Where to stay in Cornwall?

[Turnedouttoes]

Coming to the conclusion that our abroad holiday for May half term won’t be going ahead so considering booking something in Cornwall instead. Apart from St Ives I don’t know much about where is good to stay.

Just DP and I, early 30s. Ideally somewhere with a beach/harbour/near the sea. Things we like on holiday:
Nice restaurants
Plenty of places to stop for a mid-afternoon cocktail/glass of wine
Independent interesting shops
Buzzy atmosphere
Somewhere with plenty of places nearby to explore

We’ll probably stop in the New Forest on the drive down for a couple of nights and then do 5 nights in Cornwall. As we haven’t had a holiday in so long I’m willing to throw money at it so cost not a problem.

Padstow?

You'll get a load of people from Cornwall along in a minute telling you you're not welcome but I'm just over the border in Devon. Can I suggest that North and South Devon coast is as lovely as Cornwall and marginally less busy?

Check out Croyde, Clovelly, Wembury, Bigbury, Brixham.

If you must have Cornwall, I like Falmouth.

Be quick, I suspect everything is going to be booked up fairly quickly!

Devon is a great shout @Seriouslymole cuts down the drive a little bit and a quick glance at Booking.com suggests there’s more availability than Cornwall.
I’ll check out the places you mentioned

I had four days in December immediately after the November restrictions ended and would agree with Devon. If you don't mind being in town/city and travelling for your days out there is a choice of hotels in Exeter.

St Ives is lovely.

Oh and Fowey.

@peak2021

I had four days in December immediately after the November restrictions ended and would agree with Devon. If you don't mind being in town/city and travelling for your days out there is a choice of hotels in Exeter.

Or for just outside Exeter so a bit more of a "country/seaside" feel, try Budleigh Salterton, Seaton, Topsham or even Totnes as a bit of a wild card. I love Totnes but it's very...um, Totnes...(slightly alternative)

Ilfracombe or Bideford

Try Falmouth, it's got beaches and gorgeous gardens nearby (enys, trebah) great bakeries, tasty pizza place, good seafood , a good public art gallery above the library and the ferry to St Mawes which has more nice restaurants.

Some of the shops/restaurants were closed or gone when I visited in August 2020.

I normally go for a week self catering in central Falmouth every summer (visiting family) but unfortunately though I called to book the same apartment for next year after just leaving it, the holiday company had changed its policy unannouced to releasing bookings further than 6 months away whereas normally they give the previous tenants first refusal just after their holiday finishes.

They didn't have anything suitable left for me so I'm booked to go to Dartmouth instead this summer.

@Chuckleknuckles I agree Fowey. It's perfect!