Truro

Travel Guide

Cornwall which includes landscape views and farmland
Cornwall which includes hiking or walking as well as an individual male
Cornwall which includes a house and farmland
Cornwall showing farmland and landscape views
Photo provided by Danny Evans/Jersey Images

Cornwall’s capital city offers excellent shopping and dining, along with lovely Georgian houses and interesting museums. 

Truro is a bustling commercial city with a lively centre filled with cafés and shops. Cornwall’s only true city, Truro can trace its history back more than 800 years. Stroll through the town’s pleasant pedestrianized centre, check out its imposing cathedral and admire its elegant 18th-century homes.

It’s impossible to miss the green spire of Truro Cathedral, which dominates the city centre. Completed in 1910, the cathedral was built on the site of 16th-century St. Mary’s Church. The parish church was incorporated into the cathedral’s design to serve as its Lady Chapel. Admire the cathedral’s Gothic Revival architecture and especially the Victorian stained-glass windows inside.

Set in a Georgian building, the Royal Cornwall Museum features a number of permanent displays focused on Cornwall’s history. Don’t miss the museum’s small gallery, which includes works by Stanhope Forbes and Anthony van Dyck. Look for interesting torques, metal neck chains worn by the Celts. Browse through the excellent photo collection of more than 50,000 images dating between 1845 and the present. Head upstairs to the Egyptian section to see the museum’s unwrapped 25th-dynasty mummy.

Walk down Lemon Street to see beautiful Georgian mansions built during the city’s prosperous past. Notice the pale stone used for the houses’ façades, a rare feature in Cornwall. Follow Lemon Street toward the Lander Monument, a 19th-century column honouring the Lander brothers, local explorers known for discovering the source of the Niger.

Check out the cafés, delis and barbers in the large indoor Lemon Street Market. The Lander Gallery on the first floor is touted as having the county’s largest collection of classic and contemporary Cornish art. The town also hosts a local farmers market in the piazza at Lemon Quay on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Ride National Express coach routes to Truro from cities across the U.K. or take the train directly from London Paddington, South Wales and Scotland. Newquay is the closest airport to the city. 

County Arms

County Arms

4 out of 5
Highertown, Truro, England
The price is RM594 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
RM594
RM712 total
20 Jul - 21 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star inn in Truro. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (620 reviews)
"The staff were very helpful and the food tasted great. Would definitely stay again and the air con was perfect."

Reviewed on 14 Jul 2025

County Arms
The Alverton

The Alverton

4 out of 5
Tregolls Road, Truro, England
Fully refundable
The price is RM671 per night from 31 Jul to 1 Aug
RM671
RM806 total
31 Jul - 1 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Truro. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9/10 Wonderful! (868 reviews)
"We attended a family wedding"

Reviewed on 29 Jun 2025

The Alverton
The Ship and Castle

The Ship and Castle

3 out of 5
THE WATERFRONT, SAINT MAWES, Truro, England
The price is RM376 per night from 27 Jul to 28 Jul
RM376
RM451 total
27 Jul - 28 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star beach hotel in Truro. Enjoy free WiFi, a beach locale, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
7.2/10 Good! (267 reviews)
Perfect location view from our room
"Perfect location. Good customer service, but needs improvement on the AC or having a fan in the room as it was really hot. Overall decent hotel and would give it a 4 star. There were room with a perfect many stairs to find our room bit of a maze but good fun getting lost lol."

Reviewed on 11 Jul 2025

The Ship and Castle
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Primrose Farm Holidays

Primrose Farm Holidays

2 out of 5
Penstraze, Truro, England
Stay at this campground in Truro. Enjoy free parking, private hot tubs, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Killiow Golf Club and Gwennap Pit are located ...
Great
"Absolutely great place, easy to get to. Clean. Well kept. Would definitely use again"

Reviewed on 18 Sep 2023

Primrose Farm Holidays
Uno in the City

Uno in the City

3.5 out of 5
1 Tabernacle St, Truro, England
Stay at this 3.5-star apartment in Truro. Enjoy free WiFi, premium bedding, and rainfall showerheads. Popular attractions Lemon St Market and Hall for Cornwall ...
Uno in the City
Cottages at the Lugger

Cottages at the Lugger

3.5 out of 5
The Lugger Hotel, Truro, England
Stay at this 3.5-star vacation home in Truro. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and dry cleaning or laundry services. Popular attractions South West Coast Path ...
Cottages at the Lugger
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Reviews of Truro

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
40
5 - Excellent 44%
4 - Good
43
4 - Good 48%
3 - Okay
7
3 - Okay 8%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Seems to be suffering in the same way as many county towns from the downturn in the high street as retailers succumb to rising rent business rates and on line competition

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Very nice place clean and people very polite and lots of shop

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

I know the area well and its always a pleasure to spend time here

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Didn’t see much of Truro. We were there for graduation at Truro cathedral. One thing I would say about hotel is there is nowhere to get away from noisy wedding guests that also want to use bar as well as hotel guests it gets very rowdy

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

terrible traffic in the morning

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

I like Truro! Nice and compact city