The 25 best holiday cottages, manors and Airbnbs to rent in Cornwall
It is no secret that trawling through the hundreds of houses, shepherd's huts and apartments on house rental sites can be taxing. Indeed, it seems unfair that to plan the ultimate relaxing holiday, one must spend many a stressful afternoon clicking through the internet's homestay muck. In Cornwall, the UK's gloriously sea salty, sandy region, this inevitability seems especially true: there's much on offer, but few rentals are to a high standard. Luckily, we at House & Garden have done the sleuthing for you, closing the harrowing gap between you and your next Cornwall holiday. Whether you're after a unique converted barn or a sprawling former rectory with impressive sea views, we've rounded up the best, most stylish and charming holiday cottages that Cornwall has to offer.
The most charming manors, Airbnbs and holiday cottages in Cornwall
1/25Trematon Castle, Castle Hill
Fancy a night or two in a castle with an Indian-style pool and beautiful walled garden? The lodge house at Trematon Castle is the place to book, recently refurbished by House of Hackney with their signature prints and fabrics, suitably grand antique furniture and splashes of colour. It's a lovely place to stay in a totally wonderful Cornish location – if you ever leave the castle grounds, that is.
Sleeps up to 4 guests, from £200 per night (with a 10% discount for weeklong stays).
2/25The Fable, Perranporth
For those longing for those bygone days of yore when life was simpler, slower and lived under thatched roof, your yearning days are through. Luxury provider Unique Homestays, in collaboration with luxury lifestyle brand The White Company, launched this ‘immersive’ holiday experience in 2023. Cottagecore-loving guests will want to spend a few nights at The Fable, a charming thatched cottage in the Cornish countryside just a stone's throw from the sea. Filled with products from The White Company including signature scents (including Lime & Bay), quality tableware and fluffy robes and with the attentive, sparkling service associated with Unique Homestays, a stay at The Fable is a fairytale of luxury.
Sleeps up to 4 guests, from £1,495 for weekly stays and £1,095 for shorter breaks. Pets allowed for an extra fee.
3/25Rock Country, Padstow
Foodies especially will want to flock to this charming stone estate, thanks to its close proximity to some of Cornwall's finest (and Michelin-starred) restaurants. Those who are seeking a seaside retreat, too, will enjoy a stay here: Grade II listed, Rock Country is full of history and Cornish design delight. A perfect day spent playing house here begins with a leisurely stroll through the lovely town of Padstow in the morning before tucking into freshly-caught fish for lunch and a massage in the town's renowned Scarlet Spa. After an early evening tipple in the lush garden, enjoy a meal with friends sat at the welcoming dining table. Pure Cornish bliss.
Sleeps up to 10 guests, from £795 per night.
4/25Fisherman's Cottage, St Ives
5/25The Edge, Whitsand Bay
Every morning spent at The Edge is one spent soaking up the most of a bright white British sun and taking in the bracing, panoramic views of the glittering blue sea beneath. Perched on the sandy cliffs above Whitsand Bay, this bolthole is the idyllic couples getaway, cosy without being too stuffy, with enough space to truly relax and to practise the oxymoronic art of being ‘alone together’ (although, you'll most certainly relish the chance to share this experience with your love). If its stunning views and white-washed, cedar-clad interiors weren't enough, perhaps the beach hut's eco-friendly and responsible design will give you yet another reason to book in and enjoy the bounty and beauty of Cornwall.
Sleeps up to 2 guests, from £1,850 per week and £1,250 for a two-nigh break.
6/25Withiel Barn, Withielgoose
This converted barn–complete with beamed ceilings–is a delight of skirted cupboards, flagstone floors and lovely furniture. It's a romantic hideaway for two with a wooden hot tub and sauna outside to up the ante. The owners can arrange masseuses to visit too, to make it a spa break by the sea.
Sleeps up to 2 guests, from £170 per night.
7/25Firefly, Newquay
A stone's throw from the characterful Mawgan Porth, this woodcutter's cottage is perhaps as cosy as a Cornish retreat can be. Understated luxury permeates the entire property, which features elevated fixtures and furnishings (including an AGA and hot tub!). Those travelling solo in hopes of a quiet, nature-filled escape will want to consider a stay at Firefly, as will couples hoping for a quietly romantic getaway amidst the splendour of nature.
Sleeps up to 2 guests, from £1,250 per week and £950 per short break.
8/25The Luxury Schoolhouse, Fowey
You have to wonder what Fowey's school is like now, as this lofty building with sweeping views across Fowey harbour is a former Victorian schoolhouse, converted into a four bedroom house (though able to accommodate 16 guests at a time). Not only does it have ample living space and some of the best views in town, there are also parquet floors, a garden and a games area with a table tennis table.
Sleeps 16 guests, from £115 per night.
9/25Aphrodite, Boscastle & Tintagel
Bright and spacious interiors give way to expansive, impressive views over the rugged cliffs of North Cornwall. Nestled between the enchanting villages of Boscastle and Tintagel, this lovely house is ideal for a solo traveller in search of true peace and quiet amongst nature, or for a couple seeking a romantic getaway from live's daily slough. Whether your ideal holiday is one spent cosying up against the crackling fire or trekking down to the nearby beaches to take in the surf and sea, you are sure to find it in spades with a stay at Aphrodite.
Sleeps up to 2 guests, from £1,150 per week and £995 per short break. Dogs are allowed.
10/25Aurora, Whitsand Bay
High above the crashing waves and churning sand piles of Whitsand Bay sits the glorious cottage Aurora. With its panoramic sea views and expansive deck which seamlessly blends into the rugged Cornish cliffside, a stay at Aurora is one certain to be memorable. In summer, expect the pinnacle of indoor-outdoor living, moving as the waves do from sun chair to comfortable linen sofa to beach and repeat. Steps away from the South West Coast Path and with hidden coves home to no one but friendly seals and fish, adventure is always around the corner.
Sleeps up to 2 guests, from £1,250 per week and £1,195 per short break.
11/25Renovated Fisherman's Cottage, Mousehole
From this Cornwall Airbnb, you can lie in bed and watch the boats bob around in the harbour – what could be better? The house is unique and inviting, decorated in muted tones and with seaside elements mixed with exposed brick walls and flagstone floors. It's simply charming and the setting couldn't be more ideal for a seaside escape.
Sleeps up to 2 guests, from £145 per night.
12/25The Old Signal House, Torpoint
It doesn't get much more private than this. Once a house built for the families and staff working at a nearby lighthouse, The Old Signal House is now a gloriously unique home-stay, perfect for a family seeking secluded luxury. With a private sandy beach, too, guests will have the pleasure of having jumping dolphins and ‘ar-ar-ar’-ing seals as sole company. However, should you wish to venture afield from this Cornish paradise, delicious pub food and quaint villages await only thirty minutes by foot (and minutes by car). Busy Whitsand Bay and all its surfers, too, are close; it's just fifteen minutes by car.
Sleeps up to 6 guests, from £152 per night.
13/25Riverside Cabin, Constantine
It's rare to come across a house like this, hand built with love and nestled in the woods by a river. It's a true retreat, though in easy distance to the amenities of Falmouth. There's a woodburner inside and fire pit outside for outdoor cooking, as well as the babbling brook to cool off in. Sleeping arrangements are via a double bed on the mezzanine and bunk beds below.
Sleeps up to 4 guests, from £86 per night.
14/25The Pilchard Press, Mevagissey
The fishing village of Mevagissey is one of the sweetest spots in Cornwall and this apartment in a Grade II listed building is mere steps from the harbour, where the boats come in and out daily with their catch. Pop down, pick up the freshest fish straight from the source and cook it in this lovely flat, which is beautifully decorated with a marble bathroom, hardwood floors and kingsize bed. It's a small but perfectly appointed rental, able to accommodate two guests.
Sleeps up to 2 guests, from £95 per night.
15/25The Game Keeper's Lodge, Helston
If this house looks familiar to you, it's probably because you've seen it on Grand Designs. A former game keeper's Lodge, this vast house is now a wood and stone marvel, with curving walls, a wraparound terrace and balcony and meticulous design details. The amount of wood used gives it a rustic feel, while a hot tub offers a touch of luxury for guests.
Sleeps up to 10 guests, from £1,000 per night.
16/25Little Trenant Barn, Constantine
You don't come across too many Airbnb properties like this one, which is set in a timber-framed barn full of rustic charm. The main bedroom is on a mezzanine level over the spacious open-plan kitchen and living room, with a second twin room in the eaves on the other side of the property. Large windows flood the space with light and plentiful decorations make it feel more homely than most holiday houses.
Sleeps up to 4 guests, from £94 per night.
17/25The Spyglass, Gorran Haven
Built in the Napoleonic era, this tiny white jewel is full of history. Hidden behind strong stone walls, The Spyglass is full of authentic Cornish charm. With luxurious digs – including a chef's kitchen, sumptuous king-sized bed and comfortable armchairs ready to be pulled closer to a crackling fire – a stay here will be as restorative as it will be heavenly. Just seconds away from the sea's gentle lapping onto Goran Haven beach, one could not be closer to the sea, making a stay here the most idyllic of Cornish holidays.
Sleeps up to 4 guests, from £1,595 per week and £1,150 per short break.
18/25Tinners' Retreat, Lanner
A shepherd's hut is a wonderful way to escape to the country and this particular wooden number is equipped with an outdoor oven and barbecue, as well as a full kitchen inside. The bathroom is a unique one, complete with copper taps, pipes and radiators. Not all shepherd's huts are made equal–and this is one of the better examples.
Sleeps up to 2 guests, from £77 per night.
19/2517th-century Rectory, Perranuthnoe
It doesn't get more idyllic than a former rectory with sea views, which is exactly what this AirBnB offers. The period charm extends inside with cornicing and orginal fireplaces mixing with a modern aesthetic for the furniture. There are four bedrooms, two with views over the beach, a large kitchen-diner as well as a separate dining room, three bedrooms and a terrace positioned to take in the beauty of Cornwall's coastline.
Sleeps up to 9 guests, from £400 per night.
20/25Artist's Retreat, Penzance
Where some AirBnBs clearly feel like holiday rentals, this artistic chapel feels very much like a home, full of the owner's collected finds over the years. An eclectic mix of antique and reclaimed furniture and lots of snug corners make it a wonderful place to unwind after visiting the nearby fishing villages of Mousehole and Newlyn – two of Cornwall's most popular haunts.
Sleeps up to 10 guests, from £293 per night.
21/25Surf Style, Penzance
Surfer's paradise awaits at this modern house in Penzance. Atop a cliff overlooking a sparkling sea, guests can enjoy sea views from nearly everywhere in the house, be they curled up in a lovely bedroom or sunning themselves on one of the Adirondack chairs on the wooden deck. Of course, that's if they are not enrolled classes at one of the two local, highly-rated surf schools. A stone's throw from the lovely Sennen Cove, a magical place wherein tousled-hair surfers and gruff fishermen can be found sharing steaming, vinegary plates of fish and chips. Guests are in for a delightfully authentic Cornwall holiday.
Sleeps up to 7 guests, from £172 per night.
22/25The Artsy Apartment, Falmouth
23/25Beachfront House, Treynaryon Bay
This house is generous in every way, with large rooms and enough space to sleep 14 guests. There's a sweeping garden overlooking the sea and even a garden room that functions as a games room. A path leads from the garden directly to the beach and there's an outdoor shower and hot tub for warming up if the sea is a bit cooler than you'd expect.
Sleeps up to 14 guests, from £525 per night.
24/25The Cob, Bude
The Cob, as this four bedroom house inland from Bude is known, was designed by award-winning architects–and it shows; the double height dining room has floor to ceiling windows and all the floors are heated underfoot. There are three double bedrooms and a bunk room for kids with three single beds but the highlight has to be the cedar hot tub in the garden.
Sleeps up to 9 guests, from £234 per night.
25/25Mullion, Cornwall
You'll wake up to fantastic, unobstructed views of idyllic Polurrian Beach when you stay at this magical Cornwall family home. With well-appointed bedrooms, a lovely garden and private beach access (an excellent spot for surfing!), there are more than enough activities for every guest to enjoy their holiday to the max.
Sleeps up to 6 guests, from £263 per night.
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