Cornwall is distinctively beautiful. Coastlines, country walks, Cornish pasties, cream teas, and Celtic folklore await the curious explorer. Whether you’re looking for a cosy cottage retreat or an intrepid adventure across cliffs and ruins, Cornwall beckons and delights. Catch a train to Cornwall with CrossCountry and discover what else this amazing county has to offer.
Train tickets to Cornwall
You can follow the CrossCountry route through Cornwall and visit some of the county’s best spots
The best way to travel is with an Advance Ticket; that way, you can choose a seat preference, book a bike space, and benefit from cheaper advance fares.
Travelling to Cornwall for a family holiday? You could be missing out on a 1/3 off travel for yourself and 60% off for the kids! Find out if you’re eligible for a Family & Friends Railcard or explore the full range of Railcards.
Experience Cornwall
Places to eat in Cornwall
There’s lots going on in Cornwall, which is why it draws in tourists from all over the world, all year round. One of the best things about this beautiful county is the myriad restaurants, cafes, and eateries available to us.
Let’s start at the very tip of the CrossCountry network, Penzance. The Shore is perhaps one of the most unique places you’ll eat in your life, run by just one man and served on just one communal table. You’ll be treated to multiple courses of fresh, local, and undeniably delicious seafood. Whatever you dine on here, be it oyster, monkfish, mussels, or bass; every bite will be unforgettable.
Just as unique and only a few stops away in Truro, The Hidden Hut has become famous for its outdoor feasts on summer evenings. Each evening tantalises with its own main dish, wood-fired and set against the lolling waves of Porthcurnick Beach. There really is no better place for adventurers to visit; it exudes magic, togetherness, and appreciation of nature and its provisions.
For something more casual but still intrinsically Cornish, The Croust Hut in Camborne is located at the historic King Edward Mine. Their name comes from the Cornish idea of a mid-morning or afternoon snack. Their menu is varied and reliably great. We recommend the Cornish bibim, a fun take on the beloved Korean dish bibimbap. You’ll get a mountain of food, including smoked streaky bacon, shimeji mushrooms, halloumi rosti, duck eggs, and sourdough.
Places to stay in Cornwall
When looking for a place to stay in Cornwall, we want ocean views, fresh sea air, and Cornish charm. Hotel Penzance Promenade offers ocean-inspired rooms embellished with coastal vistas across Mount’s Bay – you can even see St Michael’s Mount! Hotel Penzance Harbour View boasts a similarly gorgeous view of the harbour.
If you prefer spending your holiday inland, The Alverton in Truro exudes escapism and romance, within walking distance of the city. The manor started life as a convent, and today, the climbing ivy, curving archways, and intricate stained glass windows whisk guests away to a simpler time.
Please note: CrossCountry is unable to support with any hotel related queries or booking requests. For further information, please contact the hotels mentioned directly.
Heritage & culture in Cornwall
Eden Project is an iconic place to start, where enormous biomes recreate climates from tropical rainforests to Mediterranean environments, allowing you to walk among rare and exotic plants as if you’d travelled to warmer climes. In Penzance, the Minack Theatre perches dramatically on granite cliffs. Here you can see some of history’s greatest theatrical triumphs overlooking the deep blue Atlantic Ocean.
For those drawn to Cornwall’s more mysterious, even supernatural side, Bodmin Jail awaits. Embark on spine-tingling ghost walks through the storied Victorian jail and learn about how justice was served here for more than a century.
Finally, no cultural tour of Cornwall would be complete without visiting St Michael’s Mount, a medieval castle rising from a tidal island just off the coast. At low tide, you can walk across the causeway to explore the castle and its gardens, while at high tide, boats ferry visitors across.
Shopping in Cornwall
Cornwall may not be your first thought when it comes to shopping in the UK, but it’s certainly worth a visit for that purpose – especially if you’re a lover of anything artisan and unique.
Truro is home to cobbled streets lined with independent shops selling locally made crafts, ceramics, and jewellery, whilst St Ives is a hotspot for art lovers, showcasing galleries and studios with everything from contemporary paintings to handmade pottery. Traditional Cornish markets are also a treat: sample local cheeses, pasties, and preserves while hunting for unique gifts.
FAQ
Cornwall has a few larger towns and plenty of villages that are all great to visit. Getting to and from the larger towns is possible even if you don’t have a car. With CrossCountry, there are direct train routes that can take less than an hour, meaning you can hop around Cornwall as much as you like! These routes include:
- Penzance to Redruth: 25-minutes
- St Austell to Truro: 16-minutes
- Par to Camborne: 40-minutes
The main airport in Cornwall is Newquay Airport, from which you can travel to many airports in the UK, as well as international destinations. Getting to Newquay Airport from Newquay train station is easy -- grab the number 56 bus and you’ll arrive in around 20 minutes.
Finding cheaper trains to Cornwall may be easier than you think. Make sure you see whether you’re eligible for a railcard - if so, you can save up to ⅓ of every journey. Booking in advance, comparing single journeys and travelling off-peak are other ways to save some cash. Check out our cheap train tickets page as it outlines more ways of bagging yourself cheaper train fares.
Check out our stations page for more information on any of the stations in Cornwall. Simply type in the name of the destination you’d like to visit.
