The 10 best things to do in Penzance

The historic market town of Penzance overlooks the waters of Mount’s Bay and has a lively, arty (and often quirky) charm. Easy to reach via the A30 or direct trains from London, Penzance offers a great combination of year-round facilities and must-visit destinations, and is also an excellent base for exploring St Ives, the Isles of Scilly, St Michael’s Mount, Land’s End and more. 

There are plenty of things to do in Penzance, such as wandering through charming back streets and appreciating the handsome architecture, or heading downhill to the sea and strolling along the Victorian promenade. At one end of the prom, you’ll find the superb Jubilee Pool, a seawater Lido that’s an Art Deco icon, and at the other, there’s the fishing port of Newlyn, with shops, places to eat and an excellent contemporary art gallery. Also in Penzance, you can explore various independent shops, visit beautiful sub-tropical gardens, dine at superb restaurants, and be entertained at the cinema or an open-air theatre. 

We have a wide range of self-catering cottages in Penzance. Find out more by clicking below, and start planning your holiday in the far west of Cornwall.  

Top things to do in Penzance:

1. Stroll along Cornwall’s only Victorian promenade
2. Swim in an iconic lido
3. Discover a vibrant art scene
4. Spend an evening at the movies
5. Cross the causeway to an island castle
6. Puzzle your way out of an escape room
7. Experience theatre in the open air
8. Tour exotic gardens
9. Explore independent shops
10. Dine out at a Michelin restaurant

Stroll along Cornwall’s only Victorian promenade

A wide, flat promenade, Penzance’s waterfront is part of the South West Coast Path, linking the Jubilee Pool in Penzance and Newlyn Green. It’s the ideal place for a stroll, admiring the views across to St Michael’s Mount and looking out for seals in the water. Adorned with flagpoles proudly waving colourful flags, the 2.5-mile stretch of walkway boasts sculptural ‘pebble’ seats and aluminium benches, perfect for sampling the fare from the variety of street food stalls which park up in good weather. 

If you’re feeling energetic, you can cycle, jog or roller skate along the prom, while skateboard fans can access the plaza in Wherrytown, about halfway along the route, which is open all year round. There are not one but two sandy play parks for little ones to enjoy, one with access to tennis courts (just bring a racket and turn up), and when everyone has worked up an appetite, you can head to award-winning Frasers, which serves responsibly sourced fish and chips made from potatoes grown at local farms. 

Swim in an iconic Lido

The Jubilee Pool in Penzance is an Art Deco seawater swimming pool, which opened in 1935, the year of King George V’s Silver Jubilee. It’s actually home to three separate pools: the cold-water pool, filled with 5 million litres of seawater, a small, shallower children’s pool, and a unique geothermal pool, naturally heated to 28-30 degrees via a geothermal well deep in the ground below. The pool is sheltered and lifeguarded, and there are also fresh-water showers, a Nordic-style sauna, a small shop and an excellent café on site – the latter well worth a visit even without a swim. 

Alternatively, die-hard sea swimmers will find plenty of company for a dip in the waves off Battery Rocks, tucked just behind the lido and used year-round by locals. 

Discover a vibrant art scene

Photo credit: Penlee House Gallery & Museum

From modern art and sculpture to traditional paintings and locally made crafts, Penzance has it all. At The Exchange gallery just behind the high street (you’ll recognise it by its striking glass façade), you’ll find contemporary visual art and community collaborations, complemented by its sister gallery at the other end of the prom in Newlyn. Numerous private galleries in Penzance, Newlyn and Marazion (less than 4 miles away) offer works by local, national and international artists and makers. At Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, 2 miles out of town, there are striking pieces by world-renowned artists, as well as a separate art gallery and shop that showcases some of the best contemporary artisans currently working in Cornwall and the South West. 

Looking back to art of the late 19^th/early 20^th centuries, Penzance’s Penlee Park is home to the excellent Penlee House Gallery & Museum, which exhibits works by leading members of the Newlyn School, including Stanhope and Elizabeth Forbes, Walter Langley and Laura Knight. 

Spend an evening at the movies

There’s a cinema in Penzance, and one in neighbouring Newlyn too: a great way to spend the afternoon on a rainy day, or perhaps make an evening of it with a blockbuster. The Savoy, in the centre of town, has four screens and shows mainly mainstream movies as well as stage-to-screen shows, while the Newlyn Filmhouse is a stylish, two-screen independent screening world cinema, cult classics, live events and arthouse films, as well as Hollywood offerings. Newlyn has a ‘no-rustle’ policy but sells locally made Moomaid ice cream that you can scoff while you watch, and also has an excellent restaurant and bar for a pre- or post-film meal.

Cross the causeway to an island castle 

Whenever you’re near the sea in Penzance, you’ll be drawn to the view across Mount’s Bay to the fairy-tale castle on an island just offshore. This is St Michael’s Mount, a unique and fascinating destination that’s open to visitors who either walk across the tidal Pilgrims’ Causeway or – when the tide is high – catch a little ferry boat from Marazion Beach. 

From Penzance to St Michael’s Mount is about 5 miles, and you can walk or cycle along the scenic coast path, drive or catch a bus. Once on the island, which is still home to the St Aubyn family and a village community, walk up the hill to explore the medieval castle and church, take in the wonderful views from the turrets, and stroll through the terraced sub-tropical gardens. 

Puzzle your way out of an escape room

If you love puzzles, a challenge, and teamwork against the clock, then the immersive, imaginative experience of Penzance’s Escape Rooms is for you. There are three escape-room adventures, suitable for beginners to experienced players, each lasting around an hour. You don’t need any special knowledge or skills, anyone from age eight and upwards can participate. If you get stuck, no worries, help is just a walkie-talkie away. It’s a race against time – are you up for the challenge?

Experience theatre in the open air

On a summer’s evening, you may hear singing, laughter or applause in the vicinity of Penzance’s Penlee Park – it’s coming from the Penlee Park Open Air Theatre, which runs a busy season of regular performances of all kinds, from children’s puppet shows to stand-up comedy, Shakespeare to classical music (and sometimes the old favourite, ‘The Pirates of Penzance’!). 

Venture 10 miles through the winding roads to Porthcurno, and you can experience another open-air theatre, this time in the dramatic setting of rocky cliffs above the sea. The Minack Theatre was carved out of the headland more or less by hand by Rowena Cade and her helpers between the 1930s and the 1970s. A visit is a unique experience, worth a tour, even if you don’t see a show. 

For both open-air theatres, it’s a good idea to bring suncream and a hat in warm weather, something to sit on, and warm clothing for after the sun sets. If this doesn’t take your fancy, there’s also a conventional theatre in Penzance, the Acorn, where you can see live music, comedy, theatre and performing arts all year round. 

Tour exotic gardens

Officially opened in 1889, Morrab Gardens in the centre of Penzance is a Grade II-listed, sub-tropical oasis home to various exotic species. Covering 3 acres, it’s a lovely space to wander, picnic or sit and enjoy the sun when you need a break from shopping or sightseeing. 

Just 2 miles out of town, the National Trust’s Trengwainton Garden is another great destination for garden lovers, with walled gardens, wooded paths and award-winning magnolias and rhododendrons. And the garden at Trewidden, 2.5 miles from Penzance, extends across 15 acres and includes more than 300 camellias and magnolias, as well as a children’s trail and one of the largest cultivated tree fern dells in Europe. 

Explore independent shops

Penzance has a wide range of national chains, but it comes into its own with its array of interesting, diverse, boutique stores. You’ll want to spend hours browsing. Start on the high street, properly known as Market Jew Street (the name is derived from the Cornish for ‘Thursday Market’), where you’ll find an award-winning book shop, artisan chocolates, antiques and collectables, vintage and modern jewellery, surf and skate gear, locally made gifts and vintage clothing. At the top of the street, turn right onto Causewayhead, which is home to a fabulous greengrocers, an upmarket clothing store, another great bookshop, two flower shops, a refill store, a kitchen shop and more. Saving the best till last, there’s also historical, eclectic Chapel Street, where virtually every shop is irresistible, from Oriental rugs to natural skincare products, and hand-stitched dresses to lush house plants.

Dine out at a Michelin restaurant 

One of four eateries mentioned by Michelin in the area, Penzance’s The Shore Restaurant is fine dining at its best. Chef/waiter/handyman/owner Bruce Rennie adjusts the menu daily according to what fish has been freshly landed and what local veg are at their best. Dining here is relaxed and intimate, with just ten guests each night, and only one sitting, at 7pm. The food is served in multiple small courses, and the feeling is like a chilled supper club. Reviews have described it as ‘spectacular’, ‘wonderful’ and ‘the best restaurant in Cornwall’. 

And that’s not all. In nearby Newlyn, two restaurants have made it into the coveted Michelin guide: Argoe, a chic eatery overlooking the harbour where much of its produce is landed, and the Tolcarne Inn, a historic maritime pub with a seasonal seafood menu. For those who venture a little further to Mousehole, The Old Coastguard offers brasserie dishes with a Mediterranean edge, complemented by a great wine list. 

Stay with us in Penzance

Have we tempted you to book a stay in the far west of Cornwall? With so much to see and do, book one of our Penzance self-catering cottages and enjoy a real Cornish getaway. We have holiday properties to suit couples, families and large groups, with many that are dog friendly too. Just click the link below to find out more.