12 Picturesque Towns & Villages In Cornwall

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Cornwall is one of the most beautiful parts of the UK. The southernmost county in England is famous for dramatic coastlines, beautiful beaches, undeniably scenic gardens, and pirates. That’s right, I said pirates (keep reading for more on that). But what makes it more special are the abundance of picturesque towns and villages in Cornwall.

The scenery, often warmer weather than other parts of the UK, and these adorable tiny fishing towns and villages in Cornwall also make it a popular tourist spot. And while I’m definitely covering some of the more frequented locations (they’re popular for a reason), I’m also mixing in some lesser known spots that you won’t want to miss.

Where is Cornwall?

Cornwall is as far as you can go in mainland Britain without bumping into Europe. Which typically means that this area of the UK gets much better weather. While the rest of the UK is experiencing summer temperatures that still require a jacket and long pants, Cornwall is the land of surfers, beaches and fresh sea air.

That’s not to say it isn’t blustery as all hell when you’re stood atop a coastal cliff watching the thrashing waves below. But Cornwall is a desirable holiday destination for the weather as much as the sights you can see there.

What makes towns & villages in Cornwall so pretty

Walking through some of Cornwall’s prettiest villages is like stepping back in time. Cobble-stoned streets, historic harbors, whitewashed and pastel colored buildings. All add up to some pretty photogenic sights as you travel around the county.

Cornwall is filled with small fishing communities, an industry that is still alive and well today. The villages were built out of necessity for the fishermen who worked in this part of England. The houses were simple, usually not far from the main harbor.

Many of the villages in Cornwall have one road in and one road out, and development or expansion is simply not possible. This definitely adds to the charm of villages and towns that have changed minimally in at least a hundred years. Sounds idyllic doesn’t it?

Where to stay in Cornwall

The best way to make the most of your time in Cornwall is to find an area to make your base, and plan around it. Since the roads are often small and narrow a 20-mile distance can sometimes take an hour to drive.

Because of this, as well as the fact there are just so many things to do here here, a week is probably the least amount of time you want to spend. Holiday homes are therefore more popular in Cornwall than hotels and B&Bs, providing self-catering facilities to make Cornwall your home away from home.

However, if you do want to fully explore the county, you might want to pick two or three places and stay a few nights in each. Otherwise you’d be in for some long driving days to get from one end of Cornwall to the other.

The prettiest towns & villages in Cornwall

There are way too many pretty villages to visit in Cornwall to cover them all here. My focus will be more on the southern part of the county. This is where my family have always stayed during our many vacations here.

St Ives

St Ives is one of the most popular destinations in Cornwall. And while parking might be a bit of a nightmare, second only to the steep hills that lead to the harbor, this town is well worth the effort to visit.

The beautiful blue waters and sunny climate could easily be mistaken somewhere in southern Europe. The only reminder you’re still in England is the occasional blast of wind from the Atlantic, and of course the abundance of fish and chip shops.

St Ives is the picturesque muse of many an artist – evident by all the fantastic art galleries here. Cafes, ice cream and Cornish pasty shops means you won’t go hungry here. Neither will the gargantuan seagulls who are ruthless when it comes to food – so keep your eye on your snacks.

St Just in Penwith

Not to be confused with St Just in Roseland further on in this post, St Just in Penwith is the perfect spot to stop while visiting nearby Cape Cornwall. St. Just is a small parish town just a short distance inland from numerous Cornish mines.

There are only a few little shops and services in the town, a big contrast from St Ives. Sleepy village vibes are real here, but in walking around you’ll find some lovely pubs and a pretty 15th Century church. Be sure to visit Moomaid In The Square for some delicious ice cream and delectable pastries.

Mousehole

Confession time: I recently only even thought about visiting Mousehole because I was intrigued about the name. Although it should be noted that it’s pronounced more like “mauzel”. Not as fun, but still a really cute little fishing village.

There are a few shops and a couple of tearooms. But mostly it’s just a really nice walk along the tiny road into, through and out of the village to peruse the pretty little houses.

A walk along the harbor is as good an activity as any, and with plenty of colorful boats and traditional houses framing it, you’ll fall in love with Mousehole instantly.

Penzance

This is the town that gave us the musical Pirates of Penzance. Who knows if you’ll actually see any pirates here, but the town is full of nods to the history of smugglers here. While a little busier than some neighboring fishing villages, Penzance still has charm – and good views.

A walk around the harbor is just as pleasing as a stroll up and down the quaint streets. Watch out for the Egyptian House, a very ornate building in the town. Since Penzance is a bigger town there are a lot more shops and services.

Stop at one of the nice little cafes for a Cornish cream tea or a light lunch. The Quirky Bird Café is a wonderfully cozy place with a rustic flair.

Porthleven

Porthleven is known for the stormy seas which challenge the structure of the harbor. There are so many shipwrecks nearby, and a walk along the water will make you understand why.

Nowadays there are a number of incredible restaurants in the town, and Porthleven is quite the draw for foodies. Try Amelies Restaurant or the Michelin Guide restaurant Kota. My favorite place though? The Twisted Currant tearoom. Their inventive cake flavors (including many vegan and gluten-free) are out of this world. They also make a killer afternoon tea which they’ll pack up for you picnic style.

After stuffing yourself take a wander along the Porthleven seafront in and out of all the creative local stores with artwork and handmade crafts.

Gweek

The most difficult thing about visiting Gweek is finding a parking spot in this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it village. There’s a lovely little riverside trail where you’ll no doubt see some swans or ducks on the Helford river.

Because it’s so small, it’s not a busy place and the perfect village for a countryside walk. Make sure to visit the Cornish Seal Sanctuary which has lots of animals and rescued seals being rehabilitated and cared for.

Mullion

Probably my favorite little village in Cornwall is the adorably charming Mullion. My family have been visiting Mullion for years and it is the home base on most family vacations.

Save for a couple of local stores, and a couple of village pubs it’s a rather quiet place to visit. The village church is pretty, and the New Inn opposite with it’s wonderfully rural thatched roof is your best bet for a local pint and pub meal.

But the walk down to Mullion Cove is an extra special treat, and a little hidden gem here in Cornwall. Known for its stunning sunsets as much as its rough seas breaching the harbor wall, it’s where serenity meets rugged coastal views. Feeling adventurous? Take a wander up onto the cliffs on either side of the harbor for an even better look.

Cadgwith

The walk to this remote working fishing village is just as fun as reaching it. After parking your car outside of the village, you can walk along the grassy path to get to Cadgwith with some impressive views. Farm houses, a unique church and cottages with thatched roofs can be seen along this short, winding path.

The true gem, however is when you reach the village itself. Visit the harbor to watch the fishermen bringing in their daily catch, or wander along to the lookout point up the hill with its gorgeous views of the cove. You won’t find much in the village to do, but that doesn’t matter when it looks like this.

Penryn

Often ignored for its more popular neighbor, Falmouth, a wander through Penryn may leads to some brilliant finds. The town is on a series of hills all leading down to the harbor. Make sure to explore some of these hilly side streets, as there are a number of hidden rows of houses that are just enchanting.

From the harbor there are some nice views of the water when the tide is in. Penryn has a park and ride car parking area for visiting Falmouth, but I actually really enjoyed the walk there. With nice houses on one side and the water on the other, there are some nice areas of the town to see.

Falmouth

Picture perfect Falmouth is a lively seaside town with picturesque ocean views and many historical sites all rolled into one neat package. Farmers markets, boat tours and shopping in the many individual local stores make a trip to Falmouth an excellent day out.

Just outside of Falmouth is the historic Pendennis Castle with even more spectacular views of this little Cornish town. And with plenty of beaches nearby it’s a holiday destination for many visiting Cornwall. Whatever you do here, you won’t be bored.

St Just in Roseland

St Just in Roseland is a tiny little village a few miles away from Cornwall’s only city, Truro. There’s absolutely nothing city-like about this adorable parish village tucked away off a couple of miles from the more popular St Mawes.

In fact, while the village itself has some nice old buildings with some quintessential English village vibes, it’s the church you don’t want to miss.

The 800-year-old church is adjacent to the river estuary which just adds to the beauty. As does the wide array of tropical plants and trees found all around the church. A true oasis nestled in rural Cornwall.

St Mawes

A popular holiday village, St Mawes takes some time to reach at the end of twisting turns and narrow roads leading from Truro. If you go too far, you’re in the sea. And the water surrounding this small village with its pastel painted and whitewashed buildings just adds to the artists dream that is St Mawes.

Stroll along the seawall with an ice cream or some fish and chips. Or visit Da Bara bakery which has the most scrumptious selection of cakes. Keep going along the road until you reach the headland where you’ll find Pendennis Castle’s sister defensive fort, St Mawes Castle.

A short boat ride to St Anthony, just across the estuary will add an extra idea for your picturesque towns & villages in Cornwall list.

The ideal British holiday

If there’s one thing England is good for, it’s cute little towns and villages. And Cornwall has those in abundance. Much like the idyllic villages of the Cotswolds, Cornwall’s villages are some of the prettiest places to visit in the country.

The difference between the two is that unlike the Cotswolds, many of the Cornish villages are by the sea, and have a little more rugged charm that only enhances how amazing they really are. Any visitor to England really should spend some time in Cornwall, the ideal place for a truly British holiday.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Have you been to any of these towns or villages in Cornwall? Which of them would be top of your list to visit?