Visiting Penzance

The market town of Penzance has been a thriving port over the years and is a bastion of rich Cornish heritage and a bustling current day community of local traders, fishermen and holiday makers alike.

The town and surrounding area boast a number of top attractions which should be on the bucket list for anyone visiting Cornwall. The most notable of which, St Michaels Mount, sitting majestically on the tidal island of Mounts Bay. The island is a civil parish linked to the neighbouring town of Marazion by a causeway of granite sets, which means you can walk to the island between mid-tide and low water. Or for an arguably more leisurely form of access, why not catch a locally run boat service to the island, although on windier days the choppy waters may make a challenging ride for those who typically fair less well at sea.

If this isn’t to your liking, why not take a casual stroll around Penzance town. With its substantial presence of palm trees and gardens packed with sub-tropical plants, you’d be forgiven for thinking you had accidentally teleported to the Mediterranean.

On a fine summer’s day, with a pasty in hand, a true Cornishman would argue that nothing can beat it. And it’s not just the flora that catches the eye – Penzance also has its fair share of architectural interests - a highlight being the unusual Egyptian House situated on Chapel Street. Originally a geological shop and museum, its a rare survivor of Egyptian Revival architecture, dating back to 1836. Its extraordinary Egyptian style façade has made the building a landmark of the town. Other places of note on Chapel Street include the Turks Head, reportedly the oldest pub in Penzance which houses a smugglers’ tunnel. It was owned by the father of Thomas Holloway who went on to become an incredibly rich pill and ointment maker during the 19th century.

Next up is the colourful 17th century Admiral Benbow pub, serving historic pirate food and famed for being in the opening scene of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. It contains interesting artefacts obtained from diving explorations, such as cannons and various bits of ships. There’s also the Penzance Art Club with its classic façade looking over the quay and which in former times was the Portuguese Embassy during the heightened trading days of this important port town.

But that’s not all - Penzance is full of quirky shops, cafes, characterful pubs and restaurants, offering endless options of locally sourced gastronomic delights. It goes without saying, there are numerous local pasty establishments, but also several restaurants offering some of the best seafood around. So why not grab a pasty on the go and reserve yourself a table along the seafront, where you can delight in some freshly caught crab, lobster, or some of Cornwall’s famous muscles, accompanied by a glass of something special at the end of a busy day.