Visiting West Cornwall in the off-season is the perfect opportunity to discover something new about somewhere you love.
Culture: top picks
Things to do in West Cornwall
See what’s waiting for you with our top picks for the low season.
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- Culture: top picks
- Activity level: Easy
- Duration: 2-3 days
You can mix and match from the suggested activities to create a great day out during your stay. If you were to do all the activities on this itinerary, the estimated duration is given above.
Please note: You will need to contact the venue or experience provider directly to book.
Click on each individual experience and find out more about its accessibility and public transport connections, along with an eco tip.
Create your own inspiring itinerary
If you would like to build your own itinerary, head to the Experience page. You can add your favourite experiences to a bespoke itinerary, which can be downloaded or sent to your email address. Please note: This is for inspiration purposes only and does not create a booking. You will need to contact the venue or provider directly to book.
Things to do
Gwelen
If you’ve ever visited Mount’s Bay, home of St Michael’s Mount, it might surprise you to learn that beneath the waves lies the remains of an ancient forest. To bring this secret landscape to life, local artist Emma Smith has created a site-specific artwork, ‘Gwelen’. To find her wooden ‘seeing sticks’, join the section of the South West Coast Path that connects Marazion and Penzance. This unique installation is accompanied by a podcast, which will introduce you to Emma Smith and her work.
Exhibitions & collections on Cornish life
Penlee House Gallery and Museum celebrates the history and culture of Cornwall. It’s home to a substantial collection of artworks by painters from the Newlyn School – a group of artists who helped to shape the British art world and explored the Newlyn way of life in their paintings. Visit the Penlee House website to see what’s on display this winter.
Independent cinema experience
What used to be a granite fish cellar and smokery underwent an incredible transformation in 2015. Today, the building is a two-screen cinema with an art-house atmosphere, making it the ideal location for independent film events. In fact, the venue recently hosted the Q+A for BAIT, the BAFTA-winning Cornish-made film. The addition of the ‘EATHOUSE’ means the Newlyn Filmhouse is also a place to gather over seasonal feasts and showstopping cocktails. Find out more here.
The latest exhibitions
Newlyn Art Gallery showcases the diverse talent of local artists with several exhibitions and workshops throughout the year. Make sure you visit The Picture Room, where you’ll find affordable prints and drawings by local artists. Please check what’s on via their website. Top tip: Your ticket also covers entry to The Exchange exhibition space in Penzance.
Ambitious creative space
The Jackson Foundation celebrates the relationship between art and the natural world, and their gallery in St Just brings this mission to life. The former industrial building is now a creative, light-flooded space powered by solar panels and ground-source heat pumps. Experience the work of renowned landscape artist Kurt Jackson, plus contemporary paintings, sculptures and installations by other artists. Find out more here.
Places to Eat
Smokehouse and restaurant
The Cornish Barn is the smokehouse, restaurant and bar of the Artist Residence, a stylish boutique hotel in Penzance. Head to Chapel Street to join them for a hearty brunch, evening feast or an extraordinary cocktail surrounded by statement art. If the weather is fine, take a peek at their garden area too. Find out more here.
Essential Information
Places to Stay
Retreat to a cosy self-catering cottage or book a stylish hotel in the heart of town. Discover the perfect seaside stay for your winter in Cornwall.
More inspiration?
Visit out of season and step into an adventure. Explore our entire collection of inspiring itineraries and plan a great day out.
Accessibility
Many of the activities in our itineraries are accessible. Click on each individual experience to find out more about its accessibility. We advise that you contact the venue or experience provider in advance to confirm. You can also find information about accessible venues through Access Cornwall.
Local knowledge
Enjoy updates from local experts and find information about upcoming events.
Getting around
Discover the many ways you can get out there and explore without relying on your car.
Positive impact
We’re hoping to make every stay as sustainable as possible. Find out more here.
Itinerary last updated on
This listing has been curated by the EXPERIENCE West Cornwall team and was correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We advise that you contact the venue or provider directly to confirm any seasonal opening details and to book the experience.
