The best hotels in Cornwall

A touch of urban style has arrived in Penzance, with the mix of casual comfort and arty decor provided by the 22-room Artist Residence. Each room in this converted Georgian house is different in style, though they all have organic Bramley toiletries, Roberts radios, TVs and free wifi. Some have showers, others roll-top baths. You can also book a three-bedroom cottage, if that’s what you’re after. Both the relaxed restaurant and buzzy bar – with a beer garden – focus on Cornish produce, right down to the local cider. It’s in a great central location, close to the seafront and an easy walk from the station.

As the name suggests, this hotel couldn’t really be any closer to Bude’s Summerlease beach: a deservedly popular spot. Its stylish, bright rooms are filled with modern furniture in oak and Lloyd Loom, all with TVs, iPod docks, fridges, free wifi and Orla Kiely toiletries. The larger, grander rooms have sea views and terraces. There’s a restaurant and a bar with a sun terrace – or if you fancy venturing out instead, it’s a five-minute walk into central Bude for more dining options.

Located in a gorgeous setting near St Ives, and really uses it to the max – a panoramic vista takes in the sweep of Carbis Bay. Most of the 15 rooms in this 1930s, refurbed boutique-style hotel, look over this. All of them have TVs, bathrobes and slippers, White Company toiletries and free wi-fi. The beach is just a short walk away, or guests can walk further along the coastal path to St Ives, about 20 minutes’ away. The restaurant serves Med-influenced dishes, using Cornish suppliers where possible.

This lavish country estate has much to offer: a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, a pool, a spa with a hot tub and 65 acres of lush woodland and sub-tropical gardens rolling down to a private foreshire on the Helford River. There’s a total of 57 rooms and a small number of self-catering cottage – some are traditionally decorated; others more bright and modern. They’re all stocked with Elemis toiletries and free wi-fi. The restaurant is a rather formal affair, but food is also available in the bar and conservatory. Falmouth is the closest town, and there are plenty of walks and boats trips possible from the hotel.

Perched above Fowey village, its namesake hall is an auspicious Victorian mansion with views over rolling, landscaped grounds and the sea. Period furnishings and details are paired alongside modern fabrics – it makes for a cosy, inviting mix. There’s an all-day restaurant and bar, plus plenty else to keep you occupied: an indoor pool for everyone, games and a play area for children, and a spa for adults (the hot tub has sea views). Wi-fi is free throughout.

Falmouth is among the most popular holiday spots in Cornwall – and this hotel has a top location beside the harbour. It even has its own pontoons. Dating back to 1640, it’s the oldest accomodation in town, and counts Florence Nightingale among its guests. Its been extensively modernised, but keeps a traditional vibe – the brightly decorated rooms have White Company toiletries, TVs and free wi-fi, and lots of sea views, so do eqnuire. The Water’s Edge restaurant and bar is a good spot for watching the boats bob by. Dogs are welcome, albeit at an extra supplement. 

Based in the fishing village of Portloe, which is to be found on the Roseland Peninsula, the Lugger is a twenty-first-century hotel residing in a seventeeth-century inn and a collection of fishermen’s cottages. Luxurious and white-washed, decorated with elegant restraint, it has an open fire and an atmospheric restaurant with a summer terrace. The 23 rooms are en suite and have TVs; some have sea views. You’ll find free wi-fi available throughout the public areas.

St Moritz is a sleek hotel suited for family beach holidays, romantic weekends or spa getaways. It has a spa by Cowshed, a fitness centre, an indoor and outdoor pool and tennis courts. Based in Trebetherick, it’s in a good location for nearby Rock and Padstow, and looks out over the Atlantic and the Camel Estuary. Accommodation here swings between rooms to self-catering apartments – all have complimentary wi-fi, TVs, bathrobes and Cowshed toiletries; some have large balconies. Two restaurants and a bar complete the picture.

The Scarlet occupies a gorgeous setting on the cliffs in Mawgan Porth near Newquay. Its smart and swanky, and has sea views from its rooms, the restaurants – the hot tubs, too. And if you want to get a bit more up close and personal, the beach is just a three-minute walk away. Its large, modern roomhave private outdoor spaces in the forms of gardens or balconies, and have free wi-fi and wet rooms. Some also have baths with a view and lounges to themselves. The spa offers an array of treatments, and guests can use the indoor and outdoor pools, steam room and outdoor sauna with no extra charge.

If you want a big slice of Cornish chic, it’s the Hotel Tresanton. Olga Polizzi’s St Mawes establishment is both comfortable and stylish at the same time: expect natural fabrics and colours, original artworks and carefully selected furniture. It’s a laidback place; you’re more than welcome to bring your dog. The 30 individually decorated rooms have sea views, TVs, en-suite bathrooms and free wi-fi; a selection have balconies. The hotel has a bar and an excellent restaurant (with a terrace) which also serves afternoon tea.