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

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
Museum

Tate St Ives

Art Fund Museum of the Year
Find out more
2018 winner
St Ives
South West
Museum

Newlyn Art Gallery

Newlyn
South West
50% off entry
Museum

St Agnes Museum

St Agnes
South West
Museum

Pendennis Castle

Falmouth
South West
Free entry
Museum

Wheal Martyn Clay Works

St Austell
South West
50% off entry
Museum

National Maritime Museum Cornw...

Falmouth
South West
Museum

Penlee House Gallery & Museum

Penzance
South West
Free entry
Museum

Royal Cornwall Museum

Truro
South West
Free entry
See all museums
Kurt Jackson - Trevider Pool, tadpoles move the water, catkins float on the surface, warblers sing in the willows as the royal ferns unfurl in front of me, 2024 - mixed media on wood, 60 x 60cm
Kurt Jackson

Popular exhibitions in Cornwall

Visit these exhibitions in Cornwall with your National Art Pass

Exhibition

Flora: 150 Years of Environmen...

9 October 2024 - 11 January 2025
Penlee House Gallery & Museum
Penzance
Last chance
Free entry
Exhibition

The Shape of Things: Our place...

5 February - 26 April 2025
Penlee House Gallery & Museum
Penzance
Upcoming
Free entry
Exhibition

Ithell Colquhoun: Between Worl...

1 February - 5 May 2025
Tate St Ives
St Ives
Upcoming
50% off exhibitions
Exhibition

Birds: The art of Cornwall’s b...

7 May - 4 October 2025
Penlee House Gallery & Museum
Penzance
Upcoming
Free entry
See all exhibitions

Upcoming events

Make, play and learn at events across Cornwall
Lecture

Friends of Penlee House: Richa...

15 January 2025
Discover the beauty of British watercolour through this captivating and exclusive lecture...
Penlee House Gallery & Museum
Penzance
See all events

Get inspired

Recommendations for your next day out
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.
Long Reads

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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31 Mar 2023
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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22 Mar 2022
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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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26 Jun 2024
Podcast

Special episode: highlights fr...

13 Jul 2023
In this special episode, we delve into the Meet Me at the Museum archive to pull out highl...
Listen now
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.
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15 Sep 2020
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What to see and do on your next trip to Cornwall

Discover why Cornwall will make the perfect staycation.
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2 Aug 2024
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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...
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18 Feb 2016
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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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14 Aug 2024
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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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21 Jun 2024
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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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28 Jun 2024
Podcast

Katy Hessel at the Barbara Hep...

4 May 2020
Instagram influencer and host of The Great Women Artists podcast Katy Hessel visits the Ba...
Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden
St Ives
Listen now
Recommendations

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.
Read More
27 May 2013
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