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
Fully refundable
The price is AU$196 per night from 14 Nov to 15 Nov
AU$196
14 Nov - 15 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! (924 reviews)
"The garden view room was a delight for our multiple night stay. The staff took care of all our needs. Any meal we had at the restaurant or bar was excellent."

Reviewed on 13 Oct 2025

The Alverton
The Ship and Castle

The Ship and Castle

3 out of 5
THE WATERFRONT, SAINT MAWES, Truro, England
Stay at this 3-star beach hotel in Truro. Enjoy free WiFi, a beach locale, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
7.2/10 Good! (316 reviews)
"Lovely and well priced hotel in an expensive part of the world"

Reviewed on 12 Oct 2025

The Ship and Castle
County Arms

County Arms

4 out of 5
Highertown, Truro, England
The price is AU$220 per night from 4 Nov to 5 Nov
AU$220
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! (665 reviews)
"It was all very good, I felt really comfortable ."

Reviewed on 11 Oct 2025

County Arms
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.
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
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
Rural barn conversion

Rural barn conversion

TRURO
Stay at this vacation home in Truro. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Stithians Lake and Gwennap Pit are located ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (136 reviews)
"We enjoyed our 4 night stay at the Old Stable (barn conversion) cottage. It was lovely and clean, well furnished and very quiet being in a rural location. It was a bit of an adventure finding the cottage and every evening thereafter simply due to the small tight little lanes, typical for Cornwall, ..."

Reviewed on 30 Sept 2025

Rural barn conversion
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

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