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Penzance Accommodation

Penzance Harbour Floating Clothes Shop

Morab Sub-Tropical Gardens, Penzance

Penlee House Art Gallery, Penzance. See Newlyn School Artists Here

Penzance Restaurants, Pubs and Cafes are Superb

Day Trip to the Isles of Scilly & St Mary's. Penzance Harbour from the Boat

Photography inside the Penlee House Gallery

Jubilee Lido Along the Promenade at Penzance

Hop Aboard the Scillonian III for a Day Trip to St Mary's, Scilly Isles

Penzance Ferry Parking Newlyn Group Penzance Cornwall UK

Penzance has much going for it, and it's laid back rather down to earth chic edge is a pleasant surprise! Ideal as a base for exploring all of West Cornwall, and accessing boat trips to the Isles of Scilly on the Scillonian II ferry. Penzance also offers a good choice of stylish B&B and hotel accommodation for 1 and 2 nights, weekend breaks and family holidays. Penzance town centre is superb for specialist shopping, whether it be off the wall clothes shops or arts and crafts and there's plenty of restaurant choice from famous 1960s model Jean Shrimpton's restaurant in the Abbey Hotel to the unusual Admiral Benbow pub on stylish Chapel Street, where fine food and ale are on the menu. This pub is shaped like a ship to great effect.

Other Penzance attractions include the elegant Victorian Penlee House Gallery and Museum off Morrab Road (near subtropical and well worth a stroll round - Morrab Gardens). As you'd expect, this gallery houses an impressive collection of work by the Newlyn School of artists. View paintings by Walter Langley, Elizabeth Forbes and others in the Newlyn School here. Penzance promenade is most pleasant for strolls, or hooking into longer coastal walking either west towards fishing village Newlyn and pretty Mousehole with it's delightful beach. Discover little gems along Penzance promenade, such as the art deco Jubilee Pool/lido. If you've plans to explore West Cornwall, and are looking for a chic and stylish base, less crowded than St Ives - choose Penzance!

Penzance Cornwall Gardens & Town

Penzance weather and climate couldn't be better, and with it's far south west position it has a temperate climate with mild winters and long hot summers - perfect for gardens. Two splendid gardens are open to the public in Penzance - the three acre Morrab subtropical garden and Penlee Memorial Park consisting of 15 acres of parkland situated adjacent to penlee House Gallery and Museum. Just outside of Penzance town near Madron village is Trengwainton Gardens which are owned by the National Trust.

Morrab Gardens offers an environment of pure bliss, crammed with magnolias, camellias, palm trees and banana plants, with the odd sculpture thrown in. Penlee Park offers more space, with tennis courts on-site and plenty of room for ball games. At Trengwainton discover a variety of plants including rhododendrons, azaleas and other plants from North American and the Far East. Trengwainton Gardens are situated around the mansion house.

Start your exploration of Penzance's stylish town centre around the Chapel Street area. As well as a host of specialist clothes and arts and crafts shops, both Penzance Methodist Church and St Mary's are situated on Chapel Street. This Cornish Methodist Church on Chapel Street is a fine example of Methodist architecture, and closely modelled on London's mammoth City Road Methodist Chapel. Other delights on Penzance's Chapel Street include historic shops such as Mr Mabbotts' Tailors shop dating from around 1890, now a would and crafts shop. Penzance book shop on Chapel street is highly recommended, and other shops include The Art Shop, Shears Fine Art and the superb vintage clothing shop, Kitts Couture (see weblink right).

Penzance Tourist Information Office, Station Road, Penzance. Phone: 01736-362207.

Penlee House Gallery & Museum, Penzance

The best of Cornish Art is to be found in the West, and both the St Ives Tate and Penlee House Gallery are two of the best art galleries in Cornwall. Penlee House Gallery is set within an attractive Victorian building surrounded by Penlee Memorial Park and Gardens. The Gardens were planted by J.R. Branwell and are well worth a look alongside a visit to the Gallery, to view many rare species of plants. The on-site cafe also has seating outside on the patio, and make a most pleasant spot for relaxing and enjoying views of the gardens.

Inside, expect to see some real gems from the Newlyn School of artists and the Lamorna Artists. Most of these works are situated in Gallery 5 upstairs. A range of workshops and educational activities for both adults and children are also offered year round. Check the Penlee weblink right for details. The gallery continues to build it's collection of Newlyn and Lamorna School works, and some of the most renowned held here include superb works by Walter Langley (1852-1922) such as 'Among the Missing' - a moving depiction of grief for fisherman lost at sea. Langley, originally from Birmingham, had a particular sensitivity towards the hardships of local people in the Newlyn and Penzance area. He is buried in Penzance Cemetery. Other notables include Norman Garstin's (1847-1926) depiction of a drenched Penzance Promenade - 'The Rain it Raineth Every Day' (1889), and there's an excellent collection of work by Elizabeth Forbes (1859-1912) which includes her famous 'School Is Out' painted in 1889.

Other collections at Penlee include archaeological displays, with Bronze Age tools and pottery found in the area on display. There's also a small Costume and Textiles collection, various West Cornwall ceramics and a superb collection of Newlyn decorative copper work which was distinctly influenced by the arts and crafts movement. Check out the Penlee House website for more details.

Penlee House Gallery and Museum, Morrab Road, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 4HE. Tel: +44 (0)1736 363625. Opening Times are from 1 October to Maundy Thursday, Monday to Saturday, 10.30 am - 4.30 pm, (last admissions 4.00 pm). Penlee House is open Bank Holidays but it's closed on the following dates: 24th - 28th December 2005. From Good Friday to 30 September Penlee is open Monday to Saturday, 10.00 am - 5.00 pm, (last admissions 4.30 pm).

Penzance Shopping Chapel Street

Kitts Couture Vintage Clothing, 51 Chapel Street, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 4AF. Tel: (01736) 364507. For vintage clothing from the 1920/30s/40s/50s/60s and 70s check out the superb Kitts Couture on Chapel Street in Penzance. For a flavour of the treasures available in this vintage clothing shop check out their weblink to the right. You can order stuff online too!

Peter Johnson Handmade Silk Lampshades, Period Lighting, Antiques & Objects d'art, 62 Chapel Street, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 4AE. 01736 363267. Open from Tuesday to Saturday 9-30 am to 5 pm. Mondays open by appointment only. Evenings telephone 01736 368088. eastofhere, 2 - 3 Chapel Street, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 4AJ. Tel: 01736 359076. Specialists in oriental rugs, textiles and various middle eastern curios. Check out their weblink right for details. Also on Chapel Street, Penzance Bookshop, 5 Chapel Street, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 4AJ. Tel: 01736 365444. Second Hand Books are available at 61-62 Chapel Street Penzance.

The Egyptian House, 6 Chapel Street, Penzance TR18 4AT. Find a splendid open studio gallery here, displaying jewellery, silver, ceramics and paintings. Captain Cutters House, 52 Chapel Street Penzance Cornwall TR18 4AF. Tel 01736 351257. Here's a treat for cigar, tobacco and pipe lovers - ho ho. They offer a mail order service too - check out the West Cornwall Cigar Company's weblink right.

For antiques, head to Daphne's Antiques, 17 Chapel Street, Tel: 01736 361719, and then on to Chapel Street .Arcade, for Mel Bentley's extensive selection of Antiques and off the wall collectibles. Tel: 01736 363267. If you're a fan of both the Newlyn and St Ives schools, check out Tony Sanders Gallery & Antiques, 14 Chapel Street, Penzance. Tel: 01736 366620. Lots of contemporary St Ives & Newlyn School work for sale here, plus a good selection of Cranberry Glass, Staffordshire and check out that Newlyn and Hayle copper.

Jubilee Pool, Penzance & Restaurants

Just along Penzance Promenade as you approach Penzance harbour is the delightful Art Deco swimming pool and cafe, the Jubilee Pool. So called because it was built in 1935 to mark the Silver Jubilee of King George V, this glorious lido is built into the Penzance shoreline and is a tidal pool with salt water (it is chlorinated). Being tidal the water might be a little cold! There's a pleasant little cafe on the pool complex - highly recommended with great views of Penzance Harbour and across to St Michael's Mount.

Jubilee Pool, Historic Art Deco Lido, Battery Road, Penzance, Cornwall. Tel: 01736 362341.

Day Trips to the Isles of Scilly

There's two ways to get to the sublime Isles of Scilly, with St Mary's the largest of the Scilly Isles being your first dropping off point. By air or by sea, you choose. Both the Scillonian boat trip from Penzance, or the Sky Bus small aircraft have their particular advantages. Fine views are to be had of the Cornish coast from both. The main difference is that the Sky Bus Plane does not depart from Penzance - you can pick this up at Lands End (an easy drive from Penzance), or from Newquay, Exeter, Bristol and Southampton. For complete information on Sky Bus departures (currently around two flights to St Mary's run from Lands End every hour!) see the Isles of Scilly Travel company's weblink right. If you fancy taking a Helicopter trip, you can pick up the Helicopter from Penzance for direct flights to both St Mary's and Tresco. See the Isles of Scilly Helicopter weblink right for full details. The helicopter trip from Penzance to St Mary's takes about 20 minutes.

Scillonian III, the main ferry running from Penzance to Hugh Town, St Mary's - the largest of the Scilly Isles - departs daily (except Sundays) from Penzance harbour usually at 9.15am during the week, with some weekend departure times being 9.30am or 9.45am. It departs from Hugh Town, St Mary's usually at 4.30pm for the return journey to Penzance. Times can vary from month to month and early booking is recommended - it's well used in Summer. Check the IOS travel weblink right for full details. The boat trip to St Marys takes about 2 1/2 hours from Penzance and is a great opportunity to view the West Coast of Cornwall. It's a pleasant trip, with excellent amenities on board including cafes, bars and gift shop with obligatory stuffed puffins. It's pretty cheap too, with a day trip return for adults still under �40 (in 2006). Dogs are welcome onboard too for a fee. Boat trips to the Scilly Isles, although taking longer than the Sky Bus, are much cheaper than flying!

If you're holidaying in Penzance a day trip to St Mary's. the largest of the Scilly Isles is well worth considering - there's lots to do in St Marys including ample specialist clothing shops and some stunning walking to be had around the island's coast. The Scilly island beaches of course are to die for. Beautiful fine white clean sands, exotic plants, a choice of birdwatching, prehistoric ruins, forts and castles, and sublime coastal views - magic. The Scillonian III pulls in at Hugh town, the main harbour on St Mary's. There are a number of suggested trails in the Day Trip brochure obtainable from the Isles of Scilly Travel Office in Penzance, situated just opposite the harbour.

Isles of Scilly Travel Centre, Quay Street, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 4BZ. Within the UK: (local call rate) 0845 710 5555, International: +44 (0) 1736 334220. Penzance Ferry Parking for the Isles of Scilly details is available on the Isles of Scilly Travel website. There are pay and display car parks situated right near to Penzance Harbour.

Penzance Golowan Festival

Penzance's famous Golowan festival or 'Feast of St John' is a mix of Celtic traditions and dancing, various community arts events and lots of entertainment, music, street acts, films, walks, fireworks and various market stalls. Usually held in mid-to late June annually, it's a pretty big affair as community arts events go! Check out the Golowan Festival website right for full details on what's in store.

Golowan, although only revived recently in Penzance from 1990, has a long history dating back to Celtic traditions of celebrating the Summer Solstice on 21st June - the longest day. Today's Golowan Festival falls across the longest day. This Cornwall Festival is a real feast of entertainment, with live music galore in Penzance's various venues, guided walks to, for example, Mousehold, Masked Balls, and fireworks displays at the atmospheric Jubilee Pool.

Golowan Trust, The Barbican, Battery Road, Penzance, Cornwall,TR18 4EF. Telephone +44(0)1736.332211. Or visit the Golowan Website linked right.

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