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

Home Explore City Guides Museums, art galleries and exhibitions in Cornwall

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

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The Exchange

Barbara Hepworth Museum & Scul...

Penlee House Gallery & Museum

St Agnes Museum

Newlyn Art Gallery

Falmouth Art Gallery

10% off in shop

Cotehele

The Box, Plymouth

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Still from Paul Rooney - Broken Token, 2024`

Courtesy of the artist

Popular exhibitions in Cornwall

Visit these exhibitions in Cornwall with your National Art Pass

01

Paul Rooney - Broken Token

19 October 2024 - 12 January 2025

The Box, Plymouth

02

Birds: The art of Cornwall’s b...

7 May - 4 October 2025

Penlee House Gallery & Museum

03

Osman Yousefzada - When will w...

2 November 2024 - 9 March 2025

The Box, Plymouth

04

The Shape of Things: Our place...

5 February - 26 April 2025

Penlee House Gallery & Museum

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Upcoming events

Make, play and learn at events across Cornwall

Little Penlee Explorers at Pen...

9 December 2024

Join us to explore, play and create at Penlee House!

Penlee House Gallery & Museum

Baby Sensory Session at Penlee...

9 December 2024

Free, drop-in session for babies from birth to crawlers.

Penlee House Gallery & Museum

Get inspired

Recommendations for your next day out

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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.

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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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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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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.

Special episode: highlights fr...

In this special episode, we delve into the Meet Me at the Museum archive to pull out highl...

Katy Hessel at the Barbara Hep...

Instagram influencer and host of The Great Women Artists podcast Katy Hessel visits the Ba...

Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden

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Your guide to museums and galleries by the sea

Featuring seaside views, beachwear exhibitions and bold buildings, these coastal museums and galleries all have something unique to offer.

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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...

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.

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What to see and do on your next trip to Cornwall

Discover why Cornwall will make the perfect staycation.

The Narcissus Hall at Leighton House Museum

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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.

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.

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.

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The more you see, the more we do.

The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.

Get a national art pass