A day trip to Truro from Newquay: things to do in Truro

You can travel from Newquay to Truro by bus or train, so check the routes and timings for your chosen travel date before setting out. Transport for Cornwall’s bus route 87 runs between the towns via Perranporth, Perran Sands, St Agnes, Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske and Truro railway station.

The route 87 timetable includes departures from Newquay Bus Station Monday–Saturday, except bank holidays. Train journeys are also available, although some require a change at Par. For a closer look at the options, use this guide to travelling from Newquay to Truro by train or bus.

Once you arrive, you can make the central streets your first stop before heading to the cathedral. That order keeps the day simple: begin around the city centre, then allow time for the sights and the return journey.

Begin your Truro day trip in the city centre, then choose between the cathedral and the museum for your main visit. Cornwall Museum & Art Gallery is on River Street, at TR1 2SJ, and offers a way to add local history and culture to a city-centre walk.

The museum describes itself as Cornwall’s largest museum of cultural history and Cornish life and people. Its collections include the Heart of Cornwall Gallery, Mineral Gallery, Nature Gallery, Art Gallery and Ancient Civilisations Gallery. The galleries give you a choice of subjects to focus on rather than requiring a set route through the visit.

The museum’s hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00–16:00, and it is closed Monday and Sunday. Adult admission is £10 and includes an annual pass; under-18s enter free. Tickets cover the permanent collections and exhibitions. Dogs are welcome on the ground floor at no charge, and carers enter free.

The museum says it is fully wheelchair accessible, with a lift to its upper galleries. Its visitor entrance doors are 118 cm wide and open automatically from inside and outside during visitor opening hours.

Truro Cathedral is a central stop with free general entry and regular visiting hours throughout the week. General visiting hours are Monday–Saturday, 10:00–17:00, and Sunday, 11:30–16:00. The cathedral is open every day, but events and activities can affect general visiting hours, so check the cathedral’s official site before you go.

Individuals and small groups generally do not need to book a cathedral tour. Groups of 10 or more must book; general tours are free, with donations welcome. The front entrance on High Cross has ramp access.

If you arrive outside general visiting hours, you may still be able to attend a service. Service times appear separately on the cathedral’s Services page. Fit the cathedral around the museum’s shorter opening window if you plan to visit both: the museum closes at 16:00, while general cathedral visiting continues until 17:00 Monday–Saturday.

Check the return bus or train before you leave the city centre, and allow your day to follow the service times available for your travel date. The route 87 bus runs through several stops between Newquay and Truro, while some train journeys involve a change at Par.

If you have time after the main sights, keep your last stretch flexible rather than adding another fixed stop. For another walk-led plan close to your starting point, a one-day Newquay itinerary on foot focuses on the town itself.

Is Truro suitable for a day trip from Newquay?

Yes. Bus and train services connect the towns, and the cathedral and museum offer city-centre stops for a day out.

Do you need to book to visit Truro Cathedral?

Individuals and small groups generally do not need to book cathedral tours. Groups of 10 or more must book.

When is Cornwall Museum & Art Gallery open?

Its hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00–16:00; it is closed Monday and Sunday.

Is entry to Truro Cathedral free?

General entry is free. General tours are also free, with donations welcome.