The Field of Stars

Culture and coastal views? They really do make quite the combo. Open-air theatre is on the cards at the Minack Theatre in Porthcurno (30 minutes' drive), a simply stunning stage set against the ever-changing backdrop of the sea. Other artsy jaunts are up for grabs at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens (30 minutes), Penlee House Gallery and Museum (30 minutes) and Tate St Ives (35 minutes). Cornwall's clement climate also makes it a prime pick for gardeners, who have created a spectacular variety of horticultural havens around here. Some of the best include Morrab Gardens (20 minutes), a three-acre subtropical park in Penzance, Trewidden Garden (15 minutes), a larger botanical affair, and Tanglewood Wild Garden (10 minutes), whose name is pretty self-explanatory. The Eden Project? That'll be a longer drive (an hour and 20 minutes), but day trips to Britain’s biggest biodomes are still very much doable. The landscape around here truly is a sight for sore eyes, but if you're planning on sticking around for a longish spell and fancy a break from the mainland you can also sail over to the Scilly Isles from Penzance (20 minutes' drive, then a crossing of two hours and 40 minutes).