Exploring Penzance

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Popular for being the most westerly major town in Cornwall, Penzance, situated in the shelter of Mount’s Bay is a market town and port. The name Penzance translates into “holy headland” in the Cornish language. Facing the English Channel and bordered to the west by the fishing port of Newlyn, Penzance is an ideal base for exploring the Pen with area of Cornwall. The earliest recorded evidence of settlement in Penzance can be traced to the Bronze Age.

How To Reach

Penzance is approximately a 5-6 hour drive from London. Penzance and the surrounding area are well served by local bus services. National Express and Mega bus Coach Services from London Victoria are available. Visitors can also opt for train servicesto Penzance.

Climate

Penzance is located on the Land’s End peninsula of western Cornwall. Bordered by the sea and due to the mild air arriving from the Gulf Stream after passing over the Atlantic Ocean, the climate of Penzance stays mild all throughout the year.The summer weather in Penzance is often extremely favourable and on the sunniest days in June, July and August, temperatures around 25°C / 77°F are commonplace. Visitors can enjoy the sun, sea and sand during this time.

Places To Visit

  1. Regent Square: Constructed from local granite in 1839, this area was built to accommodate thelocal ‘gentry’. The buildings, till date, have been beautifully maintained.
  2. St Mary’s: Situated on a hillock near the sea, St Mary’s is a prominent landmark of Penzance. The complex houses a church which dates from 1834. The churchyard is terraced and has ancient tombs and gravestones, walkways and benches to sit and look out to sea.
  3. The Minack Theatre: Conceived by Miss Rowena Cade, The Minack Theatre overlooking the Porthcurno bay has been carved into a granite cliff. Among the most famous cliff theatre in Britain, the theatre is used from June to September for a full summer season. However, the theatre is open for visitors throughout the rest of the year.
  4. Chapel Street and Turks Head: Chapel Street is a reminder from the 16th century. This relic was almost razed to the ground in 1595 when a Spanish raiding party set fire to the town in retaliation for the defeat of the Spanish Armada. The Turks Head on this street is one of the oldest buildingsin the town and dates back to around 1233. A popular pub today, it is rumoured that it has an underground tunnel which supposedly leads down to the harbour.
  5. Jubilee Pool: Designed in the early 1930s by Captain F Latham, the Jubilee Pool was built at the Battery Rocks near the harbour at Penzance. The pool is triangular in shapeto cope with the full ferocity of the Cornish seas. Today, the pool happens to be the last open air art decco bathing pool in the UK. Jubilee Pool remains open May to September. The timings are from 10.30am to 6pm (7pm on Thursday).While Penzance might not be your usual vacation spot, it nevertheless is an exotic destination. You will carry home beautiful memories after a holiday at Penzance!