Penzance

In South West Cornwall is the town of Penzance – like St Ives, Penzance also has a reputation for having been an artists haven (in the 19^th century) and still boasts an interesting art gallery.

The climate in Penzance is wonderfully mild – you’ll see palm trees and other sub-tropical plant life in the beautiful Morrab Gardens (well worth a visit). It’s also possible to catch views of St Michaels Mount from this busy harbour town.

See here for hotels in the Penzance area.

There are some nice shops and restaurants near the harbour and some other points of interest in Penzance include the Penlee House Gallery & Museum and the Trinity House National Lighthouse Centre. Also worth a look is the interesting 19^th century building that is Egyptian House.

There is no shortage of affordable lodging if you’re looking to stay for a night or two in Penzance – there are many bed & breakfasts offering a fair stay for reasonable fees or you could stay in one or two of the higher end places such as the Abbey hotel.

  Some two miles from Penzance is the pretty village of Mousehole - Many believe it to be one of the most attractive fishing villages to be found anywhere in Cornwall. One of the famous (if eccentric) dishes that mousehole is famous for is “Stargazy Pie” – a fish pie made with whole fish (and the heads sticking out of the pastry).

  Also very close to Penzance is Newlyn – a little town that (aside from being a pleasant fishing port) is known best for art. Newlyn started to be a hub for artists towards the late 18th century and it was a little later that the Newlyn School Of Art was opened.