Unmissable Museums in Cornwall
Satisfy your cultural cravings with these 10 unmissable museums in Cornwall. With something to interest everyone whatever the weather. Discover amazing objects from Cornwall’s mining heritage and Cornish life, history of shipwrecks around our coast, magic and witchcraft, to a real Mummy from Egypt! We’ve even found some that are FREE to visit, one of which is right on our doorstep!
1. St Agnes Museum
2 miles 
1-3 hours
Free to visit! The award-winning St Agnes Museum is just a stone’s throw away from Rose in Vale, and is a must-visit if you would like to learn about the history of the local area. It is full of fascinating artefacts about the village and wider parish of St Agnes, with its rich history of mining and also contains items from archaeology, farming and folklore in the village, along with the Lady Agnes figurehead from a schooner built in the former harbour. It’s ideal to fill in an hour or two at the end of your day out.
Parking: St Agnes Village carpark
See the Location Map and Museum Info
2. Trenance Cottages Museum Newquay
10 miles 1/2 a day
If you have a free half day, the small, but beautifully formed, Trenance Cottages Museum in Newquay is housed in 2 of 3 grade II listed cottages and is set in a pretty public garden, less than 20 minutes from Rose in Vale. The cottages were restored as part of a huge community project, and the museum features a collection of items stepping back in time to show how the cottage was lived in in the 1870s. There is a pretty tea garden attached to the cottages and a beautiful rose garden nearby to wander through on your way to the boating lakes.
Parking: Small amount of free parking behind the Lakeside Cafe otherwise use public carparks close by
See the Location Map and Museum Info
3. Cornwall at War Museum
40 miles whole day
Situated on an old WW2 airfield, on the edge of Bodmin Moor this fascinating museum is run by enthusiastic and friendly volunteers – you will be assured of a warm welcome. The museum houses an eclectic mix of wartime memorabilia from the First World War onwards – not only artefacts, but the incredible stories behind them too, along with interactive exhibitions featuring tanks, aircraft and even weapons systems. On Thursdays from July to the end of September, you can book a tour in the crew bus “Marlene”. Highly recommended if you have an interest in military history and, being 95% under cover, it’s a great place to spend the whole day if the weather is not so kind. Well worth the 39 minute drive.
Parking: Carpark inside the red gates (not the one outside)
See the Location Map and Museum Info
4. Charlestown Shipwreck Museum
23 miles 1/2 a day
Amazing treasures are waiting to be discovered at Charlestown Shipwreck Museum just 40 minutes away. Located in the beautiful preserved port of Charlestown – a UNESCO heritage site, and curated over 50 years, the Shipwreck Museum holds the largest private collection of shipwreck artefacts in Europe, and is home to a collection of 8000 exhibits from over 100 shipwrecks. These treasures include the only intact barrel of coins ever retrieved from a wreck, gold bullion bars and copper ingots, along with the stories behind them. Several different exhibitions take place over the year, so there is always something new to see. Turn your visit into a full day out by exploring the pretty harbour, often used in films and television series, including Doctor Who and Poldark.
Also close by is Mevagissey which has an fishing harbour, aquarium and the wonderful Mevagissey museum which is mentioned in our 11 Popular Cornwall Attractions to Visit page
Parking: Some free parking on the approach road into Charlestown plus a large public carpark at the bottom of the hill
See the Location Map and Museum Info
5. National Maritime Museum Falmouth
16 miles 1/2 a day
No trip to Falmouth is complete without a visit to one of the UK’s most amazing museums. Only 35 minutes away from Rose in Vale, the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth fills 15 galleries over 5 floors with interactive exhibits, which include a real-life lifeboat and a Sea King helicopter, along with many, many other items illustrating the importance of our nation’s maritime heritage. Look out over Falmouth from the top of the 100 foot tower and observe the busy port. Can you spot any tall ships? Go down into the basement where there is the Tidal Zone – a 22 foot window through which to watch the marine life in the harbour. A fabulous day out – there’s something for everyone here.
Parking: Some free parking in the residential area on the way in or public carparks
See the Location Map and Museum Info
6. Museum of Cornish Life
20 miles 1/2 a day
Free to visit! For an in-depth look at how things used to be in Cornwall, visit the Museum of Cornish Life at Helston 40 minutes away, which features the largest collection of social history artefacts in the South-West. A traditional town museum, which focuses on the area around Helston and the Lizard Peninsula instead of a specific topic, you will be taken from Neolithic times through archaeology, geology and social history to the present day, including memorabilia from Helston’s famous Flora Day.
Parking: Public carparks nearest are Wendron Street or Tyacke Road
See the Location Map and Museum Info
7. PK Museum (originally the Telegraph Museum)
34 miles 1/2 day
Did you know that there is more to the little coastal village of Porthcurno than its pretty cove, pristine sands and the Minack Theatre? It was the hub of global communications for around 100 years, with 14 major cables terminating here, including the 2000 mile cable to the USA, making it the most important cable station in the world, and resulting in major defence work to keep the station secure in times of conflict. The PK Museum, PK is the telegraphic code used for Porthcurno, charts the history of the communications station and you can also explore the wartime defences along with interactive exhibitions. Porthcurno is less than an hour away from Rose in Vale. Why not extend your visit to the West Penwith area by stopping off at Lamorna, St Just, Botallack or St Ives for a full day out.
Parking: On-site carpark pay on exit
See the Location Map and Museum Info
8. The Royal Cornwall Museum
7 miles 1/2 to whole day
Our biggest museum, the Royal Cornwall Museum, is located in Cornwall’s only city, Truro, and is over 200 years old. Here you can find exhibits from pretty much any subject and era, from ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian exhibits (including a real mummy), to a ceramics collection on loan from the V&A, from an internationally renowned mineral collection to an extensive exhibition of paintings from the Newlyn School. Many events and seasonal exhibitions take place at this museum. Truro is only 20 minutes from Rose in Vale, and you could include a visit to the Cathedral to make a full day out. To save taking the car all the way into the city, use the park and ride at Langarth – the bus stops right outside the museum.
Parking: Public carparks in Truro or use the Park and Ride at Langarth which is just 5 miles from Rose in Vale
See the Location Map and Museum Info
9. Bodmin Keep: Cornwall’s Army Museum
27 miles 1/2 day
Another must for those with an interest in military history is the Cornwall Army Museum in Bodmin Keep, which documents the history of the Light Infantry in Cornwall, spanning 300 years. Here you will find uniforms from the late 18th century up to the present day, plus a wide range of medals, weaponry, letters from the battlefront and even musical instruments. Other exhibits include a part of the Berlin Wall and even a pair of painted ostrich eggs! There are frequent new exhibitions to enjoy each year. The regiment museum is 35 minutes away. Add a visit to Bodmin Jail, just around the corner, to make the most of your day.
Parking: Free on-street parking nearby or use Victoria Square public carpark
See the Location Map and Museum Info
10. Museum of Witchcraft and Magic
43 miles whole day
Last but not least, we have saved what is arguably the quirkiest museum in Cornwall until last. The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic at Boscastle, a small coastal village and fishing port, is actually one of Cornwall’s most popular museums. Opened in 1960 and taking over 50 years to amass its collection, the museum features the largest collection in the world of witchcraft related exhibits. Subjects include magic and witchcraft in Britain along with sacred sites, persecution of witches, from ancient times to the present day. As well as the exhibits, there is a huge library of 5000 books on the occult. Combine a visit with a look around this unspoilt Cornish harbour, with its Elizabethan Quay, and spot the witch in the rocks, or extend your day by walking along the pretty valley or the coast path.
Parking: No parking at or around the museum use the public Cobweb Carpark
See the Location Map and Museum Info
Just Some of our recommended museums to visit in Cornwall
These museums should keep you busy during your visit to Cornwall. There are many more around the county and we have mentioned others in our 11 Popular Cornwall Attractions to Visit page
