Artistic heritage

Penzance and Newlyn

Delight in the discovery of this region’s unique cultural heritage.

Did you know that Newlyn was once a gathering place for artists? In the late 19^th Century, painters travelled to the small fishing town to make the most of the natural light, calling themselves the ‘Newlyn School’. So much of the town inspired their work – from the fishing boats to the tragedies at sea.

Today, this heritage continues to attract artists to the area. Immerse yourself in the story with a trail that guides you through the key galleries in Penzance, as well as carefully curated exhibitions at Penlee House.

Activity level: Easy
Duration: 2-3 days

You can mix and match from the suggested activities to create a great day out during your stay. If you were to do all the activities on this itinerary, the estimated duration is given above.

Please note: You will need to contact the venue or experience provider directly to book.

Click on each individual experience and find out more about its accessibility and public transport connections, along with an eco tip.

Create your own inspiring itinerary

If you would like to build your own itinerary, head to the Experience page. You can add your favourite experiences to a bespoke itinerary, which can be downloaded or sent to your email address. Please note: This is for inspiration purposes only and does not create a booking. You will need to contact the venue or provider directly to book.

Things to do

Penlee House Gallery & Museum

Exhibitions & collections on Cornish life

Penlee House Gallery and Museum celebrates the history and culture of Cornwall. It’s home to a substantial collection of artworks by painters from the Newlyn School – a group of artists who helped to shape the British art world and explored the Newlyn way of life in their paintings. Visit the Penlee House website to see what’s on display this winter.

Penzance to Newlyn

Walk the promenade

Penzance Promenade is a beautiful open stretch of newly refurbished seafront. Penzance prom has been designed for all travellers to enjoy, be it on foot or by bike. Feel free to stop off and read some of the information boards, which tell you about the wildlife and history of the area. Don’t forget to pop into Jelbert’s to experience their popular clotted cream-topped ice cream.

Penzance

Town trail

Give yourself permission to duck in and out of the shops by following the Penzance Town Trail. This self-guided tour takes approximately two hours and encourages you to explore some of the town’s most interesting buildings and landmarks, including the Union Hotel (where the death of Admiral Horatio Nelson was announced) and Jubilee Pool. It’s a great way to find your bearings. Get the map here.

Shopping in Penzance

Vintage and antiques

If you’re on the hunt for unique vintage or antique finds, then exploring the quirky shops in Penzance should be on your holiday checklist – and Chapel Street is a great place to start. While you’re here, make sure you browse the colourful clothes at Happy Dais Vintage and wander down the main high street to Black Jacket Vintage.

St Michael’s Mount

Sheila Hichens Collection

Visit St Michael’s Mount before April 2023 to see the Sheila Hichens Collection. Featuring more than 40 paintings from Newlyn School artists, it’s an insight into what life in Cornwall was like in the early twentieth century. The gallery is free to enter, but you will need to visit at low tide to be able to cross the causeway. To plan your visit to St Michael’s Mount, check the seasonal opening hours here.

Places to Eat

Turk’s Head

Oldest pub in Penzance

If you want to sip local ales surrounded by history, then look no further than the Turks Head. Found on Chapel Street, it’s famously the oldest pub in Penzance. The Turks Head has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere and serves pub classics, bistro specials and Sunday roasts. Find out more here.

Essential Information

Places to Stay

Retreat to a cosy self-catering cottage or book a stylish hotel in the heart of town. Discover the perfect seaside stay for your winter in Cornwall.

More inspiration?

Visit out of season and step into an adventure. Explore our entire collection of inspiring itineraries and plan a great day out.

Accessibility

Many of the activities in our itineraries are accessible. Click on each individual experience to find out more about its accessibility. We advise that you contact the venue or experience provider in advance to confirm. You can also find information about accessible venues through Access Cornwall.

Local knowledge

Enjoy updates from local experts and find information about upcoming events.

Getting around

Discover the many ways you can get out there and explore without relying on your car.

Positive impact

We’re hoping to make every stay as sustainable as possible. Find out more here.

Itinerary last updated on March 8th, 2023

This listing has been curated by the EXPERIENCE West Cornwall team and was correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We advise that you contact the venue or provider directly to confirm any seasonal opening details and to book the experience.