Guidebook for Penzance
Arts & Culture
Penzance's very own gallery/museum displaying many of the Newlyn School and St ives artists (1880-1940). Also has a bookshop and a lovely cafe with indoor and outdoor seating - all set within lovely gardens.
89 locals recommend
Penlee House Gallery & Museum
Morrab RoadPenzance's very own gallery/museum displaying many of the Newlyn School and St ives artists (1880-1940). Also has a bookshop and a lovely cafe with indoor and outdoor seating - all set within lovely gardens.
Perfect if you take the train from Penzance - very limited parking in the summer in St Ives! The train hugs the coastline with amazing views between St Erth and St Ives.
St Ives is great for art galleries, boutique shops, restauarants and beaches. Look out for the seagulls!
610 locals recommend
St Ives
Perfect if you take the train from Penzance - very limited parking in the summer in St Ives! The train hugs the coastline with amazing views between St Erth and St Ives.
St Ives is great for art galleries, boutique shops, restauarants and beaches. Look out for the seagulls!
Visit the iconic Tate St Ives gallery, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Tate St Ives features work by iconic 20th century artists who lived and worked in the town, including Alfred Wallis, Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth.
Includes a bookshop and stunning rooftop terrace cafe.
453 locals recommend
Tate St. Ives
Visit the iconic Tate St Ives gallery, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Tate St Ives features work by iconic 20th century artists who lived and worked in the town, including Alfred Wallis, Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth.
Includes a bookshop and stunning rooftop terrace cafe.
The Minack is a unique theatre perched on the cliffs high above the Atlantic ocean with stunning views over Porthcurno beach below it. Cornwall's world famous open-air theatre is breathtaking - but book well in advance and bring clothing for all weathers!
545 locals recommend
The Minack Theatre
The Minack is a unique theatre perched on the cliffs high above the Atlantic ocean with stunning views over Porthcurno beach below it. Cornwall's world famous open-air theatre is breathtaking - but book well in advance and bring clothing for all weathers!
Essentials
Tesco Express
104 Market Jew StOpen 7am - 10 pm every day of the week.
Sightseeing
Walk across the stone Causeway at low tide, or get on board one of the little ferry boats where you buy a one way ticket - the tide might be out for your return! Climb the cobbled pathway to the high castle at the top - once a monastery. Enjoy great views all around Mount's Bay and go in the cafe after you get back down to the harbour.
690 locals recommend
Saint Michael's Mount
Walk across the stone Causeway at low tide, or get on board one of the little ferry boats where you buy a one way ticket - the tide might be out for your return! Climb the cobbled pathway to the high castle at the top - once a monastery. Enjoy great views all around Mount's Bay and go in the cafe after you get back down to the harbour.
Tiny, quaint, very old fishing harbour - has limited access so take the bus! Great Christmas lights all around the village and harbour.
Tom Bawcock’s Eve is celebrated in the village of Mousehole (pronounced “Mowzel”) in Cornwall, near Penzance, England on the night before Christmas Eve.
A fishing village of winding, narrow streets, Mousehole is the place most closely associated with Stargazey Pie on account of the “Mousehole Cat” story.
154 locals recommend
Mousehole
Tiny, quaint, very old fishing harbour - has limited access so take the bus! Great Christmas lights all around the village and harbour.
Tom Bawcock’s Eve is celebrated in the village of Mousehole (pronounced “Mowzel”) in Cornwall, near Penzance, England on the night before Christmas Eve.
A fishing village of winding, narrow streets, Mousehole is the place most closely associated with Stargazey Pie on account of the “Mousehole Cat” story.
Lovely harbour surrounded by many good cafes and restaurants. Porthleven is famous for its winter storms where it is not unusual for waves to break over the clock tower. Take extreme care in these conditions and do not go out onto the pier.
204 locals recommend
Porthleven
Lovely harbour surrounded by many good cafes and restaurants. Porthleven is famous for its winter storms where it is not unusual for waves to break over the clock tower. Take extreme care in these conditions and do not go out onto the pier.
Take the open top bus out to Land's End - the most south-westerly point in the UK. Enjoy a little bit of the coast path or take afternoon tea in the hotel. Watch the sunset over The Longships Lighthouse or on a clear day you may be able to see The Isles of Scilly.
18 locals recommend
The Land's End Hotel
Take the open top bus out to Land's End - the most south-westerly point in the UK. Enjoy a little bit of the coast path or take afternoon tea in the hotel. Watch the sunset over The Longships Lighthouse or on a clear day you may be able to see The Isles of Scilly.
Lizard point is the most southerly point in the UK. Walk down from the National Trust car park looking out for Lizard lighthouse on your left. At the Point you can watch beautiful sunsets from stunning cliffs, spot rare birds sighted including The Cornish Chough, or take afternoon tea in a little old fashioned cafe right on the cliffs.
113 locals recommend
National Trust - Lizard Point
Lizard point is the most southerly point in the UK. Walk down from the National Trust car park looking out for Lizard lighthouse on your left. At the Point you can watch beautiful sunsets from stunning cliffs, spot rare birds sighted including The Cornish Chough, or take afternoon tea in a little old fashioned cafe right on the cliffs.
Food Scene
Just across the road this restaurant offers a smokehouse menu, sharing platters and great cocktails
69 locals recommend
Artist Residence Clubhouse
20 Chapel StJust across the road this restaurant offers a smokehouse menu, sharing platters and great cocktails
Lovely deli with many treats baked on the premises. Coffee shop. Lovely handmade bread.
12 locals recommend
The Cornish Hen Deli
27 Market PlLovely deli with many treats baked on the premises. Coffee shop. Lovely handmade bread.
The Shore Restaurant
13-14 Alverton StFresh fish dishes created by a very dedicated chef.
The Tolcarne Inn
9 Tolcarne TerraceGreat menu featuring fish fresh from Newlyn fish market.
Small but massively popular seafood bar with indoor and outdoor seating.
154 locals recommend
Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar
New RoadSmall but massively popular seafood bar with indoor and outdoor seating.
Enjoy a wide choice of meals including fresh fish and locally sourced meat while watching the visitors cross the Causeway to St Michael's Mount. Fantastic sea views. Lovely breakfasts available to non-residents. Take an early morning walk from Penzance along the beach and have breakfast looking at the early morning sun on the sea.
11 locals recommend
The Godolphin Arms West End
Enjoy a wide choice of meals including fresh fish and locally sourced meat while watching the visitors cross the Causeway to St Michael's Mount. Fantastic sea views. Lovely breakfasts available to non-residents. Take an early morning walk from Penzance along the beach and have breakfast looking at the early morning sun on the sea.
Ice-cream made in the same way for generations...
Made by the family of Olympic gold medallist Helen Glover, this one-off, niche ice cream is about as near to home made as you’re likely to get. Only available from the one shop in Newlyn during the holiday season it is – simply – vanilla ice cream or – in it’s complex form – with lashings of clotted cream on top. A place of pilgrimage for ice cream lovers.
35 locals recommend
Jelbert's
9 New RdIce-cream made in the same way for generations...
Made by the family of Olympic gold medallist Helen Glover, this one-off, niche ice cream is about as near to home made as you’re likely to get. Only available from the one shop in Newlyn during the holiday season it is – simply – vanilla ice cream or – in it’s complex form – with lashings of clotted cream on top. A place of pilgrimage for ice cream lovers.
Drinks & Nightlife
Oldest pub in Penzance offering good beers and great food - with a cosy garden at the back.
21 locals recommend
The Turks Head Inn
49 Chapel StOldest pub in Penzance offering good beers and great food - with a cosy garden at the back.
Quirky, very old pub filled with naval gear retrieved from sunken ships of long ago. Sometimes serves food.
46 locals recommend
Admiral Benbow
46 Chapel StQuirky, very old pub filled with naval gear retrieved from sunken ships of long ago. Sometimes serves food.
Beautiful old pub. wonderful food. Great big open fire, just what you need on a cold day.
68 locals recommend
The Ship Inn
Mount Pleasant RoadBeautiful old pub. wonderful food. Great big open fire, just what you need on a cold day.
Artist Residence Clubhouse
20 Chapel StGreat cocktails and food.
Parks & Nature
Long white sandy beach and crystal clear waters. Great for surfing - hire boards and wetsuits and have a lesson. Great cafe/restaurant. Go early to get a parking space and go at low tide.
246 locals recommend
Sennen Cove
Long white sandy beach and crystal clear waters. Great for surfing - hire boards and wetsuits and have a lesson. Great cafe/restaurant. Go early to get a parking space and go at low tide.
Walk all along this safe, sandy beach stretching between Penzance and Marazion. Beautiful to watch the sunrise or sunset on the water.
60 locals recommend
Marazion Beach
South West Coast PathWalk all along this safe, sandy beach stretching between Penzance and Marazion. Beautiful to watch the sunrise or sunset on the water.
Wonderful collection of outdoor, modern sculptures in a beautiful park with views across Mounts Bay. Restaurant with amazing food - and garden centre.
215 locals recommend
Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens
Wonderful collection of outdoor, modern sculptures in a beautiful park with views across Mounts Bay. Restaurant with amazing food - and garden centre.
Entertainment & Activities
A delightful little cinema in a newly converted fisherman's warehouse - lots of choice in films, great cafe open from 10.30 am - and on the bus route to and from Penznace bus station!
109 locals recommend
Newlyn Filmhouse
23-31 The CoombeA delightful little cinema in a newly converted fisherman's warehouse - lots of choice in films, great cafe open from 10.30 am - and on the bus route to and from Penznace bus station!