Carefree and car-free

Penzance

Leave the car at home for a more sustainable adventure in Penzance.

Getting to Penzance without a car couldn’t be easier. If you’re travelling from London, there is a direct Great Western Railway train from London Paddington, which enjoys scenic coastal views as it makes its way through Dawlish and Plymouth. There is also a comfortable sleeper service, which travels through the night so that you wake up on holiday.

The train brings you right into the heart of Penzance, where you’ll find plenty to explore on foot. You could follow the town trail and learn about the history of Penzance or walk along the coastal path to Marazion. The fishing town of Newlyn and the quaint village of Mousehole are also within walking distance.

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

London Paddington to Penzance

Sleeper train

Wake up on holiday when you travel from London to Penzance via the First Great Western ‘Night Riviera’ sleeper train. You can book a comfortable cabin with a bunk bed, which gives you access to the First Class Lounge at London Paddington. There is also an onboard lounge, although you can enjoy room service in your cabin. Book your tickets here.

Beryl Bikes

Pay-as-you-ride e-bikes

Discover the joy of pedal power and hop on a Beryl Bike to explore Mount’s Bay. Beryl Bikes are pay-as-you-ride e-bikes that you unlock through the Beryl app. There are pick-up points in Penzance, Newlyn, Mousehole and Marazion, so it’s the ideal way to see more of the coast without your car. Find out more here.

Transport for Cornwall

Ports of Penzance

Explore the historic harbours that surround Penzance. The MOUS bus route takes you from Penzance station to Newlyn and Mousehole. You could spend the morning discovering Newlyn’s art galleries before heading to Mousehole and hopping off the bus for lunch at the Old Coastguard. See this timetable and more here.

Morrab library tour

Fascinating library

The Morrab Library can be found in the subtropical Morrab Gardens in Penzance. It was founded in 1818 and is one of only (approximately) 50 independent libraries in the UK. If you’re around on a Friday, there is a free library tour at 2pm, which explores the nooks and crannies of this iconic house. Find out more here.

Site-specific artwork

Gwelen

If you’ve ever visited Mount’s Bay, home of St Michael’s Mount, it might surprise you to learn that beneath the waves lies the remains of an ancient forest. To bring this secret landscape to life, local artist Emma Smith has created a site-specific artwork, ‘Gwelen’. To find her wooden ‘seeing sticks’, join the section of the South West Coast Path that connects Marazion and Penzance. This unique installation is accompanied by a podcast, which will introduce you to Emma Smith and her work.

Newlyn Filmhouse

Independent cinema experience

What used to be a granite fish cellar and smokery underwent an incredible transformation in 2015. Today, the building is a two-screen cinema with an art-house atmosphere, making it the ideal location for independent film events. In fact, the venue recently hosted the Q+A for BAIT, the BAFTA-winning Cornish-made film. The addition of the ‘EATHOUSE’ means the Newlyn Filmhouse is also a place to gather over seasonal feasts and showstopping cocktails. Find out more here.

Places to Eat

Admiral Benbow, Penzance

Feasts fit for a pirate

Arrr! ‘Tis a pirate’s life for all who stop here. The Admiral Benbow is a traditional Cornish pub that claims to have been serving pirates, smugglers and rum since 1695. In addition to being a great place to eat and drink, it’s also a treasure trove of maritime artefacts, many of which were rescued from shipwrecks. 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.