English Heritage in Cornwall | Historic Places & Visitor Guide

Explore Cornwall's Historic Places

Cornwall's English Heritage sites span thousands of years of history, from Neolithic burial chambers and Bronze Age stone circles to medieval castles and Tudor coastal fortifications. This Cornwall Online guide brings together 26 historic places across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, with individual pages covering their history, important features and practical visitor information.

Some are major visitor attractions with staffed facilities and ticketed admission, while others are small archaeological monuments in open countryside and are free to visit. Conditions therefore vary considerably from one site to another, so always check the official English Heritage information before travelling.

Five Major English Heritage Attractions

English Heritage highlights Tintagel Castle, Pendennis Castle, St Mawes Castle, Launceston Castle and Restormel Castle among its principal historic places to visit in Cornwall. These larger sites offer a very different experience from the remote prehistoric monuments and open-air ruins elsewhere in the collection.

Tintagel Castle

Dramatic medieval ruins, an early medieval settlement, Atlantic cliffs and the enduring legend of King Arthur.

Pendennis Castle

A major Tudor coastal fortress overlooking Falmouth and Carrick Roads, with centuries of military history.

St Mawes Castle

Henry VIII's remarkable artillery fort guarding the Fal estuary opposite Pendennis Castle.

Launceston Castle

A medieval fortress above the historic gateway between Cornwall and Devon.

Restormel Castle

One of Cornwall's best-known medieval castle ruins, set above the River Fowey near Lostwithiel.

Historic Places in Cornwall

Prehistoric & Archaeological Sites

Castles & Coastal Defences

Historic Places on the Isles of Scilly

The Isles of Scilly form a distinct part of Cornwall's heritage story, with prehistoric burial monuments and Tudor and Civil War defences spread across the islands. Several English Heritage sites can be explored around St Mary's and St Agnes.

Planning Your Visit

Check before travelling

Opening arrangements, admission, facilities and access vary significantly. The official English Heritage website is the best source for current visitor arrangements.

Expect different types of site

Large castles such as Pendennis and Tintagel provide extensive visitor facilities, while many prehistoric monuments are remote outdoor sites with uneven ground and limited facilities.

Explore the wider landscape

Several sites are close to other historic places, coastal paths, villages and landscapes of archaeological interest. Allow extra time where a walk forms part of the visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

English Heritage cares for 25 sites across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, ranging from major visitor attractions such as Tintagel, Pendennis, St Mawes, Launceston and Restormel castles to smaller prehistoric monuments including Chysauster Ancient Village and the Hurlers Stone Circles.

Both are conservation charities that care for historic sites, but they are separate organisations with separate membership schemes. National Trust properties in Cornwall include Lanhydrock, Cotehele, Antony House, Trerice and St Michael's Mount, while English Heritage looks after sites such as Tintagel Castle, Pendennis Castle, St Mawes Castle and Restormel Castle. Membership of one does not give free entry to the other's sites.

Many of the prehistoric monuments, such as Trethevy Quoit and King Doniert's Stone, are in open countryside and free to visit at any time. The major staffed attractions, including Tintagel, Pendennis, St Mawes, Launceston and Restormel castles, charge admission for non-members, with free entry for English Heritage members.