Airbnb Occupancy Rates in Cornwall, England(September 2026)
Cornwall runs on two coastlines — Atlantic surf towns, harbour villages, and former mining parishes each with its own booking calendar. Search demand clusters on the county hub and named resort towns such as Newquay and St. Ives before it spreads to smaller harbour parishes.
As of September 2026, the county averages £36,238 in annual revenue per listing, 60% occupancy, and £166 ADR across 17,966 active listings. County-wide figures smooth out wide spreads between high-yield parishes and quiet inland wards.
Model the town or parish first — north coast, Mount’s Bay, or the Fal estuary — then sanity-check against the Cornwall average.
Cornwall Airbnb Market Map (September 2026)
Cornwall Market Performance
Period: September 2025 - August 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 town and confirm planning status with Cornwall Council before exchange.
Works best if:
- You underwrite at town level — Newquay and St. Ives are the county’s clearest named best-known markets; Padstow, Fowey, and Porthleven still outperform on revenue per listing but draw less branded query volume.
- 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 (1,283 listings in Newquay, 1,385 in St. Ives) 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 | £36,238 | 60% | Full-county scale (17,966 listings) |
| Newquay | £38,979 | 60% | Surf & school-holiday volume |
| St. Ives | £39,369 | 57% | Arts & gallery coastal brand |
| Devon | £35,144 | 58% | Neighbour county, similar coast mix |
| Whitby | £31,200 | 57% | North Sea harbour alternative |
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 60%, meaning properties are booked for about 218 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%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 91% | 68% | 38% | 9% |
*High desirability & optimized availability | *Good market fit & guest satisfaction | *Standard market performance | *Higher vacancy, optimization needed |
Seasonal Occupancy Patterns in Cornwall
September, July
Highest demand and occupancy rates. Perfect for premium pricing strategies and maximizing revenue. Consider longer minimum stays and higher rates.
March, February
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 £43,411 annually, while strong performers (top 25%) earn at least £26,147. Typical properties generate about £12,825 per year, and entry-level listings (bottom 25%) see earnings near £2,910, 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.
Want to see how your listing could perform? Create a free account to unlock personalized analytics and explore exclusive insights in our app!
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 lives 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.
Gallery & harbour-weekend guests
St. Ives attracts couples and long-weekend art tourists who pay premium ADR outside peak school holidays. Tate traffic and tight parking mean walkable properties outperform large inland cottages.
Food & harbour-weekend guests (inland coast)
Padstow, Fowey, and Porthleven attract food tourists who pay premium ADR with less purely seasonal demand than surf towns — £49,982, £47,137, and £45,289 respectively on 435, 226, and 177 listings.
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.
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 £166 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%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| £233per night | £150per night | £88per night | £26per 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 £36,238.
Towns guests book most often
These are the Cornwall landings that currently earn dedicated pages — the natural next clicks from this county page:
Newquay: 1,283 listings averaging £38,979 at 60% occupancy — surf, festivals, and family beach weeks.
St. Ives: 1,385 listings at £39,369 with 57% occupancy — Cornwall’s densest arts-and-coast brand.
High-yield parishes (metrics only — link when guest demand appears)
Padstow (435 listings, £49,982 revenue), Fowey (226, £47,137), and Porthleven (177, £45,289) lead the county on revenue per listing but do not yet show separate occupancy landing impressions in Search Console — worth tracking before adding hub links.
Volume vs yield
Falmouth and Penzance: Gateway towns with 501 and 534 listings — lower revenue per listing than Padstow or Fowey, but easier entry prices and longer shoulder seasons.
St. Merryn and north-coast villages: Family beach access with £46,785 near Padstow — useful for hosts priced out of harbour-centre stock.
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