Easter is one of the best times to experience Cornwall. Spring brings colour to the landscape, longer days by the coast and a packed calendar of seasonal events across the county. Explore our guide to what’s on in Cornwall for Easter 2026 and start planning your visit.
Easter at Eden
A visit to the Eden Project is a firm favourite for Easter in Cornwall, thanks to its mix of immersive biomes and outdoor spaces to explore. Spring 2026 brings an extra reason to visit, with Eden teasing a new seasonal feature — a giant marble run.
Launching in March and running throughout Easter, the giant marble run spans more than 100 metres across six locations within the gardens. Families can rent or buy a carved wooden marble and follow its journey through wooden channels, aerial drops and sprout trees.
Easter egg hunts and trails across Cornwall
Easter egg hunts and seasonal trails are one of the highlights of the school holidays in Cornwall. Gardens, historic estates and coastal attractions across the county host family-friendly events throughout spring. Easter egg hunts are easy to turn into a full day out. Follow the trail, explore the gardens, then stop for a relaxed café break.
- Glendurgan Garden, Mawnan Smith: Family Easter Adventures Trail winding through subtropical gardens (28 March–12 April).
- Godolphin, near Helston: Easter egg hunt across this historic National Trust estate and spring meadows (28 March–19 April).
- Lanhydrock, near Bodmin: National Trust Easter Adventures Trail through woodland and estate grounds (28 March–19 April).
- Lappa Valley Railway, near Newquay: Easter egg hunt and duck pond races, plus a special visit from Bluey (3–6 April and 11–12 April).
- Pentire Headland, near Newquay: Scenic coastal Easter egg hunt with sea views along the headland (2–6 April).
- Trengwainton Garden, near Penzance: Easter egg hunt set among spring flowers and historic garden paths (3–19 April).
Booking ahead is recommended, particularly over the bank holiday weekend.
Spring gardens and countryside walks in Cornwall
Visit Cornwall’s gardens at their best this spring. Easter marks the peak of colour across the county with daffodils, primroses, camellias and magnolias brightening gardens and estates.
Cornwall’s most outstanding gardens include: Caerhays, Cotehele, Glendurgan, Godolphin, Heligan, Trebah, Tregothnan, Trelissick, Trebah, Trewithen and Trengwainton. Expect everything from wide, open lawns to sheltered woodland walks and valleys.
Spring also brings natural colour to the countryside. Country lanes and footpaths fill with primroses, bluebells and early cow parsley, while gorse adds flashes of yellow to the cliffs. It’s a lovely time for dog walks along quieter lanes, field edges and coast paths as hedgerows come into bloom.
Our favourite spring routes include the coast path between Port Isaac and Polzeath, the dramatic clifftop walk from Crackington Haven towards Bude, and the wide, open paths around Pentire Headland.
Explore our dog-friendly cottages, ideally positioned close to Cornwall’s coast paths.
Spring surf lessons in Cornwall
Spring is one of the best times of year to enjoy Cornwall’s surf. Many surf schools make the most of consistent swells, and quieter beaches, running beginner and family lessons throughout the Easter holidays. Learning to surf with experienced local instructors is an easy and confidence-boosting way for all ages to get in the water and make the most of the coast.
Recommended surf schools for Easter include:
- Cornish Wave Surf School (Newquay)
- Escape Surf School (Newquay)
- KingSurf Surf School (Newquay)
- Westcountry Surf School (at Watergate Bay near Newquay)
- St Ives Surf School (St Ives)
- Hayle Surf School (Hayle and Gwithian)
- Freewave Surf Academy (Bude)
If you’re looking for great surf, make sure to browse our North and West Cornwall retreats.
Family fun and indoor activities in Cornwall
Spring weather can be unpredictable, but Cornwall offers plenty to enjoy whatever the forecast. For fully indoor days, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth and the Cornwall Museum & Art Gallery are both engaging options for families. Pendennis Castle also works well in mixed weather, with indoor spaces and sheltered outdoor areas to explore between showers.
For something creative, Wheal Martyn near St Austell hosts hands-on craft activities throughout Easter, including clay modelling, pottery painting, drawing and Easter-themed workshops for children of all ages.
Meanwhile, Tate St Ives is currently showing a major exhibition by Emilija Škarnulytė, featuring immersive film and installation works that explore deep time, mythology and the natural world.
Elsewhere, there are plenty of attractions that suit changeable spring days. These include discovering marine life at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, feeding the penguins at Newquay Zoo, enjoying fairground rides at Camel Creek Adventure Park near Wadebridge, touring Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm near Perranporth, or stepping inside the immersive experiences at Bodmin Jail.
