15 best hotels in Cornwall, according to someone who lived there
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I'm well acquainted with the best hotels in Cornwall having grown up there for the better part of 11 years. I'd call myself a bit of an expert, even, as I literally lived in one.
My parents owned a 12-bed B&B in the heart of St. Ives – a fishing town in the South West of England – so from the age of seven to eighteen, I experienced the travel/hospitality industry first-hand. Truthfully? You'll find some of the greatest hotels in the UK down there.
I'm not exaggerating when I say it's one of the most beautiful places to go on holiday in the world, let alone England, but with that comes a slew of accommodation choices which can be super confusing. So, if searching for the best hotels in Cornwall has landed you with even more questions than you first started out with, let me be your personal guide.
Skip to: The best hotels in Cornwall | What is the best part of Cornwall to stay in? | How we chose the best hotels in Cornwall.
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What is the best part of Cornwall to stay in?
I may be biased, but St. Ives is definitely up there. It has seven beaches (!), a Tate gallery, museums, independent shops and the tastiest pasties you'll ever eat. That said, it's not the only must-see place, so I've narrowed down my top 5 locations in Cornwall below – with a small summary as to where you'll find them and what they're best for.
- St. Ives – Best for: its beaches and art scene. Located: West Cornwall.
- Padstow – Best for: its food and coastal trails. Located: North Cornwall.
- Fowey – Best for: its old-fashioned fisherman cottages and pretty cafes. Located: South-East Cornwall.
- Porthleven – Best for: its historic harbour and markets. Located: South Cornwall.
- Falmouth – Best for: its maritime history and tourist spots. Located: South-West Cornwall.
How we chose the best hotels in Cornwall:
As well as living there for over a decade, I now visit from London as often as I can, so I have real insider experience when it comes to which hotels in Cornwall are worth staying at. While compiling this round-up, I took things like catering, room size, amenities, and location into consideration, as well as noting if the hotel has a spa and rooms with sea views. I've included a mixture of luxury properties, boutique, and lesser-known boltholes – so you'll definitely find what you're looking for here.
Of course, there are plenty of quaint bed and breakfasts, rental cottages and Airbnbs in Cornwall to consider, but if you're looking for somewhere to really put your feet up and relax while exploring all that Kernow has to offer, a hotel is the way to go. My current favourite? St. Michaels Resort, Falmouth. I stayed there just last month; read my full review below.
Below: the 15 best hotels in Cornwall to book for a 2024 trip
For more from GLAMOUR UK's Senior Commerce Writer Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd. Save when you book the best hotels in Cornwall – from adults-only Georgian guesthouses, the Watergate Bay Hotel and driftwood decorated Victorian buildings, to places in St Mawes, Mawgan Porth and the Roseland Peninsula – with these Booking.com discount codes and vouchers at checkout.
Best Hotel in Falmouth Cornwall
- Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
- Best for: Beachy interiors and relaxation.
- Price per night: From £176.
Why we love it: "Opposite Gyllyngvase Beach, St Michaels Resort is a 15-minute walk from Falmouth town and harbour – but it really feels like its own oasis. The residence features two restaurants (more on those later), a bar, and a luxury spa and a Health Club.
The room myself and my partner had was actually one of their newer Spa Garden Lodges, nestled in the serenity of sub-tropical gardens. Thanks to sunny weather it actually felt like we were in a jungle, too. With a large, comfy bed, waterfall shower, Elemis toiletries to help ourselves to, and an outdoor bathtub, we were like pigs in mud.
A bit about the restaurants: There are two on site, one called Brasserie on the Bay which offers a relaxed AA Rosette Cornish dining experience, and one called the Garden Kitchen which provides fresh and seasonal plates. Think stone-baked pizzas with a mesh of local toppings and leafy, zingy buddha bowls. Both of them are divine, and if you get the chance to eat at both you absolutely should. I highly recommend any of the fish dishes – because if you don't have fish when in Cornwall, you're doing something wrong.
If you book one of the Spa Garden Lodges you'll have free spa access for your entire stay, but you do still need to book in advance. And, fair warning, it's not quiet. It gets extremely busy, and there are limited places to sit down and unwind both outside by the hot tub and inside by the hydrotherapy pool, so I recommend asking the team when's best to pop by if you prefer less people.
When there, though, you'll have the chance to book yourself in for a treatment of your choice – anything from facials and scrubs to manicures and rhassoul treatments. I had a blissful 60-minute Elemis Couture Touch massage, and felt truly restored after. They select an aromatic oil according to your concerns – be they muscle pain, stress relief, energising or body balance – so you really feel the benefits afterwards.
I'd suggest a two-night stay minimum if you want to explore more than just the hotel and Falmouth, which you'd be mad not to, and recommend it to any couple looking for a restful break from busy life. We already want to go back." – Georgia Trodd, Senior Commerce Writer.