The Best Luxury Hotels in Cornwall, UK

Find solitude in this remote part of the British Isles, where boutique beachside retreats, luxury spas, and full-service five-star hotels tempt visitors with impressive scenery and the promise of laid-back living along Cornwall’s rugged coast.

Boskerris Hotel St Ives

This family-run coastal retreat has delighted visitors since first opening in 1931. Since then it has been thoughtfully renovated, giving it modern, airy interiors and whitewashed shutters that project a relaxed Mediterranean style – a theme echoed in its restaurant’s menu which takes influences from Italian, Greek and French cuisine. Staying true to its Cornish roots, produce is sourced from local suppliers including Da Bara Artisan Bakery, The Real Cornish Crab Company and St Ives Gin.

Driftwood Hotel, Truro

Taking inspiration from its coastal path location, overlooking the Roseland Peninsula, the rooms of this boutique hotel are light and bright, adorned with subtle driftwood interiors and crisp linens. The hotel’s restaurant and bar lead onto a sea-facing terrace, but its food is what really hits the spot. Head chef, Olly Pierrepont, joined the Driftwood team after lending his expertise to several Michelin-star restaurants, and now creates seasonally inspired menus incorporating the best local produce around.

Carbis Bay Estate

With its own private Blue Flag beach and views to inspire best-selling authors, there’s a reason Carbis Bay Estate is in such high demand. Take in panoramic views of Godrevy Lighthouse – the subject of former guest Virginia Woolf’s novel, To The Lighthouse – from the individually furnished rooms and suites, all of which are set within the Victorian manor house. Alternatively, opt for a stay in a spacious beach lodge, complete with its own hot tub.

The Beach at Bude

As its name suggests, the Beach at Bude has a prime location steps from Summerleaze Beach – a visual reflected in its minimalist colour scheme and furnishings. This a place where style meets comfort, with deep baths, rain showers and waffle robes adding a luxurious touch to en-suite rooms. The hotel bar’s innovative cocktails come highly recommended, as does its restaurant which is headed up by award-winning chef, Jamie Coleman, who has worked with the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Michael Caines.

The St Enodoc Hotel, Porthilly

An elevated hillside location and sweeping views over the Camel Estuary set The St Enodoc apart from other properties in the Rock region. Originally a private home, the hotel now boasts 17 rooms and four suites, many with large floor-to-ceiling windows drawing in the surrounding landscape. Dine alfresco on the hotel’s sizeable terrace and browse from a menu of fresh, seasonal flavours. The restaurant sources ingredients from the family farm as part of its commitment to using local produce.

The Nare Hotel, Truro

The Nare offers a sanctuary away from life’s daily stresses, situated in a secluded bay and surrounded by rolling hills and landscaped gardens. Personal touches abound – each of its 36 bedrooms is elegantly comfortable, equipped with antique furniture, tartan carpets and Persian-style rugs. For an extra taste of luxury, hire the hotel chauffeur, or its classic Morgan 4/4 sports car. The Nare even has its own motor launch, Alice Rose, dedicated for guests’ private use.

Talland Bay Hotel

Set among two acres of carefully manicured gardens filled with eccentric sculptures, a visit to the Talland Bay Hotel feels like landing in Wonderland – a giant red teapot and cat-shaped bird box are among the unexpected delights you’ll find on display here. The hotel’s location midway between Looe and Polperro makes it the ideal base to explore the nearby Eden Project and embark on clifftop walks with four-legged friends, who are also welcome to stay.

The Cornwall Hotel and Spa, Saint Austell

Grand four-poster beds, roll-top baths and Victorian shuttered windows are just some of the original architectural features of this 19th-century manor house. Set in 43 acres of woodland, it feels like the perfect hideaway, despite being just one mile from the centre of St Austell. Enjoy a platter of freshly baked cakes, scones, sandwiches and Tregothnan teas served in the opulent Laura Ashley Tea Room, or dine alfresco on the hotel’s sun terrace, overlooking Pentewan Valley.

The Scarlet Hotel, Mawgan Porth

Exclusively for adults, The Scarlet is an award-winning hotel boasting far-reaching views of Mawgan Porth. Luxury eco is its ethos: everything is recycled (including guests’ slippers) and a biomass boiler powers the hotel’s cliff-top hot tubs, which are always in high demand for stargazing and storm watching. There’s also an on-site Ayurvedic-inspired spa, where cocoon-like pods hang from the ceiling and a meditation room beckons you to take a breather.

Hotel Tresanton, St Mawes

Fashioned from a cluster of 1950s cottages, Hotel Tresanton’s 30 boutique rooms are spread over five houses – each with a mix of antique and contemporary furnishings. Local artwork, including sculptures by Barbara Hepworth, complement the property’s interior, with subtropical gardens, sea-facing terraces, and a beach club inviting you to enjoy its pretty port town setting in St Mawes. Take a short stroll to the village harbour and rent kayaks, or borrow lines from the hotel and go crabbing.

Watergate Bay Hotel, Newquay

Reminiscent of the surfing beach it calls home, the Watergate Bay Hotel exudes coastal cool, with colour palettes of soft grey hues, mustards and blues. Having been run as a family business for more than 50 years, the hotel has since been modernised – it’s now home to a popular watersports academy, where you can try kitesurfing, kayaking, or paddleboarding. If you prefer your activities a little more laid-back, take a yoga class, relax in the outdoor hot tub, or take a dip in its 25-metre ocean-view infinity pool.

Originally written for Culture Trip