Our Local Recommendations for Visiting Truro
The chances are that on your way to your Creekside Cottage in Mylor, Flushing or the surrounding areas, you’ll have passed very near Truro! Cornwall’s only city is well worth a visit, and we’d like to recommend some favourite eateries, landmarks and parts of the city that are less well-known.
Cafes and Restaurants
As you stroll around this extremely walkable city, you’ll see a few recognisable chains, but we do implore you to look past these and visit some of Truro’s gorgeous independent cafes and restaurants. A few to recommend are:
The Fig Cafe – set in the mezzanine layer of the Lemon Street Market, this open and airy space is a perfect place to watch the world go by, especially if the weather isn’t dry.
Grounded – serving local roast coffee, they describe themselves as a “small but punchy cafe showcasing the best of local produce from a ten mile radius”. Also available to takeaway!
Ost Eatery – in the centre of town, serving great coffee and colourful, Cornish-produce brunch and lunch dishes in a fun, modern space. ‘Ost’ is Cornish for ‘host’ – a nod to the welcoming atmosphere…
Cafe Uneeka – above their beautiful homewares shop, the cafe serves seasonal specials, loose-leaf tea and specialty coffee. Lots of gluten-free and vegan options are also available, and you can sit inside overlooking the cathedral.
Bodega 18 – a delicious Spanish tapas restaurant (with sister site in Falmouth), they also do a pre-theatre deal for any shows at Hall for Cornwall…
Sip – in the middle of town, Sip is a wine bar, restaurant and all-day cafe, specialising in Persian flavours. They also have a great range of veggie and vegan options available.
Sam’s in the City – following the success of Sam’s in Fowey and Sam’s on the Beach in Polkerris, this family run restaurant has been a hit in Truro with its dining space and cocktail lounge in central Truro.
Arts and Culture
With sections of beautiful Georgian architecture, a stroll down Lemon Street could be mistaken for the streets of Bath! In the city centre, a more eclectic style includes the Gothic Revival Cathedral and the Victorian Town Hall (1846) and old Coinage Hall (1848).
You can visit inside the cathedral for worship or for music events, and we also recommend checking the Hall for Cornwall programme which hosts theatre, comedy, dance, musicals, film screenings and family shows in the newly renovated performance space.
In the middle of town, Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery is home to artefacts, art and photography which “helps to explain Cornwall, its language, Cornish identity and life in our region.” This Summer you can see the “Cornish Myths & Legends” exhibition alongside the permanent collection, and “What the Land Remembers” is an art show running until 30th August. The museum also has an amazing cafe!
Parks and Gardens
When parking in the centre, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Truro isn’t a particularly green city, because the beautiful Victoria Gardens are somewhat hidden away from the main shopping streets. However, within a couple of minutes walk, you can find yourself on the sunny slopes of the park amongst established trees and beautiful flowerbeds.
There is a beautiful little take-away cafe in the park which operates in the summer (Pollen), and the popular Summer Bandstand Concert Series can be enjoyed on Sundays from May to September.
Taking a little walk out of town along the river, you can find yourself in the larger Boscawen Park with its impressive new children’s play area, duck pond, tennis courts, outdoor gym, table tennis and pétanque piste. It has a big carpark and cafe with outdoor seating, making it a popular choice for families (especially for stopping off and breaking up a longer journey).
You can also continue out of the city, following the river to beautiful Malpas where we also have a couple of cottages at the top of the creek! This waterside village has a wonderful pub – The Heron – and farm shop, as well as plenty of access to the river for paddlesports or walking the footpath up to Tresillian.
Although not quite in Truro itself, we also have to mention the stunning Trelissick Estate, run by the National Trust and situated just on the Falmouth side of Truro (also at the crossing point of the King Harry Ferry for heading to the Roseland Peninsula for the day.) With plenty of parking, formal gardens, expansive parkland and stunning river beaches, this is certainly worth a visit on your way through as well.
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