Helston sits at the head of the River Cober, acting as a gateway to the rolling farmland and dramatic coastline of the Lizard peninsula in west Cornwall. The town’s name comes from the Cornish for “old court” and its streets reflect a long history as a market and coinage town linked to the county’s tin and mining past; you’ll still find historic buildings such as the Coinage Hall and the medieval St Michael's Church that hint at that heritage.
Today Helston has a lively community life centred on markets, local shops and visitors drawn by the scenery and customs - most famously Flora Day with its centuries‑old Furry Dance and Hal‑an‑Tow performance. The nearby Royal Navy air station at Culdrose is a major employer alongside agriculture, light industry and tourism, giving the town a mix of traditional Cornish character and modern economic activity.
Postcode districts covering Helston
Most populated places nearby
- Redruth 9.7 miles
- Falmouth 9.3 miles
- Truro 14.6 miles
- Camborne 8.2 miles
- Newquay 23.6 miles
- Penzance 12.4 miles
- Helston 0.5 miles
Neighbouring places
- Helston Built-up area 0.5 miles
- Helston North Ward 0.7 miles
- Rose-in-the-bush Built-up area 1.6 miles
- Porthleven Built-up area 2.1 miles
- Sithney Parish 2.4 miles
- Gweek Built-up area 2.6 miles
- Mawgan-in-Meneage Parish 2.8 miles
- Gunwalloe Parish 2.9 miles
- Breage Built-up area 2.9 miles
- Mawgan Built-up area 3 miles
- Cury Parish 3.2 miles
- Helston South & Meneage Ward 3.5 miles
Example postcodes in Helston
TR13 8WL, TR13 8JX, TR13 8PB, TR13 8RY, TR13 8DF, TR13 8JY, TR13 8NU, TR13 8LG, TR13 8FQ … See all
Transport links
- Newquay Cornwall Airport 26.6 miles
- Exeter International Airport 92.8 miles
- Camborne Railway Station 7.9 miles
- Penryn Railway Station 8.6 miles
Hotels near Helston Ad
- Mullion Cove Hotel & Spa 4 5.5 miles
- Polurrian on the Lizard 4 5.2 miles
- Trelawne Hotel 3 7.8 miles
- The Bay Hotel 9 miles
- Mounts Bay Inn 5 miles
- Housel Bay Hotel 4 9.7 miles
- Hotel Meudon 4 7.7 miles
- Greenbank Hotel 4 9.7 miles
- Anacapri 5 9.6 miles
- The Royal Duchy Hotel 4 9.9 miles
Schools in Helston
- Helston Community College Secondary
- Nansloe Academy Primary
- Parc Eglos School Primary
- St Michael's C of E Primary School Primary
Local points of interest
- Mullion Harbour Harbour 5.7 miles
- Swanpool Beach Beach 9.1 miles
- Gylly Beach Beach 9.5 miles
- Penzance Harbour Harbour 11.8 miles
- Lamorran House Gardens Gardens 11.8 miles
- Wharfside Shopping Centre Shopping centre 11.8 miles
- Penwith College College 12.3 miles
- Chapel Porth Beach Beach 14.2 miles
- Merry Maidens Archaeological site 14.3 miles
- Mên-an-Tol Archaeological site 15.5 miles
- Boscawen-un Stone Circle Archaeological site 15.5 miles
- Pencalenick Estate 16.2 miles