Cornwall as BME family

[Moonwatcher1234]

Looking at booking Cornwall (near st Michaels mount) for Easter holidays. Just wondering how BME friendly south Cornwall is and any tips/places to avoid? Thanks

Looking for helpful tips thanks - not to justify myself to somebody who doesn’t appear to understand.

I live in Cornwall. No I am afraid I don't understand.

We visit cornwall every year on holiday. My partner is black and my children are mixed race, I've never experienced any negativity but, I am viewing through a white lens.

Unfortunately OP you have posted on MN where most posters don’t understand the difficulties that BAME people face (and some will deny it even exists)

For the benefit of the posters showing faux naivety, sometimes we don’t want to go somewhere where everyone stares at us because we’re not white and are even hostile in the way they speak to us.

It's a perfectly valid and understandable question so I don't get why the op is getting some sarcy answers.

I've not been to Cornwall- my heart is elsewhere - but it got me looking. I can see now why you are asking.

Cornwall isn't friendly to anyone who wasn't born there.
Try Devon were much nicer people and we know how to make cream tea.

As a tourist you'll be absolutely welcome. Living here would be more insidious tbh. Long story, I'm white but Scottish and had lots of problems growing up up here.

If you go to the Mount, don't forget prebook your tickets and keep and eye on the weather - inclement weather may necessitate a closure due to it being inaccessible.

And admire the church at the top, I got married in there 😎

I get it OP. I’m white but DH is not, and twice in very rural areas on holiday I’ve had the same remark - apparently I’m ’brave’ to be married to him. And our daughter has had the classic ‘isn’t she tanned’ a few times.

No idea about Cornwall, but I totally know why you’re asking.

Ah okay. Well please accept that I’m not trying to offend. It is a genuine consideration for BME (or, yes, BAME) families from the perspective of not feeling unwelcome or stared at, or worse, outside of the usual cities. Listen to sangita myska from LBC who did a show on this recently for a better explanation. We will book the break as I’m sure it will be fine and I’m a massive de maurier fan but I guess I’m just seeking reassurance from others who have been. Hope that explains it a little.

They aren't particularly friendly in Cornwall if you're not a true local, 20 years it took my folks to be accepted! I hope that you have a lovely time regardless, it's a beautiful part of our country even when it's raining 😬

I understand, OP. I’m white and my husband is Black. We went to Cornwall years ago on holiday. I didn’t notice anything untoward and my husband didn’t mention anything (obviously I appreciate that being white, I likely missed things).

Thanks all for the comments - I’m booking it and looking forward to it. Honestly don’t mind if the locals aren’t friendly to outsiders as long as they are equally unfriendly to everybody! @PaulGalico1 you know I’m only joking - I’m sure we’ll have a great time.

Yet another white person here (!) - DH is Asian and we go to Cornwall most years with our kids to visit friends.

Everywhere we've been in Cornwall has been VERY white. The other tourists also tend to be white. Even I find it a bit weird sometimes (we normally live in a much more diverse area). DH sometimes feels he stands out and this makes him feel a bit uncomfortable. Having said that, neither he nor the kids have encountered any hostility.

P.S. I think people who don't understand the question shouldn't feel obligated to comment on the thread...

Cornwall is a wonderful place and I hope you have a brilliant trip.

Your question is entirely reasonable and I understand why you’re asking it. Cornwall is not diverse and some areas are very deprived. But in the main coastal tourist areas and attractions (including Penzance and Marazion) and in Truro (the county town) you should be absolutely fine.

However Cornwall has quite a distinct culture and Cornish people have a unique sense of humour - and their own dialect phrases! - so don’t be surprised to observe some differences in communication style.

The Cornish are friendly to tourists, tourism is the bedrock of the economy after all. Bit different if you're a second home owner.

Afraid I cannot comment on attitudes towards minorities holidaying there but I hope there are none (attitudes) and that you go and have a wonderful time, op, Cornwall is beautiful

Tourists go to that area from all over the UK and the world so the locals aren’t going to be surprised by different ethnicities. Also Cornwall is mostly white but I went to school there and even in my small school there were black and Asian kids. I wouldn’t expect you to experience any negativity and I hope you don’t, my only advice would be avoid rough pubs late at night (but I don’t suppose that’s a big part of your holiday plan/that goes for everywhere in the country). Have a lovely holiday! Do go to the Minack to see a show (pre book), it’s amazing.

Wonderful place but whitest place on earth

I go twice a year to Cornwall for holidays and I've literally never seen a non-white person there in 40 years

I comment on this because I live in London and it's so stark to me

I'm white but DH is Indian. DCs just looked tanned.

Generally we've found touristy parts of Cornwall to be fine.

Very white generally, occasional second look in smaller places but nothing has been said and everyone has been friendly enough.

Much worse in Wales and English/ Welsh border for some reason. In Ross on Wye a whole pub went quiet when we walked in and in Rhayader people where pleasant but we got A LOT of looks as we walked by and didn't see another non-white person all week.

Although one day having a tiny, drunk, Indian priest with us may have increased interest (DBIL).

My family is BME we go Cornwall, there is the odd look but I feel there always is when we travel outside of major cities ( sometimes even in major cities)... If you stay touristy parts like St Michael's mount or St Ives kind of areas there is more diversity.

Yes it's very very white. The Cornish can be unfriendly towards 'upcountry' folk, but in the holiday season there's an influx of every type of size, shape and colour of person so I think/hope you will be fine. Tourism is so important for everyone there.

My DH is British born Chinese and I'm white, we go to Cornwall virtually every year. DH says he's never had any negative attention for any reason.

We normally stay in Falmouth. What I like about Falmouth is that is seems more youthful, diverse and a bit grungy, maybe because it's got the University/art school.

When we went last summer I saw people of many different ethnic origins. It was tall ships week so there were hundreds of young sailors from ships all around the world in harbour, and many different nationalities of people who had come to see the ships from all over the world. it was fantastic!

Falmouth also has lots of restaurants including a great Caribbean restaurant; Cribbs and an African restaurant called Amanzi, theres lots of seafood, it's got the big deep harbour (so boat and ferry trips available), sandy beaches with rockpools and lots of beautiful places nearby like the gorgeous gardens of Trebah, Enys and Glendurgan.

Lots of stares and people checking: "are you here on holiday?".

White but went with Pakistani-heritage male friend. A few stares in rural pubs and some of the stares weren't that friendly. The towns and cities were fine.