Photo: The original uploader was Marktee1 at English Wikipedia. (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do in Penzance
The best holidays are planned around great days out. Here's what's on the doorstep in Penzance, from big-ticket attractions to rainy-day savers.
Showing museums, aquariums and attractions with indoor areas — the ones that work whatever the forecast.
🎟️ This weekend near Penzance
Events from
Skiddle
Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
Truro Audio Tour: A Historic and Cultural Audio Odyssey
Old County Hall, Truro, Truro · 23.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sat 14 Nov · 12:00
Truro Audio Tour: A Historic and Cultural Audio Odyssey
Old County Hall, Truro, Truro · 23.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sun 15 Nov · 12:00
Truro Audio Tour: A Historic and Cultural Audio Odyssey
Old County Hall, Truro, Truro · 23.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Aquariums
28.6 mi from Penzance
Blue Reef Aquarium
Blue Reef Aquarium sits right on Towan Promenade in Newquay, overlooking the beach, and offers an indoor undersea adventure through more than 40 naturally-themed displays, from roc...
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Museums & Galleries
0.2 mi from Penzance
Penlee House Gallery
Penlee House Gallery & Museum in Penzance is a place to explore the art and history of West Cornwall, set within sub-tropical gardens with a licensed café. The gallery features wor...
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6.4 mi from Penzance
The Leach Pottery
The Leach Pottery is a museum, shop and working studio in St Ives, founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada and reopened to the public in 2008. You can browse Leach Standa...
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6.5 mi from Penzance
Hard Rock Museum
The Hard Rock Museum at Geevor Tin Mine brings Cornwall's tin mining heritage to life with hands-on, interactive activities suited to the whole family. You can explore a gallery di...
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7 mi from Penzance
Levant Mine and Beam Engine
Levant Mine and Beam Engine is a National Trust site in St. Just, Cornwall, set on the cliffs of the 'Tin Coast'. You'll see the working 1840 beam engine, which runs on steam, and...
7 mi from Penzance
Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden
This is Barbara Hepworth's former home, studio and garden in St Ives, where she lived and worked from 1949 until her death in 1975. You can wander through the garden she laid out h...
7 mi from Penzance
Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden
This is the former home, studio and garden of sculptor Barbara Hepworth, who lived and worked here from 1949 until her death in 1975. You can see her bronzes displayed in the posit...
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7.2 mi from Penzance
Porthcurno Telegraph Museum
PK Porthcurno Museum of Global Communications tells the story of how the world's communications networks developed, from the first undersea telegraph cable that arrived here from I...
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7.2 mi from Penzance
St Ives Museum
St Ives Museum sits in the Wheal Dream area of St Ives, telling the story of the town's fishing, mining and farming past alongside its artistic heritage. You can see pop-up exhibit...
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8.6 mi from Penzance
The End to End Story
The End to End Story is a museum display at Land's End celebrating the people who have completed the epic 800-mile journey between Land's End and John O'Groats, whether on foot, by...
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11.7 mi from Penzance
Helston Museum
Museum of Cornish Life is a museum situated in the former market town of Helston, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is located immediately behind Helston Guildhall. — Wikipedia
13 mi from Penzance
King Edward Mine
King Edward Mine is a former working tin mine turned museum in Camborne, Cornwall, where volunteer guides lead you through a historic Cornish tin mill and explain working equipment...
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13.6 mi from Penzance
Marconi Centre
Museum of Guglielmo Marconi's wireless telegraphy and centre for the local amateur radio group
14.2 mi from Penzance
Michell's Engine House
Michell's Engine House sits at Carn Brea, Cornwall, within the East Pool Mine site, and is home to the last whim engine built in Cornwall, once used to raise ore and lower miners i...
14.4 mi from Penzance
East Pool Mine
East Pool mine, was a metalliferous mine in the Camborne and Redruth mining area, just east of the village of Pool in Cornwall. Worked from the early 18th century until 1945, first... — Wikipedia
Zoos & Wildlife
28.9 mi from Penzance
Newquay Zoo
Newquay Zoo is a 13-acre wildlife and botanical garden attraction in the heart of Newquay, Cornwall, first opened in 1969. You can wander through lush gardens, watch keeper talks a...
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Where to stay near Penzance
Places to stay within easy reach of these days out.
More around Penzance
Itineraries
Haunted Britain
From the blog
Start with the landmarks, then build around them
Penzance works best when you pick one big thing a day and leave room for the rest. The obvious anchors are Land's End, with its long views and salt-blown walks, and St Michael's Mount, which does the job of castle, island and photograph all at once. Add the Minack Theatre, carved into the cliffs, and you have three days out that children and grandparents will both talk about afterwards.
If you prefer your heritage quieter, Pengersick Castle, Star Castle and Cromwell's Castle all reward a slower visit, and Trengwainton Gardens is the one to save for a soft, still morning. National Trust members get good value here: Trengwainton Gardens, the Godolphin Estate and Levant Mine and Beam Engine are all in the fold, so a membership card pays for itself quickly if you're staying a week.
Days out with children
For animals, Greeb Farm is the easy local choice and suits younger children who want to be close to things rather than looking at them from a distance. The Screech Owl Sanctuary is worth building a whole morning around if anyone in the party is bird-mad. Spingfields Fun Park and Pony Centre combines rides with ponies, which tends to buy you a longer stretch of peace than either would alone, and on a hot week Kernow Adventure Park is the water park to earmark — take towels, spare clothes and low expectations about leaving on time.
When it rains — and it will
Cornwall's weather turns quickly, so it's worth having two or three indoor options already chosen rather than deciding in a wet car park. Penlee House, Gallery & Museum is the most rounded wet-weather option, mixing art and local history. Tate St Ives is the headline gallery, and St Ives Museum nearby gives a much more domestic, lived-in version of the same town's story.
- Air Sea Rescue — good for anyone interested in the working side of the coast.
- The End to End Story — a natural pairing with a trip to Land's End.
- Coast The Exhibition — another short, focused indoor stop.
- Marizion Museum — small, local and easy to fit around other plans.
Mining, engines and the industrial coast
This is the part of Cornwall people underestimate. Levant Mine and Beam Engine sits right on the cliff edge and is the one to prioritise. King Edward Mine and Michell's Engine House fill in the picture of how the industry actually worked, and Blue Hills Tin Streams shows tin being handled rather than just described. Further round the coast, the Lizard Lighthouse Heritage Centre is a strong half-day, while Predannick Anti-Aircraft Battery and Perranporth Museum suit anyone who likes their history a little off the main trail.
Where to eat
Keep it simple. The Star Inn and The Queens are the sort of pubs that handle a muddy, windswept family without fuss, and both are useful if you want one proper sit-down meal in the day. For chips by the water, the Balancing Eel and Beach both hold five-star hygiene ratings, which is reassuring when you're eating out of paper on a wall. Palais Provisions is the ice cream stop — build it into the end of a beach afternoon rather than the middle, or you'll never get anyone moving again.
Three days that group together sensibly
- West coast day: Land's End in the morning, The End to End Story to add context, then an evening at the Minack Theatre if something's on.
- Heritage day: Levant Mine and Beam Engine first while you're fresh, then King Edward Mine or Michell's Engine House, finishing with a pub meal at The Star Inn.
- Town and gallery day: Penlee House, Gallery & Museum, lunch, then Tate St Ives and St Ives Museum, with Palais Provisions on the way back.
Turning it into a short break
Three or four nights is the sweet spot: enough for one landmark day, one wet-weather day and one slow day at Trengwainton Gardens or the Godolphin Estate. There are 287 places to stay on BritStays across the region, so you can base yourself near town for walkable pubs or further out if you'd rather wake up to fields.
Practical notes
Check opening days before you travel — smaller museums such as Marizion Museum and Perranporth Museum keep shorter seasons than the big names. Confirm access arrangements for St Michael's Mount in advance, book Minack Theatre performances ahead, and park once and walk where you can. Carry waterproofs even on a bright morning, and keep one indoor option in reserve each day.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main landmarks to see around Penzance?
Land's End, St Michael's Mount and the Minack Theatre are the headline sights. For castles and older heritage there are also Pengersick Castle, Star Castle and Cromwell's Castle, plus the Godolphin Estate and Trengwainton Gardens if you prefer gardens and grounds.
Which attractions are National Trust properties?
Three of the listed places are National Trust: Trengwainton Gardens, the Godolphin Estate and Levant Mine and Beam Engine. If you already hold membership, planning a couple of these into your trip makes good financial sense.
What can we do with children on a wet day?
Penlee House, Gallery & Museum is a good all-rounder, and Tate St Ives and St Ives Museum sit close together for a two-stop indoor day. Shorter indoor visits include Air Sea Rescue, Coast The Exhibition, The End to End Story and Marizion Museum.
Where should we go for animals and family fun?
Greeb Farm suits younger children who want to get close to animals, and the Screech Owl Sanctuary is worth a dedicated morning. Spingfields Fun Park and Pony Centre mixes rides with ponies, and Kernow Adventure Park is the water park option for warm weather.
Is there much mining heritage to visit?
Yes. Levant Mine and Beam Engine is the standout, with King Edward Mine, Michell's Engine House and Blue Hills Tin Streams filling in how the industry worked. Lizard Lighthouse Heritage Centre and Predannick Anti-Aircraft Battery add a different side of the coast's working history.
Where can we eat after a day out?
The Star Inn and The Queens are pubs that cope well with a hungry, windswept family. For fish and chips, the Balancing Eel and Beach both hold five-star hygiene ratings, and Palais Provisions is the place for ice cream at the end of a beach afternoon.
More ways to explore
Not booked yet? See the best places to stay in Penzance.