If you’re in Cornwall for Christmas, you’re in for a treat. So many towns, villages, and visitor attractions have pulled out all the stops for Christmas 2023, and there are some truly fabulous light shows and festive decorations. Here are a few of the best places to explore this Christmas in Cornwall.
For sheer spectacle, you can’t beat Christmas at the Eden Project. From the floodlit biomes to the festoons of lanterns around the whole site, Eden looks wonderful on a winter’s evening. Add live music and delicious local food and drink, and you have the perfect festive trip out. You can also book a session on their famous skating rink (or simply sit at the side with a warming drink, watching the rest of your party on the ice!). Eden is also a fabulous place to find unique Cornish and eco-friendly Christmas gifts.
Eden’s sister attraction, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, also pulls out all the stops during the festive season. For Christmas 2023, you can experience the Heligan Night Garden, which takes you on a journey through the dark gardens, lit by thousands of lanterns and spectacular installations. Heligan at Christmas has become a real tradition among local families, and if you’re in Cornwall in December, add it to your Must Visit list.
For the last five Christmases, families have flocked to the Shipwreck Treasure Museum at Charlestown, which puts on the show-stopping Tunnel of Lights experience. The long-gone china clay workers would be surprised to see their former transport tunnels lavishly decorated with lights. Add a giant snow globe, Father Christmas, and excellent Scandi-inspired food, and you have the perfect festive trip out.
If you love a traditional-looking Christmas, explore Cornwall’s beautifully decorated National Trust properties. Cotehele near Saltash has its famous garland and the house at Lanhydrock always looks suitably grand, while the rooms at Trerice are marvellously cosy. There are lots of great Christmas events planned for 2023 at the National Trust in Cornwall, from light displays to fireside stories from Santa.
Every Christmas, colourful displays of lights bring a glow to the pretty harbour village of Mousehole, just west of Penzance. Visitors come from all over the country to admire Mousehole Harbour Lights, while enjoying the lively atmosphere and the warming street food. If you’re in Cornwall on the 23rd of December, head to Mousehole for Tom Bawcock’s Eve. On this day, the village celebrates the legendary fisherman who bravely saved Mousehole from starvation by setting out to fish in a storm. They serve the famous Stargazy Pie at the Ship Inn, and there’s a lantern parade in Tom’s honour. This year, there’s a programme of live music in the evenings.
As well as Mousehole, there are beautifully decorated places right across Cornwall. On your way to Mousehole, stop to admire the light displays at Newlyn, which are always fantastic (especially with that evocative harbour backdrop). Quiet little Angarrack near Hayle bursts into festive lights every December, with a magnificent display around the village that’s entirely the work of local volunteers.
Polperro, Falmouth, and Fowey are also worth a visit, and of course, Truro always puts on a great show. Try to catch Truro Christmas lights on a Wednesday evening, when late-night shopping brings an extra lively atmosphere to the city. Wander among the brightly lit market stalls, enjoy a mulled wine or hot chocolate while you shop.
Here at The Cornwall Hotel & Spa, we love decorating for Christmas. The elegant rooms of the 19th-century building are simply perfect for swags, festoon and festive foliage. Treat yourself to a winter break or a festive evening out with us, and enjoy this magical time of year in Cornwall.
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