City Guide

Museums, art galleries and exhibitions in Cornwall

Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, cherry blossom, Photo: Ian Kingsnorth 2016
Photo: Ian Kingsnorth 2016
HomeExploreCity GuidesMuseums, art galleries and exhibitions in Cornwall

Looking for museums and art galleries in Cornwall?

There’s plenty of art and culture to be found here, from the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden to Tate St Ives and the Newlyn Art Gallery.

Start planning the perfect day in Cornwall by finding the right art gallery or museum for you.

Must-see museums in Cornwall

Places to visit in Cornwall with your National Art Pass
Museum

Cotehele

Saltash
South West
Free entry
Museum

Dingles Fairground Museum

Lifton
South West
Free entry
Museum

Wheal Martyn Clay Works

St Austell
South West
50% off entry
Museum

Royal Cornwall Museum

Truro
South West
Free entry
Museum

Falmouth Art Gallery

Falmouth
South West
10% off in shop
Museum

Tate St Ives

Art Fund Museum of the Year
Find out more
2018 winner
St Ives
South West
50% off entry and exhibitions
Museum

St Agnes Museum

St Agnes
South West
Museum

The Box, Plymouth

Plymouth
South West
See all museums
Mohammed Chabâa, Untitled, 1977
Mohammed Chabâa, Untitled, 1977. Casablanca Art School at Tate St Ives 27 May - 29 October 2023
© Mohammed Chabâa Estate

Popular exhibitions in Cornwall

Visit these exhibitions in Cornwall with your National Art Pass

Mohammed Chabâa, Untitled, 1977
Exhibition

Casablanca Art School

27 May 2023 - 14 January 2024
Tate St Ives
St Ives
50% off exhibitions
Exhibition

Charles Rashleigh, Charlestown...

22 September - 23 December 2023
Wheal Martyn Clay Works
St Austell
Last chance
50% off entry
Exhibition

Dutch Flowers

7 October 2023 - 7 January 2024
The Box, Plymouth
Plymouth
Exhibition

Yinka Shonibare CBE RA: End of...

12 October 2023 - 23 June 2024
The Box, Plymouth
Plymouth
See all exhibitions

Get inspired

Recommendations for your next day out
Recommendations

Your summer, sorted

Plan the perfect summer with our guide to some of the best museums, galleries and historic houses to visit on a sunny summer's day.
Read More
27 Jun 2023
Recommendations

Ten things to do for the Easter holidays

Need a cultural fix that's entertaining for kids too? These venues have something for the whole family to enjoy, ideal for a school holiday outing.
Read More
11 Feb 2016
In 1774 Josiah Wedgwood wrote to Thomas Bentley, a business partner at Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, proposing the creation of a collection that would save the company's works for posterity. The resulting collection was unique in its scope and depth, using ceramics, manuscripts, fine art, manufacturing equipment and more to tell the story of Britain's greatest porcelain manufacturer and the family that founded it.Today the collection is formed of more than 8,000 historical pieces, as well as 80,000 manuscripts, pattern books, works of art and photographs chronicling 250 years of Wedgwood pottery and the developments in taste, politics, society, science and art that shaped it. The ceramics in the collection range from Josiah's early experiments in jasper through to modern pieces. Highlights include Josiah Wedgwood's own first edition of the iconic jasper Portland Vase, and five plates from the 'Green Frog Service', a magnificent dinner set commissioned by Catherine the Great in 1773 for her palace at Kekerekeksinen.As well as pottery and personalia, the collection includes a number of fine works by artists with connections to Wedgwood, from John Flaxman to Peter Blake. Portraits of the Wedgwood family by George Stubbs, Joshua Reynolds and John Singer Sargent are among the collection's most precious works.
Long Reads

7 wild works of art acquired with Art Fund support

Inspired by The Wild Escape, Giovanni Aloi and Stephanie Holt explain the stories behind animals found in seven works acquired with Art Fund support.
Read More
31 Mar 2023
The Narcissus Hall at Leighton House Museum
Recommendations

Find inspiration at these artists' houses and studios

Dive into the creative world of your favourite artist at the house where they lived and worked.
Read More
15 Sep 2020
Pendennis Castle, aerial view
Recommendations

Five spectacular castles by the sea

In a regal tour of Britain’s coastlines, we bring you our must-see list of coastal castles, perfect for historical days out by the sea.
Read More
1 Feb 2021
Recommendations

Your guide to museums and galleries by the sea

Featuring seaside views, beachwear exhibitions and bold buildings, these coastal museums and galleries all have something unique to offer.
Read More
6 Jul 2023
Recommendations

Unmissable cultural attractions in Cornwall

From the historic Pendennis Castle in Falmouth to the modern Penlee House Gallery & Museum in Penzance, Cornwall is a creative hub of museums and...
Read More
16 Jun 2022
Hew Locke and Joy Gregory at Gregory's London studio, 2021
Artist Interviews

Joy Gregory and Hew Locke on history and the high seas

Art Fund talks to Joy Gregory and Hew Locke about their experiences of the Caribbean and how Devon and Cornwall have influenced their work.
Read More
22 Mar 2022
Recommendations

Five Tudor houses

From Henry VII to Elizabeth I, the Tudor monarchs presided over one of England's defining eras. Here's our guide to some of the greatest houses...
Read More
18 Feb 2016
Podcast

Katy Hessel at the Barbara Hep...

4 May 2020
Instagram influencer and host of The Great Women Artists podcast Katy Hessel visits the Ba...
Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden
St Ives
Listen now
National Maritime Museum Cornwall
Recommendations

Ten great days out for summer

This summer, we've got 10 suggestions of places with something for everyone – from animals by the seaside to museums exploring the sea and sky.
Read More
11 Jul 2017
Recommendations

Five maritime museums that explore Britain's history at sea

Nautical but nice! From battleships to research vessels, rope makers to admirals these five museums explore our island's relationship with the sea.
Read More
27 May 2013
See all features
IndividualTiana Clarke Please note this is an example card and not a reflection of the final product

The more you see, the more we do.

The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.

Get a national art pass
Are your sure you want to leave checkout?