Historic & Heritage Sites in Cornwall

Cornwall’s Hidden Gem

One of Cornwall’s most remarkable new attractions, The Story of Emily in St Ive near Liskeard shines a long-overdue light on Emily Hobhouse, an extraordinary Cornish woman who challenged the social norms of the Victorian era to become a tireless humanitarian and pacifist.

Born in 1860 at the village rectory where she lived until the age of 34, Emily went on to become a fierce advocate for Boer women and children during the Anglo-Boer War, travelling alone to South Africa to document the terrible conditions of concentration camps and lobby the British government for change. Her story is one of remarkable bravery, revered by many and controversial in her own time.

The experience itself is breathtaking in its attention to detail. The original Victorian Rectory has been meticulously restored to 1875, with each room revealing a different chapter of Emily’s early life. The adjacent War Rooms use cutting-edge immersive technology, animation, virtual reality and film to bring the broader history of the Anglo-Boer War vividly to life.

After exploring the grounds, guests can dine in a glass-roofed restaurant serving heritage South African dishes inspired by 19th-century cuisine.

Allow at least four hours; this is a full and deeply moving day out.

A Cornwall Heritage Icon

Rising from the waters of Mount’s Bay near Penzance, St Michael’s Mount is one of the most recognisable heritage landmarks in all of England. This tidal island, crowned by a medieval castle and chapel, has served as a Benedictine priory, a fortified garrison, a place of pilgrimage and a family home, all over the course of a thousand years.

At low tide, visitors can walk across the ancient cobbled causeway in the footsteps of centuries of pilgrims, traders and villagers. At high tide, a short boat ride adds to the sense of occasion. The castle itself is a treasure house of architectural styles: Gothic, Tudor and Victorian, filled with Chippendale furniture, Gainsborough portraits, antique weaponry and the famous Chevy Chase Room, whose 17th-century hunting frieze lines the walls of what was once the priory’s refectory.

Below the castle, subtropical gardens cling to the island’s rocky slopes, and the harbour village is home to a small resident community, a café and a charming island shop. Still cared for by the St Aubyn family alongside the National Trust, St Michael’s Mount is both a living home and a working piece of history.

It is around an hour from The Headland and well worth making a day of it.

A Story of Regeneration

Just a short distance from Heligan, near St Austell, lies one of Cornwall’s great modern stories, the Eden Project. Where once there was a 160-year-old exhausted china clay pit, Tim Smit (the same visionary behind Heligan’s restoration) created something extraordinary: the world’s largest greenhouse, a living demonstration of mankind’s relationship with the plant kingdom.

Opened in March 2001 after two years of ambitious construction, the Eden Project is built around two iconic biome domes filled with hexagonal cells, their shape inspired by soap bubbles, their scale impossible to fully prepare for.

The Rainforest biome, eleven double-decker buses high, houses the largest captive rainforest in the world, with palms, bananas and tropical species thriving in conditions kept between 18 and 35 degrees Celsius. The Mediterranean biome re-creates the warmth of the south with olives, grapevines, cotton and citrus.

Beyond the biomes, extensive outdoor gardens take visitors on a journey through climate, ecology and global plant culture. It is a place that is simultaneously awe-inspiring and thought-provoking, best explored at a leisurely pace and extraordinary at any time of year.

From The Headland, the Eden Project is approximately 40 minutes by car.

Charlestown Historic Harbour, St Austell One of the best-preserved historic Georgian ports in Britain, Charlestown feels genuinely unchanged since the 18th century.

A working harbour built for the china clay trade, it has appeared in dozens of period films and television productions, including Poldark, and remains home to tall ships that can often be seen at anchor.

A short walk from the harbourside reveals the excellent Shipwreck, Rescue and Heritage Centre.

Pendennis Castle, Falmouth Built by Henry VIII as part of his coastal defence programme, Pendennis Castle commands spectacular views across the Fal Estuary and out to sea.

The castle played a significant role in the Civil War and its grounds tell the story of five centuries of coastal fortification.

An English Heritage site, it is well-suited to families and history enthusiasts alike.

Truro Cathedral Cornwall’s only city, is home to a cathedral that, while Victorian in construction, sits at the heart of a county with deep Celtic Christian roots.

Completed in 1910 and built partly over the remains of a 16th-century parish church, Truro Cathedral is a graceful piece of Gothic Revival architecture and a peaceful place to pause during a day exploring the city’s independent shops and galleries.

Bodmin Moor & Jamaica Inn The wild granite uplands of Bodmin Moor carry centuries of history — Bronze Age stone circles, mysterious ancient monuments and the brooding atmosphere that inspired Daphne du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn.

The inn itself still stands on the A30 and welcomes visitors exploring the moor. Du Maurier lived much of her life in Cornwall, and her literary connection to the landscape remains one of the county’s most beloved threads.

Bodmin Jail Attraction Step into Cornwall’s dark and fascinating past at Bodmin Jail, one of the county’s most unique visitor attractions. Originally built in 1779, this historic former prison has been transformed into an immersive experience that combines authentic heritage with cutting-edge technology to bring its stories to life. Explore the jail, uncover tales of crime and punishment, and experience the award-winning Dark Walk attraction. Whether you’re visiting as a couple, family, or group, Bodmin Jail offers a memorable day out in the heart of Cornwall.  Bodmin Jail is approximately 30 minutes from The Headland and is an extraordinary all-weather day out. Guests of The Headland Hotel can enjoy an exclusive 10% discount on standard admission with a special promotional code. Please get in touch with our reception team for the exclusive code.