Airbnb Occupancy Rates in Cornwall, England(July 2026)
Cornwall runs on two coastlines — Atlantic surf towns, harbour villages, and former mining parishes each with its own booking calendar. Newquay fills on school holidays; Padstow and Fowey earn on food-and-harbour weekends.
As of July 2026, the county averages £34,928 in annual revenue per listing, 58% occupancy, and £164 ADR across 17,441 active listings. County-wide figures smooth out wide spreads between high-yield parishes and quiet inland wards.
Model the locality first — north coast, Mount’s Bay, or the Fal estuary — then sanity-check against the Cornwall average.
Cornwall Airbnb Market Map (July 2026)
Cornwall Market Performance
Period: July 2025 - June 2026
Is Airbnb a Good Investment in Cornwall?
YES — Cornwall remains one of England’s strongest coastal STR regions for hosts who pick the right locality and confirm planning status with Cornwall Council before exchange.
Works best if:
- You underwrite at locality level — Padstow, Fowey, and Porthleven outperform the county average on revenue; Penzance and Hayle trade volume for lower yield.
- You want dual-season demand — July–August beach weeks plus shoulder food-and-walking weekends on the north coast.
- You can compete on guest experience in high-inventory towns (St. Ives at 1,375 listings, Newquay at 1,205) while holding ADR through parking, outdoor space, and strong reviews.
- You confirm planning status with Cornwall Council before exchange — Article 4 directions and the pending national STR use class could bite concentrated holiday-let streets.
| Market | Avg revenue | Occupancy | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | £34,928 | 58% | Full-county scale (17,441 listings) |
| Devon | £34,418 | 56% | Neighbour county, similar coast mix |
| St. Ives | £38,154 | 57% | Concentrated arts & surf brand |
| Whitby | £31,591 | 55% | North Sea harbour alternative |
| Purbeck | £42,139 | 59% | Smaller Jurassic Coast district |
Cornwall’s edge is depth: more inventory and more micro-markets than any single Dorset district. The trade-off is internal dispersion — county averages understate winners and overstate losers.
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How Often Will Your Airbnb Be Booked in Cornwall?
View Demand Patterns →Occupancy rates directly impact your revenue potential. Understanding demand patterns helps you set realistic expectations and optimize your availability strategy.
The current average occupancy rate in Cornwall is 58%, meaning properties are booked for about 213 nights per year. However, occupancy varies significantly based on property quality and management. Here's what you can expect:
Airbnb Occupancy Tiers in Cornwall
Premium(Top 10%) | High-performing(Top 25%) | Average(Median) | Low-performing(Bottom 25%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90% | 67% | 37% | 8% |
*High desirability & optimized availability | *Good market fit & guest satisfaction | *Standard market performance | *Higher vacancy, optimization needed |
Seasonal Occupancy Patterns in Cornwall
June, July
Highest demand and occupancy rates. Perfect for premium pricing strategies and maximizing revenue. Consider longer minimum stays and higher rates.
February, March
Moderate demand with balanced pricing opportunities. Good for attracting budget-conscious travelers while maintaining reasonable occupancy rates.
January, November
Lower demand requires competitive pricing and creative marketing. Focus on local events, extended stay discounts, and targeting specific traveler segments.
How Much Can You Earn with Airbnb in Cornwall?
Calculate Earnings →One of the most common questions for potential Airbnb hosts in Cornwall is about earning potential. Let's break down the revenue patterns and what you can realistically expect to earn.
Monthly Revenue Trends in Cornwall
Best-in-class Airbnb properties (top 10%) in Cornwall achieve around £42,112 annually, while strong performers (top 25%) earn at least £24,787. Typical properties generate about £11,663 per year, and entry-level listings (bottom 25%) see earnings near £2,078, often with room for optimization. Keep in mind, these are market averages—your actual earnings can be even higher depending on your property's location, bedrooms, guest capacity, and unique amenities.
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What Can You Learn from Top-Performing Airbnbs in Cornwall?
View Top Performers →Studying successful properties provides valuable insights for your own Airbnb strategy. Here are the top-performing listings in Cornwall and what makes them successful.
Cornwall Market Analysis
Surf & festival travellers
Newquay, St. Agnes, and Crantock live on short, high-intensity booking windows — school holidays, surf camps, and event weekends. ADR spikes are real, but so is competition: hosts need parking, outdoor space, and flexible check-in to win repeat groups.
Family beach-week groups
North-coast villages from St. Merryn through Bude Stratton book seven-night stays in July and August. Proximity to a beach, not town-centre dining, drives reviews. Properties that market as “walk to sand” outperform larger cottages stuck inland.
Food & harbour-weekend guests
Padstow, Fowey, and Porthleven attract couples and long-weekend food tourists who pay premium ADR outside peak school holidays. These localities punch above the Cornwall average on annual revenue precisely because demand is less purely seasonal than surf towns.
What Are the Airbnb Regulations in Cornwall?
Understanding local regulations is crucial for operating a successful Airbnb. Let's examine the compliance landscape and what you need to know about licensing requirements in Cornwall.
Current Regulatory Status
No properties have proper licensing in this market, indicating minimal regulatory enforcement.
Planning risk: Cornwall Council has flagged high concentrations of holiday lets in some parishes and is awaiting a national short-term let use class and mandatory register. Article 4 directions could require full planning permission in affected areas — verify before you buy, not after guests are booked.
Work through this pre-launch checklist:
Confirm planning status — use Cornwall Council’s Do I need planning permission? service or apply for a Lawful Development Certificate if you need certainty. Read their short-term lets guidance for the latest on the pending use class and 90-night main-home letting rule.
Register when the national STR scheme goes live — track GOV.UK registration guidance and Cornwall’s updates on the same page above.
Fire safety for paying guests — the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to holiday lets; Cornwall Council’s building control holiday lets page links to compliance steps.
Business rates vs council tax — if available 140+ days/year and let 70+ days in a rolling 12 months, the property may be rated as self-catering for business rates. See GOV.UK self-catering rules.
Commercial waste & licensing — holiday lets must not use domestic bin collections; check Cornwall Council waste rules for your parish. Some coastal events or HMO conversions trigger separate licensing — use the general planning advice hub if converting use class.
Tax & safety baseline — meet gas, electrical, and EPC standards; declare income to HMRC regardless of Cornwall’s planning outcome.
How Competitive is the Airbnb Market in Cornwall?
Analyze Competition →Understanding market competition is crucial for any potential Airbnb host. Let's examine the supply dynamics and what they mean for your investment strategy. The Cornwall Airbnb market currently features 17,441 active listings with an average occupancy rate of 58%. This represents a highly competitive market environment where balanced supply and demand create opportunities for strategic positioning.
Airbnb Listings: Change Over Time
Strategic Entry into Cornwall Airbnb Market
Competitive Positioning
- Focus on mid-market with competitive pricing
- Emphasize unique features and exceptional service
- Position as luxury accommodation option
Market Opportunities
- Strong demand supports premium pricing strategies
- Rapid market growth creates new opportunities
- Established market with proven demand patterns
What Should You Charge for Your Airbnb in Cornwall?
Smart Pricing Tools →Pricing is one of the most critical decisions for Airbnb success. Let's analyze the current pricing landscape and help you understand what rates you can realistically charge.
The current average daily rate in Cornwall is £164 per night. However, pricing varies significantly based on property quality and location. Here's what different property tiers typically charge:
Airbnb Pricing Tiers in Cornwall
Premium(Top 10%) | High-performing(Top 25%) | Average(Median) | Budget(Bottom 25%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| £232per night | £148per night | £83per night | £23per night |
*Top locations, big properties, premium amenities | *Good property management, highly rated | *Standard market performance | *Basic properties, less desirable locations |
Is It Profitable to Start an Airbnb in Cornwall?
Investment Analysis →Understanding the profitability potential is crucial for any Airbnb investment decision. Let's analyze the revenue performance and profit margins in the Cornwall market to help you make informed financial decisions.
Revenue Performance
Profitability Factors
Which Areas in Cornwall Are Most Profitable for Airbnb?
Explore All Areas →Cornwall’s 200+ parishes each run on its own booking calendar; parish-level revenue often diverges from the county average of £34,928.
Top Performing Localities
These parishes lead Cornwall on average annual revenue — not always the towns with the most listings:
Padstow:421 listings, £51,203 revenue at 64% occupancy — the county’s best-known food-tourism yield story.
St. Columb Major: Inland but strong (174 listings) at £58,083 — a reminder that A30 corridor access and large cottages can outperform sea views.
Fowey:226 harbour-town listings averaging £46,748 with 65% occupancy — premium ADR without Newquay’s party-town churn.
Porthleven:175 listings on Mount’s Bay at £46,971 — harbour dining and storm-watching weekends extend the calendar.
St. Merryn:341 listings near Padstow earning £46,854 — family beach access with slightly lower ADR than Padstow itself.
Luxury & Premium Coast
St. Issey: Smaller inventory (114 listings) with £58,365 — north-coast premium cottages away from town-centre noise.
Lanteglos:164 listings on the Polperro–Looe stretch at £47,755 and 68% occupancy — cliff-path views command ADR.
High Volume vs High Yield
The towns with the most listings do not always earn the most per listing:
St. Ives:1,375 listings (Cornwall’s largest pool) at £38,154 — brand recognition and year-round gallery traffic, but saturation caps yield.
Newquay:1,205 listings averaging £36,959 — volume play for hosts who can operate at scale.
Falmouth and Penzance: Gateway towns with 480 and 512 listings respectively — lower revenue per listing than Padstow or Fowey, but easier entry prices and longer shoulder seasons.
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