Cornwall — England's Wild Coast★★
Cornwall at England's southwestern tip feels like another country — and in some ways, it was. The Cornish had their own Celtic language (which is being revived today), their own flag (white cross on a black background), and an identity that stands apart from England. Today, Cornwall is Britain's most popular summer destination: dramatic cliffs, turquoise waters reminiscent of Caribbean beaches, and a creative scene that attracts London gallery owners.
- St Ives — Once a fishing village, now an artist colony with the Tate St Ives (a branch of the London Tate, overlooking the beach) and galleries on every corner. Porthmeor Beach looks Caribbean in the sun
- Padstow — Rick Stein has turned this fishing village into a culinary hotspot. His Seafood Restaurant is legendary, but the Fish & Chips from the takeaway at the harbor are just as good (and affordable)
- Tintagel Castle — The cliff-top ruin is said to be King Arthur's birthplace. The new bridge over the chasm is spectacular. Myth and reality merge
- Eden Project — Two gigantic geodesic domes in a former kaolin quarry house tropical and Mediterranean plant worlds. Architecturally stunning
- South West Coast Path — England's longest hiking trail (1,014 km!) follows the entire coast of Cornwall and Devon. Individual stages (e.g., St Ives → Zennor, 10 km) are fantastic day hikes
- Minack Theatre — An open-air theater carved into the rock above the Atlantic. Shakespeare's Tempest with the real ocean as a backdrop — unforgettable
