Is Cornwall worth the expense?

[srasee]

We usually go for a week to Antigua in February and rent a flat or villa. This year we’re thinking of skipping that trip and having an extra one in the UK summer.

We were thinking of renting a house in somewhere like Flushing or Rock or Saint Ives

It is very expensive, but we prefer to stay in upmarket areas. Is Cornwall worth the expense?

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Live in Cornwall and given the choice of Antigua or a staycation . I know which I would pick

I'd pick Cornwall over Antigua any day of the week.
I live in Cornwall, it has some stunning places to see.
I endured the worst holiday of my life in Antigua. Nothing could get me to visit there again.
This was 20 years ago so hopefully it's a more welcoming and safer place nowadays.

I read it as that they'd be skipping the Feb trip to do two in summer, one of which would be Cornwall.

We used to go every year in June before the kids hit school age. Wasn't expensive, wasn't too busy and we always got really lucky with the weather. I agree Fowey is beautiful
We then went again in August for a week as eldest was at school and it rained a lot, was extremely busy and very expensive. We only stayed in a caravan and it cost a fortune and we spent a fortune too
For us as we'd rather pay a bit more and go abroad as more likely to get the weather

Scotland is far nicer, if you want to stay in the UK.

I’m bemused at the cost here! Any flight to Antigua in high season (winter) costs a lot. I have a 3 bed house I rent out in Cornwall and it’s £1600 high season. June is better and it’s cheaper. There’s no way Cornwall is more expensive than Antigua! Unless you rent the most exquisite house on a beach! The air fare alone makes a huge difference when comparing these holidays. Eating out on Antigua isn’t bargain basement either!

Personally I would stay in different places in the Caribbean. We went to many stunning islands way before we ever went Cornwall! Usually Easter for cheaper flights! Cornwall suits us now but not in high season. We no longer want beaches though. Ws like our Cornish restaurants and walking! Always find plenty to do but lying on a beach isn’t one of them.

Cornwall is beautiful in places. However you’re very reliant on the weather.
We had lovely weather for half of our week this summer. Then cold, windy and raining for the other half.
If I had the choice of guaranteed sun in the Caribbean or a week in Cornwall in the British summer I would choose the Caribbean

I love St Ives and we went there either in June or September every year before DS started school, and had lovely holidays — it was a perfect place for gentle beach pottering with a small child. But I love walking and art, and am not bothered by poor weather. I can’t imagine someone who usually goes to Antigua and likes it enjoying Cornwall.

I like Cornwall. But I wouldn’t go near the place in July or August, when the roads are rammed and all the the popular tourist places are ridiculously overcrowded. It’s so much nicer at other times of year, if you’re lucky with the weather. But that’s true of anywhere in the British Isles, of course.

Cornish bird here. I'd avoid August if possible. Inexplicably the weather is often a bit iffy. I'd also avoid St ives and Rock. St Ives is a rammed in the summer, and Rock is full of second home owners who all seem to send their children to the same schools. Ditto Polzeath.
I'd go somewhere quieter and off radar. There are some lovely south coast nooks and crannies.

Personally I think Northumberland, West Wales, the Highlands, Tussocks, lakes or Cairngorms are all far nicer. And (aside from some areas of lakes at peak summer) aren't as busy.

Personally I prefer Dorset and the Gower and was always quite pleased to get back to Dorset when I went to Cornwall but different people like different things.

And the roads in Cornwall in summer are hell.
Cornwall is lovely for a last minute weekend break outside the school hols, when the weather forecast says it's going to be beautifully sunny. Anything else is a definite no.

It's very overcrowded in summer, & IMO overrated.
Antigua doesn't really appeal to me, but it must be better than a UK holiday

No. Go to Devon

Not for us, I'd never drive for 6 hours plus for a holiday in the UK with impressive weather.
We would rather fly pretty much anywhere!

I think the sort of upmarket British seaside towns you're aiming for are overrated and never live up to the hype. They'd be wonderful with 25% of the visitor numbers, but with summer peak crowds they are just a nightmare. It can be impossible to get a restaurant table without booking weeks (or sometimes months!) in advance, parking is a nightmare, streets and shops are crowded etc.

That said, we love Cornwall and go every year. But we stay in the middle of nowhere and do lots of walking, paddle boarding and surfing. There are a few heritage sites we like to visit. We eat out a little bit and there are some incredible Cornish restaurants, but we mostly BBQ and picnic. The weather is unpredictable but we just dress appropriately and crack on. It doesn't spoil our enjoyment.

So I think it depends how you want to spend your time. If you're outdoorsy you'll probably love it. If you're imagining sauntering through quiet streets and drifting in and out of relaxing cafes and galleries, forget it.

Cornwall is stunning, especially in the springtime.

BUT not in school holidays (too crowded everywhere) and not when it rains (which is often).

I don't think it would fulfill what a week in Antigua would. It can be cold, windy and wet at any time of year - which does not make for a lovely relaxing break in idyllic surroundings - a trip to Cornwall is always going to be a gamble weather wise.

People are reading the OP incorrectly. The OP isn’t going to Cornwall in February! I love Cornwall & have had some amazing holidays there. You don’t need to spend thousands though.

Well, I’d definitely not go to St Ives for a start. I love Cornwall but we basically avoid pricey locations and crowds, and spend a majority of the time outdoors, so good weather can make or break it.

I like Cornwall but not in August. Weather is often crappy and it's just too expensive.

We went in May, June and October. October was lucky weatherwise, the week following was a total wash out, we had the occassional shower.

Yes, totally agree with this, we have a villa in Spain but when the children were young DH liked the idea of the 4 children having a traditional British seaside holiday every so often so we made a few visits to Devon on and Cornwall. Very beautiful but OMG ram packed in July and August and the narrow lanes meant moving around was difficult. I couldn't waist to get to out villa in Marbella and so I could have a real, relaxing holiday.

I go every year, through choice, love it. Weather can be hit and miss but if you're somewhere like St Ives, it tends to blow over quite quickly and the beauty or Cornwall is that if it's raining in one part, it's normally not raining in another and so you can chase the sun. Even on it's rainiest days, I still love it.

It ain't the Caribbean though. (Having said that though, I have no desire to go back there).

Of course it's those narrow lanes which help make Cornwall, well, Cornwall! See them in May when they're bursting with wildflowers before the people who can't reverse come down! Glorious!

The south coast of Cornwall is much nicer. The trendy north coast is rather bleak and colder and windier. I’m if you have teens who want to surf but not if you want pretty coves and a bit of woodland.
My DSis lives on the south coast, her DH is native and they have a small fishing boat. We have had some amazing fishing trips, frequently see dolphins and seals. Pottering along the coast I. The summer to access coves that are not accessible otherwise is great fun.
Lots of good restaurants and pubs. You don’t need to go to the touristy spots but the coastal towns and villages are all very pretty. The rental properties are a lot cheaper than Rock, Padstow and Polzeath. I was very under impressed by these areas. We stayed there a couple of years ago and really couldn’t understand the hype.
Fowey and Polperro are lovely and there are lots of similar all along the south coast.
The last time we visited we rented a cottage inland not far from the A30 so we could access the A roads easily. A sea view is ok but not necessary, takes so long to drive from the coast to the main artery roads in order to mooch around.