Why Penzance Will Give You Something to Sing About. Cornwall is an excellent holiday destination whether you are travelling solo, taking the kids for a break at the seaside, or catching up with friends or family for a cycling or walking tour through the countryside or around the coast. The Cornish town of Penzance was immortalised in the eternally popular comic opera, The Pirates of Penzance. However, visitors need not fear being robbed (or even caught up in a rousing song), as the friendly community is more than welcoming to those who come to enjoy its gorgeous views, excellent amenities and a broad selection of comfortable cottages to rent. Here are a few compelling reasons why you should consider a cottage holiday in Penzance. Read more
Ideally placed in the very heart of the Cornish fishing village of Newlyn, Seabreeze Cottage is just a short walk from a great choice of pubs, a Micheline Star restaurant, the harbour with its famous fish market and the South West Coastal Path. Close to Mousehole, Penzance (where you can catch a ferry to the Scilly Isles), St Michaels Mount and within easy reach of the areas many attractions including St Ives, the Minack Theatre and Lands End. One dog welcome and great for walkers and those with a passion for outdoor adventures, as well as relaxing by the sea.
Birch Studio sleeps up to 4 guests. The accommodation includes one king-size bedroom, a small double sofa bed in the living area suitable for up to two additional guests, and a mezzanine reading nook above. The property is ideally suited to couples, but can comfortably accommodate a small family or up to four guests.
Escape to Mousehole, one of Cornwall's most unspoiled and picturesque harbour villages, in our beautifully restored fisherman’s cottage. Subject a year long renovation in 2025, and blending character with comfort, stylish interiors and high quality furnishings, 1 Wellington Place is perfect for couples or families seeking a memorable Cornish getaway.
Coastguard Row Cottage in West Cornwall is a former coastguard cottage transformed into a charming holiday home with stunning sea views and easy beach access. This cherished family holiday cottage in Mousehole has been welcoming visitors for 40 years, offering a tranquil retreat next to Mousehole Harbour, The Ship Inn, and popular eateries like the Old Coastguard Hotel. It sleeps four in two bedrooms, with an optional studio increasing capacity to six. Mousehole, a picturesque fishing village, has winding lanes, quaint cafes, and vibrant local culture. Enjoy coastal walks to Penzance, hire an e-bike to explore, or engage in water sports and wildlife tours. The area is also famous for the Mousehole Lights, a festive display that illuminates the village each December.
You can enjoy the best of the Cornish coast and countryside at Bramble Cottage. This gorgeous self-catering holiday home is just over a mile from St Ives Harbour and Beach and within a short drive of beaches like Porthgwidden and Porthmeor. The cottage is spacious enough to easily sleep up to six people in three bedrooms, but its cosy charm also makes it feel welcoming for couples. The garden is enclosed and has distant sea views and is very dog-friendly; and with fantastic footpaths along the lane from the cottage, it's a great choice for guests who don't want to spend their entire holiday stuck in the car.
Tremerth Cottage is a dreamy Cornish escape. The one-bedroom holiday rental is on Castallack Farm with 24-acres of smallholding. It's only a mile from Lamorna Cove and a mile and a half from Mousehole, putting guests within an easy walk or cycle of beaches, cafes, restaurants and a pub. Land's End, St Ives and Penzance are all close, as is the Cornish Mining landscape and the South West Coast Path. The cottage is perfect for couples or individuals who want to enjoy the best bits of south Cornwall without the crowds.
Trevean Cottage is a lovely holiday home in a beautiful location. The two-bedroom cottage sleeps four people, with a private garden and fantastic walks from the door. It is only a mile from Lamorna Cove and less than two miles from picturesque Mousehole, with easy access to Lands End, St Ives, Penzance and other favourite places around Cornwall. Guests have a wide choice of beaches as well as miles of footpaths, bridleways and cycling routes to help them enjoy this gorgeous landscape. Trevean is on the owner's 24-acre smallholding and is incredibly peaceful. It's ideal for couples or families.
Popular towns in and around Cornwall:
AlbastonBodminBodmin MoorBoscastleBudeCallingtonCamelfordCarbis BayCharlestownCommon MoorCoverackCrackington HavencrantockDaymer BayDelaboleEast LooeFalmouthFoweyGorran HavenGunnislakeHayleHelfordHelstonHolywell BayKingsandLamornaLands EndLanhydrockLauncestonLiskeardLizard peninsulaLooeLostwithielLuxulyanMarazionMawgan PorthMevagisseyMouseholeMullionMylorNewlynNewquayNr TregonyPadstowPenzancePerranporthPlymouthPolperroPolruanPolzeathPort IsaacPorthcothan BayPorthlevenPorthtowanPortreathPortscathoPrussia CoveRedruthRockRoseland PeninsulaSaint AgnesSaint AustellSaint Columb MajorSaltashSennenSt AgnesSt AustellSt IvesSt JustSt MabynSt MawesSt MawganSt MinverTavistockTintagelTorpointTregonyTrevoneTruroWadebridgeWinnards PerchSome local suggestions:
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How Beautifully Blue the Sky - In Act 1 of the musical, Gilbert & Sullivan’s chorus girls sang about the beauty of Penzance when the sun shines, and they were not wrong. The town’s coastal location on the Land’s End Peninsula means it benefits from the mild Gulf Stream air, with locals and visitors benefiting from warmer-than-average temperatures than other parts of Cornwall. Spring arrives earlier, summer stays later, and winters are more fresh than hardy. Surrounding fields and farmland aren’t only pretty to look at; they are full of tasty produce which, when coupled with the fresh fish that arrives into the harbour daily, means that you can always eat well. Shops such as Mousehole Fish sells the catch of the day either fresh and filleted for you to cook at home, or battered and fried with a steaming pile of salted, vinegary chips to eat from the wrapper on the harbour wall.
Make the Most of Fleeting Leisure - You don’t have to be a pirate on shore-leave to want to make the most of your holiday. Penzance is packed with sights and activities that will keep everyone happily occupied. Not surprisingly, given its coastal location, many of these are focused around the water and include surfing, paddle-boarding, fishing, sailing and coasteering. Businesses like Smart Surf School and Global Boarders Surf Co offer lessons and equipment hire, and you can book a sightseeing or fishing boat trip through Marine Discovery.
Promenade Beach is a mile-long stretch of coastline that is mainly shingle and accessible at low tide and within walking distance of central Penzance. Other beaches within a mile of the town centre include Battery Rocks, Eastern Green, Wherrytown and Newlyn, while Sennen Cove, Mousehole (pronounced "Mowzel") and Longrock beaches are not much further.
Attractions in Penzance and the surrounding area include the outdoor Minack Theatre (check for performances and tickets in advance of your arrival), Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, and Penlee House Gallery & Museum. Land’s End is about a 20-minute drive away, and there are extensive footpaths and cycling routes that include the breathtaking South West Coast Path and trails that take in parts of the area used as a filming location for the popular BBC series Poldark.
Threading Long and Leafy Mazes Dotted with Unnumbered Daisies - Penzance is beautiful in every season with miles of footpaths and cycling routes winding their way around the coast and through towns and countryside. In addition to the South West Coast Path, favourite walking routes include the Penzance Town Trail, which is an excellent way for new visitors to orientate themselves and learn about the town’s fascinating past. Walk, cycle or drive to nearby Marazion and walk along the causeway to reach St Michael’s Mount or, in winter, walk through the marshland to spot birds taking shelter in winter. Cycling routes are also plentiful and keep road cyclists and mountain bikers happily occupied.
Penzance is perfect for a holiday as it offers something to everyone. The town is lively, with a great mix of amenities that include friendly cafes, restaurants and pubs, appealing to those who like to socialise and be around people. However, a mile or two out of town is sprawling countryside with plenty of peace and quiet for those who want it. Penzance deserves to take centre stage with charms that are far from fleeting.
