Where to Stay in Cornwall: Best Areas for Every Budget

Updated 10 October 2026 · 7 min read

Cornwall is a long county, and where you stay shapes your whole trip. This guide helps you choose an area based on what you want to do, then find somewhere that suits your budget, from a tent with a sea view to a harbourside hotel.

Choose your area first

• For families and beaches: Newquay and the north coast, Falmouth, Bude or Par and St Austell Bay, close to Eden.
• For surfing: Newquay, Bude, Polzeath and Sennen.
• For food and pretty harbours: Padstow, Fowey, St Ives and Mevagissey.
• For wild walking: the far west around Land's End and Zennor, the Lizard, or the north coast around Tintagel and Port Isaac.
• For exploring everywhere: a central base such as Truro, Bodmin or St Austell puts both coasts within about 30–45 minutes.
• Without a car: see Cornwall without a car.

Budget: camping, hostels and holiday parks

• Camping is the classic cheap Cornish holiday, from basic farm fields to big sites with pools. Many of the best coastal sites book up months ahead for August.
• YHA hostels in Cornwall include Penzance, Treyarnon Bay near Padstow, the Eden Project, Coverack, Boswinger near Mevagissey and Land's End. Several have private family rooms, and some open only from spring to autumn.
• Holiday parks with static caravans and lodges are good value for families, especially outside the school holidays.

Mid-range: B&Bs, pubs with rooms and cottages

• Pubs with rooms are a great Cornish option: you get dinner and a pint without having to drive. Examples from our guide include the Royal Inn by Par station, the Ship Inn in Mousehole, the Britannia Inn near Par and the Port William at Trebarwith Strand.
• B&Bs and guesthouses are plentiful in every town, and are often the best value for short stays.
• Holiday cottages are best for a week or more, and many have a Friday or Saturday changeover in summer.

Treat yourself: hotels with a view

Cornwall has some superb seaside hotels, from surf-side boutique places on the north coast to grand old hotels overlooking the Fal and St Ives Bay. Expect to pay a premium for sea views in July and August.

Ways to save money

• Avoid the school summer holidays if you can. June and September often have the same weather at much lower prices. See the best time to visit.
• Stay a few miles inland or in a less famous town, such as Par, St Austell, Bodmin or Truro, and drive or take the bus to the honeypots.
• Check parking before you book. In St Ives, Fowey, Port Isaac and Mousehole, a cottage without a parking space can cost you a lot in car parks.
• Book early for August and bank holidays, and late for a bargain in spring and autumn.

Plan your trip