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

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

National Maritime Museum Cornw...

Falmouth
South West
Museum

Tate St Ives

Art Fund Museum of the Year
Find out more
2018 winner
St Ives
South West
Museum

Falmouth Art Gallery

Falmouth
South West
10% off in shop
Museum

The Exchange

Penzance
South West
50% off entry
Museum

Dingles Fairground Museum

Lifton
South West
Museum

Barbara Hepworth Museum & Scul...

St Ives
South West
50% off entry
Museum

Cotehele

Saltash
South West
Free entry
Museum

Penlee House Gallery & Museum

Penzance
South West
Free entry
See all museums
Charles Walter Simpson (1885–1971) Line Fishing Season, undated, oil on canvas. The Box, Plymouth © The Artist’s Estate.
The Box, Plymouth © The Artist’s Estate.

Popular exhibitions in Cornwall

Visit these exhibitions in Cornwall with your National Art Pass

Exhibition

Birds: The art of Cornwall’s b...

7 May - 4 October 2025
Penlee House Gallery & Museum
Penzance
Opening soon
Free entry
Exhibition

John Lyons: Carnivalesque

8 February - 5 May 2025
The Box, Plymouth
Plymouth
Last chance
10% off in café
Exhibition

Ithell Colquhoun: Between Worl...

1 February - 5 May 2025
Tate St Ives
St Ives
Last chance
50% off exhibitions
Exhibition

Jyll Bradley: Running and Retu...

5 April - 2 November 2025
The Box, Plymouth
Plymouth
10% off in café
See all exhibitions

Upcoming events

Make, play and learn at events across Cornwall
Family

Arty Afternoon: A Fan of Feath...

31 May 2025
Design and decorate lots of feathers, making them as colourful as you can.
Penlee House Gallery & Museum
Penzance
Family

Arty Afternoons: Breon O’Casey...

10 May 2025
Make paper cut outs inspired by Breon O’Casey’s simple, colourful shapes.
Penlee House Gallery & Museum
Penzance
Family

Arty Afternoons: Bird Nests an...

24 May 2025
Make a 3D nest using recycled materials and make colourful eggs to nestle in your nest.
Penlee House Gallery & Museum
Penzance
See all events

Get inspired

Recommendations for your next day out
Recommendations

Your guide to museums and galleries by the sea

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28 Jun 2024
Podcast

Special episode: highlights fr...

13 Jul 2023
In this special episode, we delve into the Meet Me at the Museum archive to pull out highl...
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What to see and do on your next trip to Cornwall

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2 Aug 2024
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
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.
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26 Jun 2024
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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...
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18 Feb 2016
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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.
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21 Jun 2024
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
Recommendations

Ten great days out for summer

This summer, explore our 10 suggestions of places with something for everyone – from animals by the seaside to museums exploring the sea and sky.
Read More
14 Aug 2024
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
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
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
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