions, there really are too many to count and we haven’t exhausted all the wonderful sites in Cornwall. However you can start your Cornwall Holiday with a few of these unique attractions and explore more about the local areas surrounding them.
