Situated roughly halfway along this tip of England's south west, Truro is the centre of Cornwall in many ways. It's the place to be for the best shops, the administrative heart of the county and it has long been a centre of trade and commerce. That's not to say that Truro is a bustling hub of frenzied activity - far from it. Truro's 20,000 or so residents (Truronians) go about their daily lives at a wonderfully relaxed pace in the shadow of the great cathedral, joining the tourists who amble from shop to café to art gallery, soaking up the sunshine. It all sounds pretty idyllic doesn't it? You won't be persuaded otherwise during a break here. 

Of course there's plenty to see elsewhere in Cornwall, from the popular Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan, to picture-perfect surf beaches and isolated coves - but spend a little time in Truro to experience the gentle stride of local life as it dances merrily around the cobbled lanes. 

Visit the mighty Truro Cathedral, which dominates a skyline otherwise filled with pretty cottages and tree-dotted hills. It's a work of Gothic Revival brilliance and is topped, somewhat unusually, by three spires. The Royal Cornwall Museum gives away secrets of the county's past, while you'll hear plenty of local tales as you tour the popular markets, such as Lemon Street Market and the twice-weekly farmers' market. And just because you're in landlocked Truro doesn't mean you can't see Cornwall from the water - hop aboard a pleasure cruiser on the River Fal and enjoy a few leisurely hours of sightseeing.

Booking Truro car hire in advance will save you money. Find a great deal on a rental car using the search tool on TravelSupermarket and collect your vehicle at a convenient downtown location in Truro.

You could hit the beaches, tour traditional fishing villages, find hidden coves or simply enjoy an unhurried drive around the hills, forests and pastures of England's most southerly county. 

The good news is that everywhere in Cornwall is within easy reach of Truro. It's no more than an hour by road to Land's End in the west and a little over an hour to the eastern reaches of the county. The bad news is that you've got to wade through a massive inventory of star attractions to narrow down your sightseeing wish list. It can be tricky, as Cornwall is packed with sublime sandy beaches and family activities. 

The beauty of having a hire car in Truro means that you could let the open road dictate your days, taking this turn or that and stumbling upon an unforgettable place. If you prefer to be a little more organised, you could start with our must-sees, using the TravelSupermarket travel guides to Cornwall to find more dream destinations. Then, when you arrive in Truro, enlist the help of the friendly locals to point you in the right direction. 

The Eden Project comes highly recommended as a family attraction, as do St Michael's Mount, the Tamar Otter and Wildlife Centre, the Monkey Sanctuary in Looe, and Bodmin Moor - for red-cheeked walks in this stunning patch of Cornish moorland. The best coastal hotspots include Sennen Cove, Watergate Bay, Porthminster Beach, Porthcurno, and the haunting remains of Tintagel Castle, which stand guard over the sea on the north coast of Cornwall.