Best Places to Live in Cornwall

Well, where do we start…with a holiday romance perhaps? Falling head-over-heels in love with the turquoise allure and coastal idyl that can only, uniquely, be described as ‘Cornwall’. Years pass but, with an itch that never goes away, we make the move, out of the city, and back to lay down roots in the place we now call ‘home’. Thinking of making the move too? In this guide, we take a look at the best places to live in Cornwall, handpicked by our local experts.

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At a Glance

The Vibe: Join the glitterati in Rock and Padstow or head for the galleries in artsy St Ives. Yachties may be drawn to the South for Falmouth or the laid-back charms in the East of the county. ‘The surf’s up man,’ whichever way you turn.

The Schools: 14 x Primary Schools and 3 x Secondary Schools with an Ofsted ‘Outstanding Rating’.

The Restaurants: A whopping 43 restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide, including 4 x restaurants with a Michelin Star and 3 x restaurants with a Bib Gourmand.

The Great Outdoors: AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), The Cornwall National Landscape covers 958 sq km and 27% of the country. 400 world-beating beaches!

This guide is introduced by Anna Sharp, Regional Director of Black Brick, a leading London and regional buying agency.  Anna grew up locally on the South Coast of Cornwall and started her property career at Savills selling prime coastal and rural properties across the county.  She now heads up the buying team for Black Brick in Cornwall.  Contact Anna Sharp

Falmouth

This thriving, cosmopolitan port and beach town is forever buzzing with a packed calendar of year-round events and festivals, from Falmouth Sailing Week in the Summer to the Oyster Festival in October and the iconic Castle2Castle swim (a one-mile open water sea swim starting at Pendennis Castle in Falmouth and finishing at St Mawes).

Shopaholics will not be disappointed with an enviable selection of indie boutiques and, in particular, we love Finisterre on Arwenack Street for their sustainable outdoor knit and surf ware (ideal for the ever-changeable Cornish climate).  Other favorites include Cloudberry for beautiful Scandinavian and ecofriendly furniture design, as well as Willow & Stone (just perfect for fitting out your new period home), and Cream Cornwall for delicious interiors.

For restaurants, we highly recommend Mine, an intimate neighborhood restaurant with a pared back mid-century design where the star of the show is its locally sourced menu, serving up the very best of Cornwall’s natural ingredients.  Indidog Eatery offer an inventive menu with unrivalled harbour views and is a popular spot for lunch and dinner.  Those in the know will stock up with readymade healthy takeaway dishes from Sabzi (If you like Ottolenghi, you’ll love this place…) which is making a name for itself in these parts with openings in Falmouth, Truro, Padstow and Nansledan.

For the beaches, locals head to town center favorites Gyllyngvase and Castle as well as Swanpool and Maenporth a short walk away…or a quick ferry ride to stunning St. Mawes.

Falmouth is also a good base for schools with the ‘Outstanding’ rated St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and Penryn College secondary school. Truro’s renowned roster of independent schools is only half an hour away, including the esteemed private school, Truro High School for Girls.

Locals Love

“The artsy vibe is what makes this place. Falmouth School of Art is such a big part of the town – and there is always so much going on. I love it!”

“Jumping on the ferry over to Flushing, walking up to The Foodbarn at Tregew to grab my local supplies for the week from Soul Farm, an almond croissant from Pavilion bakery and a coffee from the Tin Box”. Followed by a cold water swim at Flushing beach and a sauna at Kiln.

“Hitting the shops on a Saturday morning and then taking my coffee to Gyllyngdune Gardens.”

Fowey

Pronounced ‘Foye’, this charming and sought-after harbour town is a jewel on Cornwall’s south coast – with a literary twist (Daphne Du Maurier and the Wind in the Willows’ Kenneth Graham both lived and wrote here). Not only are you a stone’s throw from the world-famous Eden Project, there’s plenty to do here all-year-round with high-quality restaurants being one of them. Appleton’s Bar & Restaurant – helmed by Andy Appleton, Jamie’s Oliver’s former head chef at Fifteen Cornwall – is a vibrant establishment with an emphasis on showcasing the finest seasonal ingredients. The Fitzroy is an ultra-hip and tasty hideaway, while the Fowey Hall Hotel, which inspired Toad Hall in Wind of the Willows, gives old-fashioned dining a new lease of life. 

May brings the Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature, while every August you can enjoy the Royal Regatta.  Nearby you will also find the photogenic and quintessential Cornish fishing towns of Polruan, Mevagissey and Portmellon.

Local schools are well-regarded, with Par, Liskeard and St Austell all boasting an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ rating.

Locals Love

“Morning swims at Readymoney Cove. There’s a swimming platform and a gorgeous beach with a shop and cafe.”

“Fowey Regatta…you either love it or hate as a local with all the tourists…but we’re big fans”

“100% Cornish crab served from Captain Hank’s vintage van on the harbour”. Sounds good to us!

Newquay

Surfs up…if that’s what takes your fancy, and it sure does for the many who end up here for the finest breakers in the country. Arguably the best beaches too, including the inviting coves of Tolcarne Beach, Watergate Bay, Lusty Glaze, Perranporth and Towan. A waterfront home along the banks of the River Gannel Estuary is THE dream for many house hunters in these parts while nearby Mawgan Porth is said to be where Hollywood’s elite like to hole up.

There is also a more than respectable food scene here with a ripple effect from up the coast in Padstow. Check out the Fish House overlooking Fistral Beach, an unassuming restaurant which serves a memorable seafood feast and is a great spot for a sundowner or two. Rick Stein has a fish and chip shop on Fistral beach, and the highly regarded Kahuna serves up excellent pan Asian fare. In the centre of town, independent ‘Gorse Bakery’ welcomes you with freshly baked sourdough, artisan pastries and the best pastel de nata outside of Portugal. Pizza lovers head to Jam Jar in neighbouring Crantock.

There are a number of Ofsted Outstanding schools in the area, including Trenance Learning Academy for Infants, or Summercourt Academy for Primary, and more in nearby Bodmin, Camelford and St Columb.

Locals Love

“Biking over the Cornish Way – the views are very special indeed”.

“We love the outdoors; I’ve been surfing down here for years, and the kids are into it too now. We wouldn’t live anywhere else, well not in this country anyway”.

“In London I used to commute for over an hour to work every single day. Now I shut my laptop, go to Oceanflow yoga and relax looking at the ocean! It’s a no brainer”.

Padstow

Known locally as ‘Pad-Stein’ after TV chef and local resident Rick Stein who has multiple culinary and commercial interests in the area, Padstow has become a mecca for foodies in the UK and abroad. Beyond Rick Stein, you’ll find Michelin-starred Paul Ainsworth at No 6 and the ever-popular Rojano’s in the Square, a beloved local trattoria which is owned by the Ainsworth family. A little further afield, diners will head to postcard perfect Port Isaac, a traditional Cornish fishing village made famous as the fictional village of Portwenn in the much-loved Doc Martin but also home to Nathan Outlaw’s two Michelin starred restaurant ‘Outlaws’, with an incredible seafood tasting menu.

Padstow sits to the West of the River Camel but a short ferry crossing (if you don’t have your own boat…) will take you across to the millionaire’s hangout of Rock where you can follow the headland around towards the fantastic Daymer Bay and the surfer’s paradise of Polzeath.

Aside from the ubiquitous water sports and activities on offer, there is lots to do for families including Padstow Sealife Safaris for spotting seals and dolphins and walks on Bodmin Moor (a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and one of the wildest parts of Cornwall).

Bodmin is the nearest transport hub with its mainline rail service to London Paddington, the fastest direct route in the region at only 4 hours (ok… it’s Cornwall, right?!).

Locals Love

“A morning surf and then lunch at The Mariners in Rock!”

“Daymer Bay every time. In my opinion, it’s the best beach in Cornwall.”

“My husband and I go to Rick Stein’s Prawn on the Lawn whenever we can!”

“The Pig Hotel at Harlyn Bay, check out the daily catch at The Lobster Shed”

St Ives

Artists have been settling in St Ives for many years and will tell you how beautiful the light is down here, at the Western tip of the county and on the edge of the Penwith Heritage Coast. Blessed with some of the most gorgeous natural beaches (check out Porthmeor, Porthgwidden, and Godrevy) with dramatic landscapes, it is easy to see why. Locals and tourists alike will wander blissfully through the town’s many art galleries and exhibitions that have sprung up around the internationally renowned Tate Gallery. If you are checking out St Ives as a place to live then be sure, also, to visit Barbara Hepworth’s Sculpture Garden, attached to the Tate, it’s one of our faves.

Those in search of nourishment will find scrumdiddlyumptious seafood at The Mermaid, while, the Ugly Butterfly, in nearby Carbis Bay offers spectacular views and exquisite dishes with a focus on sustainability.  Porthminster Cafe at Porthminster Beach is a fine place to chill, drink in the view (and a glass of wine or two…) and grab a bite to eat.

Bucket list moments have to be a sunset over St Ives harbor, a trip to St Michael’s Mount or the pretty little fishing village of Mousehole nearby… all just part of your everyday life for the locals down here.

Private schools in the catchment area include St Piran’s School in Hayle and an excellent choice of well-regarded schools in Truro. St Pirans is reachable by bus in under 30 minutes, or Humphry Davy school near Penzance is a 15 minute drive away. There’s also a strong home-education community, or numerous Forest (like Heart of the Woods in nearby Carbis Bay) and Montessori schools for an alternative education for little ones.

Locals Love

“Taking a trip out to Seal Island. You can see sharks, sunfish, dolphins… it’s amazing!”

“You HAVE to see a play at the Minack Theatre, right on the cliffs.”

“Rum and Crab Shack for live music and some of the best crab you’ve ever tasted.”

“A day out in Newlyn enjoying all the culinary delights such as Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar and Lovetts. If you head further west, I can highly recommend a cocktail at 45 Queen Street and dinner at Argoe.”

Truro

A cathedral city with a population approaching 20,000, Truro has plenty to offer, with leading schools and unbeatable transport links. Housing stock in these parts is a mix of coveted Georgian houses on Lemon Street, Victorian villas, and Regency townhouses. There’s a regular farmers market held every Wednesday and Saturday, and a few very good restaurants, such as Hidden Hut, perched on the end of Roseland Peninsula. Nearby St Agnes is a pretty village that trails downhill to Trevaunance Cove.

A big appeal for families are it’s ‘Outstanding’ rated schools: Truro and Penwith College for sixth form colleges, Roseland Academy for secondary, and the dazzling St Mary’s CofE School and Mount Hawke Academy for primary. You’ll also find one of Cornwall’s leading independent schools here – Truro School and Truro High School for Girls.

Locals Love

“Tastings at Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm. I always take home far too many bottles of cider and jars of jam!”

“If you’re a Poldark fan, you need to head to Portscatho. It’s so gorgeous. The Standard Inn located a short walk up the road in Gerrans is a must for an afternoon half-pint after a big walk.”

“It’s a great hub for the rest of Cornwall.”