Penzance
Penzance is perfectly positioned as a gateway to some of Cornwall’s most famous tourist destinations, including the Isles of Scilly. It’s only a few miles from places such as St Ives, Land’s End, and of course St Michael’s Mount.
As you wander up and down Chapel Street in Penzance you’ll encounter art galleries, second-hand book sellers, new age shops, and bijou boutiques, all of which add a slightly Bohemian feel to the area. Besides these you will find plenty of places to eat and drink including some of Penzance’s most iconic pubs. At the bottom stands St Mary’s Church, in a position that gives the town its name in Cornish, the Holy Headland.
Penzance has one of the mildest climates in the UK, and one of the striking things about the town is the abundance of gardens full of sub-tropical plants, a sure sign that you have arrived somewhere unique. Have a wander around Morrab Gardens, landscaped in Victorian times and turned into a municipal park in 1889, complete with bandstand. Nearby Penlee Gardens are also home to an outdoor theatre in the summer months.
For a quintessential Cornish moment, grab some fish and chips, take a walk along the promenade, and enjoy the spectacular views out across Mount’s Bay. The more adventurous might fancy a plunge in the art deco Jubilee Pool, which now uses 21st century technology to pipe warm water from beneath the ground to heat a section, letting you swim all year round.
Towards the end of the 19th century and into the 20th, the nearby fishing villages of Newlyn, Mousehole and Lamorna became very popular with artists, who are now known as the Newlyn School. They mainly painted outdoor scenes, known commonly as ‘en plein air’ and over the years have become much sought after.
The Penlee House Gallery & Museum in Penzance gives an introduction to the paintings by the Newlyn School of Artists, including works by Stanhope Forbes, Walter Langley and perhaps the most famous, Norman Garstin’s ‘The Rain it Raineth Everyday’.
For more cutting edge, contemporary art, The Exchange Gallery in Penzance is a large exhibition space featuring national and international works, alongside the best of those produced in the local area. It’s sister gallery, The Newlyn School of Art sits on the seafront just before you reach the village.
It’s not just Penzance’s bustling town, breath-taking views and close proximity to iconic Cornish landmarks that make it such an attractive destination. There’s its history, its gardens, its atmosphere and so much more that end up ensuring it is one of Cornwall’s worthiest visits.
Birch Studio – Lamorna, Penzance
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If you are looking for a romantic retreat then look no further. The ultimate couple’s hideaway, where complete privacy and peacefulness can be enjoyed. The Birch Studio in Lamorna in Cornwall is a wonderful and unique holiday cottage, in an idyllic woodland setting that is just two hundred yards from Lamorna Cove itself.
