Cottages in Penzance

Penzance is synonymous with its pirate past and has a reputation for being steeped in maritime history and mythology. As well as being a mythical place, Penzance also enjoys all the spoils and beauty of the West Cornwall coast. Many of our holiday cottages in the area fit in with the historic atmosphere in Penzance, with beautiful stone cottages with original features and wood-burning fires, as well as central locations and unbeatable sea views. A large section of our Penzance properties are also luxury accommodations, making them the very best of what we have to offer. Choose from cottages with access to a swimming pool, tennis courts and unique converted properties, the choice is yours when it comes to our luxury range in Cornwall.  

Whether you are travelling on a romantic short break or an action-packed family holiday, there is Penzance holiday home for every occasion. We also offer a range of dog-friendly cottages in Penzance and Cornwall, so that every member of your family can get the most out of your visit to Penzance. If you are travelling with a pet or younger children, be sure to consider one of our properties with a fully enclosed garden, which offers an excellent place for younger guests and trusty pets to burn off a little extra energy!  

You’re Guide to Penzance

Penzance has always been at the forefront of British maritime history, first for being a port that was at the centre of the Crusades and the Spanish Invasion, and later for being a renowned haunt for pirates and smugglers in the 17th century. Chapel Street is the oldest street in Penzance and every building has a story. Two of its most historic buildings are the pubs Admiral Benpow and The Turks Head. The Admiral Benpow dates back to 1625 and was once a notorious haunt of pirates and smugglers. Local legend states that in 1880, Robert Louis Stevenson visited the pub on his way back from America and took inspiration from the decor of the Benpow (which is covered in maritime artefacts to this day) for his world-famous work Treasure Island. The Turks Head is even older and dates back to 1233 and was founded during the Turkish invasion of England during the Crusades. It was the first pub in Britain to be called The Turks Head and was also a haven for pirates in the 17th century, when a smugglers tunnel was even built into the pub. To get really involved in the history of Penzance, why not choose one of our cottages on Chapel Street? 

If rum and revelry isn’t your scene, then hopefully the other attractions of Penzance and West Cornwall will appeal. In Penzance itself, you can expect to find a number of local galleries, as the town has a thriving arts scene that has been a part of its identity for many years. One of the most notable galleries in Penzance is the Penlee House Gallery, located in the manor house in the town’s famous Penlee Gardens. The gallery here specialises in the Newlyn School artists, including Stanhope Forbes and Walter Langley and there is also a lovely tearooms on site for you to indulge in a piece of cake and a cup of tea.  

Being on the coast, Penzance also has a number of seaside attractions, its main draw being that it is located on the southern edge of Mount’s Bay, the most beloved beach in West Cornwall. Unique to Penzance, however, is the Jubilee Pool and the town’s proximity to the Scilly Isles. The Jubilee Pool, found between the promenade and harbour, is the UK’s largest art deco lido. This vintage and unusually shaped outdoor pool attracts lots of visitors every year, especially in the summer months. Penzance also remains the only place in Cornwall from which you can sail to the Isles of Scilly. The Scillonian III is the passenger ferry that runs day trips from the harbour on every day between March and November, which is cheap but the trip is two hours each way. 

Penzance also remains an excellent location from which to explore all that West Cornwall, and indeed the whole region, has to offer. Nearby you’ll find the popular coastal spots of Praa Sands, Porthcurno, Lamorna Cove, Marazion, Mousehole, Mount’s Bay and many more. A great way to see this stretch of coastline is by foot and there are a great number of local walking routes between these coastal towns and villages, but they can also be reached via the beach and the walk along the sands of Mount’s Bay never fails to be a great way to spend a day. Penzance is also just under 10 miles from one of Cornwall’s most breath-taking coastal attractions, the Minack Theatre. The Minack is an outdoor amphitheatre right on the edge of the Cornish coast, where the view is as much a part of the entertainment as the performance itself. The Minack puts on a range of shows throughout the year, including concerts, musicals and plays, so it is well worth checking out what’s on there while you’re in Penzance. 

Browse through our collection of self-catering accommodation in Penzance and start getting excited for your next getaway in wonderful West Cornwall.  

If you would like to learn more about visiting Cornwall, be sure to take a moment to read our Cornwall Travel Guide.