The Poly

The Poly sits right in Truro's heart, a proper creative space that doesn't feel like a stuffy gallery or a try-hard venue. It's an arts centre that actually engages with what's happening now - theatre, exhibitions, live music, film screenings. Walk in and you'll find work from local and visiting artists, plus a decent cafe where people genuinely seem to linger over coffee rather than bolt after five minutes.

You'll want to allow two or three hours to get the most of it, longer if there's a performance on. The programme changes regularly, so it's worth checking ahead - some weeks it's worth the trip, others less so. The building itself has character without being precious about it.

Theatre types will find proper productions here, not just am-dram stuff, though that happens too. Families with older kids (eight upwards) can usually find something worth their time, though you'll want to check what's on - a contemporary art installation might hold a child's attention for twenty minutes, no more. Art students and locals who actually care about their cultural life will be happiest here.

Free admission to exhibitions, though performances and screenings cost. From the nearby caravan parks - Trethem Mill Touring Park is under four miles away, Stay Wild just over five - Truro makes a proper day out beyond just The Poly. It's the kind of place that works best alongside the broader town, not as a standalone destination.