Get that festive feeling when you visit the Penzance area in December. There are so many ways to join in with the celebrations and local traditions. You could watch the Montol lantern procession through Penzance town, see the Christmas lights in Mousehole, eat Stargazy Pie on Tom Bawcock’s Eve or brave the Christmas Day swim at Sennen.
Christmas in West Cornwall
‘Tis the season for an adventure
With cosy pub fires and twinkling harbour lights, Cornwall was made for Christmas staycations.
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- Christmas in West Cornwall
- 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
Experience a Cornish tradition
Taking place on December 21st every year, Montol is a reinterpretation and celebration of Cornish midwinter and Christmas traditions. The festival involves lantern and mask-making workshops, street bands, storytelling and dancing through the streets. Make sure you’re in Penzance for the sundown procession at 4pm, which starts at the top of Causewayhead, and follow the celebrations until 10pm.
Legend and lanterns
In December, the longer nights create the perfect backdrop for Cornish legends – and Tom Bawcock’s Eve is not to be missed. Held in Mousehole on December 23rd, it celebrates the story of Tom Bawcock, a legendary fisherman who saved the town from famine. It’s a vibrant evening, filled with fairy lights, folk songs and a lantern procession. While you’re here, seek out the Stargazy Pie– a local delicacy that involves baking pilchard heads into a pie crust, so that they’re looking up at the stars.
Magical Christmas lights
There’s nothing quite like a harbour filled with colourful lights to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside at Christmas. Crowds flock to see Mousehole’s magical Christmas lights, which illuminate the harbour from mid-December. If you’re planning to snuggle up in a quaint fishing village this winter, you can look forward to warming mulled wine and a warm welcome at the local pubs and restaurants.
Places to Eat
Hotel and restaurant
The Old Coastguard in Mousehole is a hotel and restaurant that celebrates local Cornish ingredients. The traditional brasserie menu features locally caught fish and seafood, as well as local poultry and game. Take a moment to enjoy the sea views before settling in for a cosy meal by the fire. 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
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.
