A Guide to Spending Christmas in Cornwall

Posted by Select Cornwall

on 27/10/2019

Cornwall is beautiful at any time of the year, but at Christmas time, it's that extra bit more magical! It may not be as hot, but there's still plenty of wonderful places to explore. You just may need your woolly hat and gloves! Here is our guide on things to see and do in Cornwall at Christmas:

Must do's...

Mousehole Harbour Lights:

(The lights will be switched on Saturday 14th December at 6:30pm. They then will be on from 15th December 2019 between 5pm-11pm until 4th January 2020)
(The Mousehole Harbour Lights will be dimmed on 19th December between 8-9pm. This is to pay respect to the lives lost in the Penlee lifeboat disaster in 1981)

Get in the Christmas spirit and visit the wonderful little village of Mousehole to see the Mousehole Harbour Lights! The village is lit with beautiful displays, including the "Mousehole Mouse", a Stargazy pie and a floating serpent in the harbour. It's definitely one not to miss if in Cornwall at Christmas!

Christmas in Cornwall | Mousehole

Angarrack Christmas Lights:

(Displayed from 1st December 2019- 5th January 2020)

Situated in Angarrack, near Hayle, visit the Angarrack Christmas Lights display. With lots of fun, animated lights to gaze at in awe, this is another beautiful display to really get you in the Christmas spirit! See if you can spot all twelve of The Twelve Days of Christmas sequence as you potter around this lovely village!

Christmas in Cornwall | Reindeer 

Christmas at the Eden Project:

The Eden Project is definitely a must do at Christmas time! Meet Father Christmasand his elves from late November, right up until Christmas Eve! Not only do you get to meet Father Christmas, but you also get to see 'behind the scenes', including seeing where the elves sleep and the pigenholes full of everybody's letters to Father Christmas!

You can book your places online, with prices starting at £10:

1 adult and 1 child: £10
2 adults and 1 child: £14
3 adults and 1 child: £18
Per additional child: £6

Christmas Ice Skates

Have you experienced...

Rogue Theatre at Tehidy Woods:

(Saturday 7th December - Monday 30th December. Book tickets here)

Join the magnificent Rogue Theatre at Tehidy Woods for Winter Wood 2019. For those looking for a magical adventure this Christmas, visit Tehidy Woods North Cliffs between 7th and 30th December for Christmas stories in the forest. Immerse yourself in a festive celebration of wintry marvels and really get in that magical Christmas spirit!

 

If you'd love to experience a magical adventure with the Rogue Theatre this Christmas, stay at this cosy two bed cottage in Redruth. It even has a log burner to warm yourselves up after enjoying the festive woodland celebrations >>>

Magical Christmas

Christmas in Truro:

(Every Wednesday from 27th November - 18th December between 5pm and 9pm)

Experience the county's beautiful capital at Christmas time, with twinkling lights and ample places to purchase some unique gifts for your loved ones! Enjoy late night shopping in the city every Wednesday from 27th November - 18th December between 5pm and 9pm. There will be plenty of shops open, including the Boscowen street markets, Lemon Quay Fayres and Wednesday farmer's market.

The Truro City of Lights and Christmas lights switch-on, where an epic lantern parade and switch on of the beautiful Christmas lights, will take place on Wednesday 20th Novemer 2019 from 7pm. A fantastic display of wonderful local creations in the form of lanterns is paraded through the city and round 30,000 spectators gather each year to mark the start of the festive season with this wonderful free event.

This 2 bed Truro holiday cottage is the perfect place to stay for those venturing to Truro to gaze at the beautiful Christmas lights and to do a spot of Christmas shopping >>>

Christmas in Truro | Credit Hannah Pascoe 

Eat, Drink & Be Merry!

Fowey Christmas Market:

With around 10,000 people visiting the Fowey Christmas Market each year, it is said to be one of Cornwall's most popular Christmas events! The organisers carefully pick their traders for this event, so expect to find some of the region's  finest food and drink, as well as a vast range of handmade and locally produced gifts.  This Christmas market will really get you in the festive spirit!

Visit on: Friday 6th December 5:30pm-8:30pm, Saturday 7th December 10am-5:30pm, Sunday 8th December 10am-4pm

Christmas Market

Whilst in Cornwall...

Take a dip in the sea! 

Brave the bitter Cornish sea and join in with a Christmas Day or Boxing day swim! With this ever expanding tradition taking place all across the county, here are a number of places to take a quick dip:

Be warned - some event organisers have banned wetsuits for this event!

Christmas Day

  • St Agnes - 11am (no wetsuits allowed)
  • Bude - 11am (no wetsuits allowed)
  • Sennen - 11am (no wetsuits allowed)
  • Gwithian - 7am-11:45am (wetsuits allowed)
  • Coverack - 12:30pm

This two bed holiday cottage is close the beautiful bay of Gwithian if you're looking to take part in the Gwithian Christmas Day swim >>>

Boxing Day

  • St Ives - 12pm (wetsuits allowed)
  • Charlestown - 11am (no wetsuits allowed)
  • Newquay - 2pm

    Christmas swim

Take a look at this holiday cottage in Newquay. It's just a stones throw from Fistral beach, so you won't have to venture far for your Boxing Day dip! >>>