18 Iconic Buildings to Explore in Cornwall

Checkout places to visit in Cornwall

One of the UK’s favourite summer destinations, holiday makers flock to Cornwall for its sandy beaches and surf-ready waves but look beyond the coastline and you’ll be rewarded with world-class galleries, fantastic food and many one-of-a-kind attractions.

Popular Activities And Trips in Cornwall

Filter By Date

//

Sort By

Iconic Buildings to Explore in Cornwall

Bodmin Jail Attraction

Bodmin Jail has played an important role in Cornwall’s history and this bold re-development gives visitors the chance to delve into an intriguing hidden history. Explore the many cells and features that make your visit to the Jail a fun and educational adventure, and just a little bit scary. The Jail you see today was built with the help of the prisoners who brought 20,000 tons of granite from Bodmin’s Cuckoo Quarry.

Caerhays Castle

Caerhays Estate is set on the quiet coast of Cornwall near St Austell. The gardens and castle are open to the public in the spring. The house was designed by John Nash in 1805 and the garden took on its present form after 1896. Experience the timeless magic of Cornwall’s castle by the sea. The gardens and castle are open to the public from mid-Feburary to mid-June.

Eden Project is a unique experience and one of the UK’s most popular visitor attractions. Here, in the heart of Cornwall’s stunning countryside you’ll find the world’s largest indoor rainforest. It is home to a series of great biomes. In a single day, you’ll be able to experience the steaming rainforests of South America, and stroll past lemon trees, olive groves, vines and herbs on a journey through the Mediterranean, South Africa and California. There are also adventure activities, gardens, an

Jamaica Inn Restaurant

Jamaica Inn is a traditional inn on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, United Kingdom. Its Creative dishes, sophisticated ambiance, entertaining conversation and stunning ocean views come together making every meal an experience.

Mount Edgcumbe House

Mount Edgcumbe House is the former home of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe. Set in Grade I Cornish Gardens within 865 acres Country Park on the Rame Peninsula, South East Cornwall. It was the ancestral home of the Edgcumbes for over four hundred years and its collections encapsulate the story of this fascinating English aristocratic family. The early gardens, developed around the house, were in an early formal style popular at the time. These were later superseded by the classical style of layout po

National Trust - Cotehele

The National Trust's Cotehele, Cornwall, is a Tudor house with superb collections, garden, quay and estate. The house was probably founded around 1300 and various alterations were made in the early fifteenth century. It includes a mill, 15 century chapel and Cotehele Quay. They receive around 100,000 visitors a year to its Barn Restaurant and Edgcumbe Arms Tearoom.

National Trust - Lanhydrock

Lanhydrock was built in 1630-42 for the Robertes family who rose from merchants and bankers to the peerage as Barons of Truro and then Earls of Radnor. The house was partly destroyed by fire in 1881. It gives an extraordinary glimpse into the life of a Victorian country house from the children's nursery wing and the splendid comforts of the state rooms to the fascinating warren of kitchens.

National Trust - Trelissick Garden

The National Trust's Trelissick, Cornwall, is a house and garden set in an estate with extraordinary maritime views. It was positioned in one of the most spectacular locations with stunning views looking over the Fal River and towards Falmouth, all within easy reach of Truro . Home to the Copeland family up until 2012, the original house dates back to the 1750s and is now open to the public.

Pencarrow House & Garden

Pencarrow house and gardens has been the friendly family home of the Molesworth-St Aubyns for almost 500 years. Tucked away on the edge of Bodmin Moor, this Cornish Georgian gem offers plenty to do for all, including families, with a Grade 11 listed garden, Iron Age fort, children’s play area, café and gift shop.

Pendennis Castle

Pendennis is one of Henry VIII's finest seaside castles. And despite its peaceful setting, it has a rich and poignant history. The castle has defended Cornwall since Tudor times and played a vital role protecting the coast during the two World Wars. The heritage agency Historic England considers Pendennis to be "one of the finest examples of a post-medieval defensive promontory fort in the country.

Penlee House Gallery & Museum

Penlee House is a museum and art gallery located in the town of Penzance in Cornwall. The gallery is the perfect place to discover the works of the Newlyn School and Lamorna artists. The museum covers the history of West Cornwall, from amazing archaeological finds to fabulous ceramics, social history and fashion.

Porthminster Terrace

Porthminster Terrace is a beautifully presented late Victorian property with views into the harbour from the rear and views to Gwithian & Hayle estuary.

Prideaux Place is a stunningly beautiful Elizabethan manor house that overlooks the picturesque fishing harbor of Padstow in North Cornwall. Fourteen generations of Prideaux have lived here and each generation has added its own contribution to the house and its historic garden. This beautiful mansion sits on the hill above the busy harbor of Padstow and the grounds boast some of the finest views over its ancient Deer Park and the Camel Estuary to Rock and Bodmin Moor beyond.

Restormel Castle

Restormel is one of the most remarkable castles in Britain. The present circular structure, built in the late 13th century, was a luxurious retreat for its medieval owners and was twice visited by Edward, the Black Prince. Today the remains of the castle rooms reveal clues to its past grandeur. Large fireplaces, high windows and the Great Hall, used for gatherings, give a sense of the once luxurious surroundings. It offers fantastic views across the valley of the River Fowey and is a favourite

St Catherine's Castle

St Catherine's Castle is a Henrician castle in Cornwall, England. It is one of a pair of small artillery forts built by Henry VIII in the 1530s to defend Fowey Harbour. It was modified in the 19th century during the Crimean War and again during the Second World War when it became home to an anti-aircraft gun and an ammunition store. One of the iconic location which paves light to the history of Cornwall.

St Mawes Castle

St Mawes Castle is a four-story artillery fort, like its counterpart across the bay, and was built in the 1540s as part of the largest national coastal defence programme since the Roman era. It stands solidly above the rocky coast, once a deterrent to hostile ships that might have sought to venture up the river passage. The castle continued in use as a fort through the 18th and 19th centuries.

Tintagel Castle

Tintagel Castle is a medieval fortification located on the peninsula of Tintagel Island adjacent to the village of Tintagel (Trevena), North Cornwall in the United Kingdom. Walk among the castle ruins that still cling to the cliffs, find early-medieval remains and meet Gallos - the life-size bronze statue of an ancient king who keeps watch over the wild seas below. Today, when the tides allow, visitors can explore Merlin’s Cave on the beach below the castle.

An Elizabethan manor on a Cornish scale. It was the seat of the Arundell family from the 14th century. The house at Trerice has many fascinating nooks and crannies, as well as a superb collection. From wooden skittles to an enormous table and a 300-year-old longcase clock, the collection on show at Trerice is of interest to visitors of all ages. A traditional garden and apple orchard featuring old varieties of trees surround the manor.

Map of Iconic Buildings to Explore in Cornwall