Things To Do On A Visit To Penzance, a Town in Cornwall

Penzance is a town at the end of the railway line in Cornwall, with lots to do in the area. It is a popular destination for train travellers. Penzance town is quite quaint, with many independent shops lining its streets and markets selling local produce.

Penzance is a port town in the sheltered Mount’s Bay, the home of St Michael’s Mount, a fantastic tourist attraction. The port and marina area is fascinating to visit and a great place for a walk to get the full-on Cornwall vibe.

Things To Do in Penzance Town, Cornwall

There are many options for things to do in the town of Penzance. This includes a variety of options, from historical visits to dining out to activities in the sea. The local area also has many attractions to visit nearby by train or by bus.

Visit Penzance Harbour

One of my favourite activities in Cornwall is to explore the fishing harbours. Penzance town has a port and harbour that are special places to sit or wander through. The church of St Mary dominates the town’s skyline above the harbour. St Mary’s Church dates back to 1548. Further up the coast is Newlyn Fishing Harbour; this dates back to the 15th century and is very active in the fishing industry. Newlyn has a fish market, a fish festival, and many restaurants serving freshly caught seafood.

Swimming in the outdoor Jubilee Pool

A fun thing to do is to visit the Jubilee Pool. The Jubilee Pool is outdoors and ice-cold, especially towards the beginning and end of the season. The pool has plenty of seating areas where you can lie down and catch some rays or chill out. There are refreshment facilities and a changing room.

They built the Jubilee Pool in 1935, the year of George V’s silver jubilee, hence the name. They designed and built it in a unique Art Deco style and triangular shape.

Visit St Michael’s Mount

The local coastline is great, and the ever-present St Michael’s Mount, located just up the coast in Marazion, serves as a backdrop. St Michael’s Mount is an island accessible via a walkway at low tide. This is a very interesting tourist attraction.

To visit St Michael’s Mount, you have two options: a walk along the beautiful coast from the town centre or a boat trip. This coastal walk takes just over 1 hour and 20 minutes, a great walk to admire the castle. If you don’t fancy walking, there is a bus service from near the train station. This takes 20 minutes, plus waiting time for the buses.

St Michael’s Mount is well worth the walk and is one of the top tourist attractions in this part of Cornwall. The island is beautiful, as are the beaches in Marazion.

Take a Bus Along The Coast to Mousehole

The beautiful fishing village of Mousehole is just up the coast, and there are buses to take you there for a day trip. The village is stunning and offers some pleasant sights to see. I really enjoyed walking around the harbour and visiting the village pubs.

Hike on The South-West Coast Path

The South West Coast Path is a long-distance walking route that follows the coast of South West England and passes through the town. The total route is over 600 miles long. However, walkers can do small sections of the marked path. From the town you could either hike towards Mousehole or head west towards the stunning Lizard Point.

Visit Newlyn

Newlyn is a massive fishing port up the coast from Penzance and is walkable along the South-West Coast Path. This walk takes roughly 30 minutes from the town centre. There are places to buy freshly caught fish, including from Trelawney Fish and Deli. The harbour is a fascinating place to explore and has some interesting views, especially around the New Quay. Newlyn also has an art gallery that specialises in modern art. If you time it right, you may attend the Newlyn Fish Festival held in the town.

Beaches

Although there are not any beaches in the town centre, there are a few within walking distance. The closest is Long Rock Beach, which has fantastic views of Mount’s Bay. It is a very long, sandy beach. It actually stretches all the way to Marazion. The beach is popular with windsurfers and those just looking to enjoy a traditional beach visit. The beach has a dog-friendly section, accessible year-round, which many in Cornwall are not aware of.

Lighthouse Gallery

For visitors who enjoy art, there is a stunning gallery in town called Lighthouse Gallery. They opened their doors in 2003 and have become one of the most respected galleries in Cornwall. The gallery is a pleasant place to visit and showcases the art of local artists very well. The art on show includes paintings, ceramics, sculptures and even jewellery.

Sea Fishing Trip

It is also a fantastic place for a fishing trip, close to some great fishing waters. Mermaid Adventures offers a variety of fishing trips, including 2-hour mackerel trips, which are a fantastic activity for people of all abilities. They also do longer deep-sea fishing trips, where you can catch larger fish. You can keep what you catch, which is ideal for barbecues or cooking in self-catering accommodation.

Sightseeing Boat Trips

There are various local boat trip options, including sightseeing around the bay. One of the most popular boat trips is to see the nearby St Michael’s Mount from the sea. You can arrange various boat trips via the Purely Penzance website.

Eat Out at Some Nice Restaurants

There are many eateries in the town centre, some overlooking the sea, that serve delicious locally sourced food. On my visit, the Longboat Inn was my closest pub, and I visited occasionally.

They are a traditional pub with great beer options and has served me a few delightful meals. They have a beer garden out the back and a nice inside and, as a bonus, are dog-friendly. Their menu is great, featuring delights like a Sunday roast carvery and incorporating local produce into their other dishes.

Another great pub I enjoyed was the eclectic music-themed Farmers Arms in the town centre, a brilliant spot for a lunchtime drink.

Farmers’ Market

The farmers’ market takes place every Friday on the grounds of St John’s Hall. The market specialises in local produce from farms and artisans from the area. Bread and cakes from some stalls are fresh and taste fantastic. Fresh meat and veg are top-notch and ideal for residents or those on a self-catering break. I really enjoyed the fresh Cornish pasties and bread pudding on my visit.

The town has supermarkets to choose from, including COOP, Tesco, Morrisons and Lidl. There are options for independent butchers, greengrocers and bakeries in the town centre too.

Tourist Information Centre

To find out all about the many events and attractions in the immediate area and beyond, the tourist information centre is the place to head. They have knowledgeable staff, and you can pick up leaflets and guidebooks. This is near to the harbour and the railway station. It is also a handy spot for catching buses throughout West Cornwall.

Take A Train To St Ives

One of my favourite day trips from Penzance is the train to St Ives. St Ives is a popular coastal town, a short train journey away. There are many facets to the town, including great galleries, beaches, and nice places to eat.

Where to stay in Penzance?

Disclosure! Keep in mind that some links in these posts are affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may earn a small commission (for which I’m extremely grateful) at no extra cost to you. Thanks for visiting!

Penzance has many options for bed-and-breakfast accommodation, hotels and some self-catering options. For budget travellers, there are cheaper options, such as hostels and Airbnb. A good place to start if looking for a guesthouse or hotel is the Booking.com website.

I stayed at Whiteways Guest House, which is near the station and handy for the town centre. It was a cheap, pleasant place to stay, with a comfy room. The breakfast served here was fantastic. I opted for the full English breakfast with coffee and fruit juices. This was very similar to many guesthouses I have stayed in over the years on my Cornwall holidays.

Trains to Penzance in Cornwall

Penzance is a popular destination for train travel and is the last stop on the line through the West Country. The line from Exeter passes through some stunning scenery. This includes the coast; then, onwards to Plymouth, it crosses the River Tamar into Cornwall.

There are many trains each day that come to the railway station, and it is possible to get direct trains from major cities like Bristol, Exeter and London. Cornwall attracts Interrail travellers from overseas because of the stunning coast and many legends. Penzance is a great base camp for a few days’ stay, with local trains and bus services to major sites and villages.

Is Penzance Worth Visiting For a Holiday

My week-long stay in Penzance in October was fantastic, and I kept myself very busy sightseeing and hiking. The prices for an autumn break were pretty low, and I had no problem finding anywhere to stay. Despite the quiet, many local tourist attractions were open, and I found plenty to do.

There were many options for eating out in the town, including many establishments serving fresh local fish. The weather might not be the best at that time of the year, but the quiet made it well worth it. This holiday was cathartic for me.