Within the UK, Cornwall is one of the most popular holiday destinations.
Due to its distinctive coastline and beautiful beaches it is a favourite among those who’d rather stay a little closer to home than travelling abroad.
And within the county, certain towns and villages have cemented their status as desirable holiday spots, with places like St Ives, Newquay and Falmouth among some of the most visited spots.
But there are a number of equally beautiful hidden gems within Cornwall just waiting to be discovered.
And among these is the stunning market town of Helston, in the south west of Cornwall.
Known as the “gateway to the Lizard Peninsula”, the town is the most southerly in mainland Britain.
It has plenty to offer history lovers as the second oldest town in the county.
Visit Cornwall says: “Helston’s timeline stretches back a long way. The Saxons were here in the 6th century and with a charter granted by King John in 1201 (for the price of forty marks of silver!), the town became the second oldest in Cornwall.
“From the 1700s onwards, Helston, as with so many major towns in the county, prospered on the back of tin mining, being a stannary town. This was somewhere the minors could bring their tin to be valued and sold.
“With the arrival of the railway in the mid 1800s, Helston became a tourist destination and ‘the gateway to the Lizard peninsula’, where tourists would arrive to see some of the most incredible scenery, wildlife and natural beauty in the UK.”
Nowadays it is more known for its famous May Day celebrations, known as Flora Day.
“In May, the town comes alive for Flora Day, one of the most ancient and famous May Day celebrations in the UK,” Visit Cornwall adds.
During the festivities the houses and shops of the town are decorated with greenery and floral arrangement.
People dance through the streets, entering selected houses and shops to drive out the darkness of winter and bring in the light of spring.
Visit Cornwall says: “This is truly a must see festival with impressive historical significance for the county.”
Helston is also the perfect spot to act as a base for visiting well known picturesque beaches and villages.
It is just an eight minute drive away to Porthleven, a beautiful port town, as well as within a 45 minute radius of Mousehole, Kynance Cove, Coverack and Porthcurno.