Penzance and area: chat, things to do and more

[boss56]

What's it like? What's there to do? If I stayed there what other interesting places could I go to bearing in mind I don't drive?

Penzance is not up to much...you could go along to Mousehole which is a lovely little place and not far from Penzance...You get the bus from the bus station.NOs (5) or (6),You could also go to St Ives which is really lovely..it has lots of beaches the one opposite the railway station is really lovely.There is loads of shops and eateries and the famous Sloop Inn which is almost on the harbour beach (feeling quite sad at the mo as that's where i stay in the winter but cant afford it this year) You get the NO 17 bus for St Ives...you could get the train which is the better option as it goes along the St Ives Line...which is truelly beautiful...the train goes right by the sea..stunning.You need to change at St Erth if you get the train.

Depending how much time you have in the day...you could get the train to take in Looe and Polperro which are both lovely places.

May /june is a good time to visit Cornwall..i myself will be going to Newquay then for 2.1/2 weeks...you can even get to Newquay by train from Penzance.
Newquay has 7 beaches.

You can email First Great Western to send you a train timetable for Cornwall i think it's timetable (B) you need.You can get the bus timetable in Penzance and the Bus/Train station are together.

I do Cornwall by bus and i love it...ENJOY

 

[Geri]

May /june is a good time to visit Cornwall..i myself will be going to Newquay then for 2.1/2 weeks...you can even get to Newquay by train from Penzance.
Newquay has 7 beaches.

I love Newquay - we go every year. There is nothing quite like sitting in a window seat in the Walkabout bar with a few pints and a selection of papers, washing the waves crash onto the beach and people walking their dogs.

This year we are breaking with tradition and going to stay in Falmouth for a change.

 

[boss56]

I love Newquay - we go every year. There is nothing quite like sitting in a window seat in the Walkabout bar with a few pints and a selection of papers, washing the waves crash onto the beach and people walking their dogs.

This year we are breaking with tradition and going to stay in Falmouth for a change.

Not been to the Walkabout,there is another place with great views...It's just past the car park on Fore Street there is sofa's facing the sea...great place to sit with my laptop.And there is the Fort further along...I always stay down at Porth..the hotel is practically on the beach...7 steps from the beach.

Only been to Falmouth once and that was to go to Fat Face (my fav shop)
I dont care what folk say about Newquay...i love it.
Sod it...think i will go down to St Ives...tis only money after all

 

[Geri]

I dont care what folk say about Newquay...i love it.

I wouldn't go there in the height of the season - we went in early September once and it was a little too busy for our liking. Another time we went in May, the week before Run to the Sun, and it started getting a bit manic towards the end of the week.

We usually stay at the other end, nearer to Fistral Beach. There are some lovely apartments just literally over the road.

 

[editor]

Some archive photos of an abandoned station

In photos: abandoned Marazion station in Cornwall – archive photos from 2003-2005 -

Seen in August 2005, this is the abandoned station building of Marazion, which was once the penultimate stop on the Great Western main line to Penzance. Opened by the West Cornwall Railway on 11 March 1852, the sole remaining building dates from around 1879, and served the station until closure...

www.urban75.org

 

[Elpenor]

Thinking of heading down to Penzance next Sunday as it’s a cheap train journey and I want to see a film there that’s not on anywhere else. Is there anything worth doing in the town itself were I to arrive a bit earlier that afternoon? Tide times don’t work for a visit to St Michaels Mount.

 

[Looby]

The town centre seemed a bit grim when we passed through. We stayed near Penzance but spent our time elsewhere. We had a really good meal at The Artists Residence if you want food recommendations.
Marazion is cute for a wander even if you can’t go to the mount. There’s a sculpture garden just outside Penzance which looked nice but I can’t remember why we didn’t visit.

 

[Ground Elder]

Marazion is cute for a wander even if you can’t go to the mount. There’s a sculpture garden just outside Penzance which looked nice but I can’t remember why we didn’t visit.

Tremenheere Sculpture Garden which I also haven't visited

Penzance is OK really, despite everything I said on this thread years ago Is the film on in PZ or Newlyn? Either way, go for a wander down Chapel Street, have a pint in the Benbow and then onto the prom and Jubilee Pool which will be closed, so you'll have to swim in the sea off Battery Rocks instead. You can carry onto Newlyn from there or head back to Causewayhead for the Savoy, which is the oldest continuously operating cinema in the UK, although it is possible that I've wrongly remembered this.

 

[Ground Elder]

double post

 

[Sir Belchalot]

Wendall on YouTube is pretty good although he is an emmet.

 

[Monte]

Thinking of heading down to Penzance next Sunday as it’s a cheap train journey and I want to see a film there that’s not on anywhere else. Is there anything worth doing in the town itself were I to arrive a bit earlier that afternoon? Tide times don’t work for a visit to St Michaels Mount.

There are boats to take you out to the mount when the tide is in. It's a lovely castle to visit.

 

[Monte]

I'm heading down to Penzance in July to help my mate sail his little yacht to the Scilly Isles.
I can't wait, I've not done any offshore sailing in years and I've never been to the Scillies.

 

[Elpenor]

Tremenheere Sculpture Garden which I also haven't visited

Penzance is OK really, despite everything I said on this thread years ago Is the film on in PZ or Newlyn? Either way, go for a wander down Chapel Street, have a pint in the Benbow and then onto the prom and Jubilee Pool which will be closed, so you'll have to swim in the sea off Battery Rocks instead. You can carry onto Newlyn from there or head back to Causewayhead for the Savoy, which is the oldest continuously operating cinema in the UK, although it is possible that I've wrongly remembered this.

It’s Penzance. Sounds like it’s worth heading down a few hours earlier for a walk around.

I stayed in Penzance for a week around 10 years ago but don’t think I did anything in the town except catch the boat to St Mary’s.

 

[two sheds]

Yes I like wandering round Penzance, interesting main street and last time I was there (couple of years ago now) quite a few charity shops and a proper old second hand/antique shop in the arcade to peruse.

 

[CNT36]

There are boats to take you out to the mount when the tide is in. It's a lovely castle to visit.

I don't know Elpenor tomonh but I'm guessing the films on just after 5 so a 4ish low tide would allow a stank over and back. Grab a pasty and maybe a pint in the godolphin and wait till the path over is clear. The walk from the station to Marazion is.nice enough. It starts behind the bus station as you exit the station. Though given the weather lately it might not be pleasant.

 

[Saunders]

As you’re coming on a Sunday in March, I don’t think many places will be open, galleries, the museum at penlee park, shops restaurants etc. Walking either towards marazion or Newlyn is lovely along the sea whatever the weather. And also, PZ itself is a really nice town even, or almost particularly, when it’s closed, with its own interesting little bits of history. The cinema is in causeway head which you’ll walk up to from the train station either via market Jew street, with the terrace on the inland side, and the PZ coat of arms of John the baptists head on a plate carved in the granite of the Lloyds bank building. Penzance (holy head) has an affinity to John the Baptist, there’s a painted version above a door somewhere as well, someone else might remember where it is, or from the harbour sea front. If you walk along the sea, you could walk up the abbey steps into chapel street, or walk further past past the harbour and dry dock trinity house and jubilee pool, see the gold post box marking the Olympic medalist who grew up here and who’s family started Jelbert’s ice cream in Newlyn. Chapel street is charming enough, St Mary’s church, whose tower you see from the train when you arrive is much prettier than the chapel. In my experience the chapel is somewhere you go for school speech days, I don’t know if either of these are regularly used as places of worship.

Morrab gardens is lovely, if it’s not raining you could have a good hour and half wandering around this town at the far end of the country

 

[Elpenor]

Thank you. I’ve been a bit poorly for the last few days so I hope I’m well enough to make the trip. I’m looking forward to it actually

 

[Saunders]

Thank you. I’ve been a bit poorly for the last few days so I hope I’m well enough to make the trip. I’m looking forward to it actually

See how you feel. I’m just back from being a tourist in someone else’s home town, so am seeing PZ through a visitors eyes at the moment
It’s not hugely exciting, but it has its own history; I have a dim memory about bamboo grown here being sent up the line for pandas at the zoo in (that there) London

 

[CNT36]

I don't know Elpenor tomonh but I'm guessing the films on just after 5 so a 4ish low tide would allow a stank over and back. Grab a pasty and maybe a pint in the godolphin and wait till the path over is clear. The walk from the station to Marazion is.nice enough. It starts behind the bus station as you exit the station. Though given the weather lately it might not be pleasant.

Scrap that. You'll need a boat thought you were down today. Still a nice walk though. The gallery in Penlee Park is due to start opening on Sundays soon but probably not soon enough.
As Saunders says St Mary's Church is nice and the outside has benches which are actually quite nice to sit on with a bit of a view. Further up chapel Street is the egyptian house. The aforementioned artists residence is on Chapel Street as well.
The Farmers just up the hill from the cinema is a bit of a sun trap if you fancy a pint before the film. I think Sunday afternoon is open mic as well.

 

[nightowl]

Jelbert's ice cream is legendary. Get a tub topped with clotted cream. It's the best.

 

[Elpenor]

Suspect nothing like an ice cream parlour will be open until the weekend after next. Might be a bit cold for it too.

Think I am getting over my horrible lurgy / Covid thing so looks like I’m going. Any good chippies?

 

[Bus Honeygun]

Any good chippies?

Pirate's Rest is good.

Not what you asked, and I seem to recall you mentioning before that you're not a big drinker, but if you do fancy a pint The Crown is good. They brew their own and it's a very friendly pub.

 

[nightowl]

Born and raised in Penzance but haven't been back for 8 years now since the last of the relatives who still lived there passed away. Sometimes think I'd like to pop back just to have a stroll around old haunts.

 

[Epona]

Spent our honeymoon based in Penzance, tbf it was long before this thread was started - but we had a great time.
It didn't stop raining mind.

 

[Ground Elder]

Pirate's Rest is good.

Not what you asked, and I seem to recall you mentioning before that you're not a big drinker, but if you do fancy a pint The Crown is good. They brew their own and it's a very friendly pub.

Where's the Pirate's Rest? Has the Crown's beer improved, because it used to be pretty awful tbh? Still it's a decent enough pub and close to the station

 

[Bus Honeygun]

Where's the Pirate's Rest? Has the Crown's beer improved, because it used to be pretty awful tbh? Still it's a decent enough pub and close to the station

Pirates Rest used to be called something else that I can't remember, next to the Navy Inn. It may have changed hands as well as name, so could be crap now TBH.

Yes, I know what you mean about the beer at the Crown. They were trying to do too much with variable results and a drop in quality when it wasn't shifting. They've scaled down to the one principle brew on draught in the pub and some others in cans now.

 

[Elpenor]

Spent our honeymoon based in Penzance, tbf it was long before this thread was started - but we had a great time.
It didn't stop raining mind.

Luckily I am well used to the weather down here

 

[CNT36]

Pirates Rest used to be called something else that I can't remember, next to the Navy Inn. It may have changed hands as well as name, so could be crap now TBH.

Yes, I know what you mean about the beer at the Crown. They were trying to do too much with variable results and a drop in quality when it wasn't shifting. They've scaled down to the one principle brew on draught in the pub and some others in cans now.

It's called Frazers now and they are open Sundays. Easiest way to find them Elpenor is to walk along the prom until you see the arcade. They're next door. The chips were nice last time we had some back in the summer.

 

[Hollis]

Think I am getting over my horrible lurgy / Covid thing so looks like I’m going. Any good chippies?

If you're heading towards Newlyn, then Lewis's fish and chips is pretty good..

Re pubs I'm at the mercy of my mate who lives there... we seem to end up at the Lamb & Whistle - mainly 'cause it's right next to the station, or The Crown in Penzance. In Newlyn he likes The Star... err, normally 3-4 locals in there..

 

[CNT36]

Lewis's closed on a Sunday.