Truro Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Cornwall showing farmland and landscape views
Cornwall which includes hiking or walking as well as an individual male
Cornwall which includes farmland and a house
Cornwall featuring landscape views and farmland
Photo provided by Danny Evans/Jersey Images

Cornwall’s capital city offers excellent shopping and dining, along with lovely Georgian houses and interesting museums.

Truro is a bustling commercial city with a lively centre filled with cafés and shops. Cornwall’s only true city, Truro can trace its history back more than 800 years. Stroll through the town’s pleasant pedestrianized centre, check out its imposing cathedral and admire its elegant 18th-century homes.

It’s impossible to miss the green spire of Truro Cathedral, which dominates the city centre. Completed in 1910, the cathedral was built on the site of 16th-century St. Mary’s Church. The parish church was incorporated into the cathedral’s design to serve as its Lady Chapel. Admire the cathedral’s Gothic Revival architecture and especially the Victorian stained-glass windows inside.

Set in a Georgian building, the Royal Cornwall Museum features a number of permanent displays focused on Cornwall’s history. Don’t miss the museum’s small gallery, which includes works by Stanhope Forbes and Anthony van Dyck. Look for interesting torques, metal neck chains worn by the Celts. Browse through the excellent photo collection of more than 50,000 images dating between 1845 and the present. Head upstairs to the Egyptian section to see the museum’s unwrapped 25th-dynasty mummy.

Walk down Lemon Street to see beautiful Georgian mansions built during the city’s prosperous past. Notice the pale stone used for the houses’ façades, a rare feature in Cornwall. Follow Lemon Street toward the Lander Monument, a 19th-century column honouring the Lander brothers, local explorers known for discovering the source of the Niger.

Check out the cafés, delis and barbers in the large indoor Lemon Street Market. The Lander Gallery on the first floor is touted as having the county’s largest collection of classic and contemporary Cornish art. The town also hosts a local farmers market in the piazza at Lemon Quay on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Ride National Express coach routes to Truro from cities across the U.K. or take the train directly from London Paddington, South Wales and Scotland. Newquay is the closest airport to the city.

The Alverton

The Alverton

4 out of 5
Tregolls Road, Truro, England
The price is AU$218 per night from 2 Nov to 3 Nov
AU$218
2 Nov - 3 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Truro. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9/10 Wonderful! (928 reviews)
Super Garden room -very comfortable bed and lovely views!

Reviewed on 21 Oct 2025

The Alverton
County Arms

County Arms

4 out of 5
Highertown, Truro, England
The price is AU$183 per night from 4 Nov to 5 Nov
AU$183
4 Nov - 5 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star inn in Truro. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (668 reviews)
The room was spotless and a good size. Comfortable stay, road outside a little noisy with racer style engines but I still slept well

Reviewed on 15 Oct 2025

County Arms
Mannings Hotel

Mannings Hotel

3 out of 5
Lemon Street, Truro, England
The price is AU$153 per night from 1 Nov to 2 Nov
AU$153
1 Nov - 2 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Truro. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (305 reviews)
Excellent location in the heart of the city with parking.

Reviewed on 20 Oct 2025

Mannings Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Contemporary Beach House with sea views and short walk to Blue Flag beach

Contemporary Beach House with sea views and short walk to Blue Flag beach

Porthtowan
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Truro. Enjoy laundry facilities, patios, and cable/satellite TV service. Popular attractions Porthtowan ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (141 reviews)
My daughter and myself had a wonderful time.The property is fantastic.Steps were a challenge, I was worried because I am 70 years old, but managed them ok.

Reviewed on 18 Sept 2025

Contemporary Beach House with sea views and short walk to Blue Flag beach
Beach Cottage with amazing beach and sea views

Beach Cottage with amazing beach and sea views

Porthtowan
Stay at this cottage in Truro. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Porthtowan Beach and Chapel Porth Beach are located ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (143 reviews)
In need of a refresh.

Reviewed on 16 Sept 2025

Beach Cottage with amazing beach and sea views
Primrose Farm Holidays

Primrose Farm Holidays

2 out of 5
Penstraze, Truro, England
Stay at this campground in Truro. Enjoy free parking, private hot tubs, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Killiow Golf Club and Gwennap Pit are located ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (8 reviews)
Amazing campsite
Amazing place to stay super chilled and calming environment, camp was super quite from 10.30 every night everyone was so respectful to other campers, small issue in the toilet fixed straight away by very happy handy man who was also the man who showed us around our teepee which was super cozy and ...

Reviewed on 1 July 2024

Primrose Farm Holidays
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Activities

Reviews of Truro

3.6
Guest rating
5 - Excellent
1
5 - Excellent 13%
4 - Good
4
4 - Good 50%
3 - Okay
2
3 - Okay 25%
2 - Disappointing
1
2 - Disappointing 13%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Central to most tourist spots in Cornwall!

Cities near Truro

Explore a world of travel with Expedia