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Tidal island
St Michael's Mount
Tidal island in Mount's Bay, linked to Marazion by a granite causeway that can be crossed from mid-tide to low water.
A mini guide to
Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s End
A market town, fishing ports and Britain’s south-western tip
Photos
1 / 10Welcome to the area
A market town, fishing ports and Britain’s south-western tip
Penzance is a market town on Mount’s Bay and the end of the Cornish Main Line: its station is the southernmost in Great Britain. Visit Cornwall calls it a gateway to St Michael’s Mount, Land’s End, St Ives and the Isles of Scilly, which the Scillonian ferry reaches from the town. Penlee House, Morrab Gardens and the Art Deco Jubilee Pool are all close to the seafront.
Newlyn, Mousehole and Lamorna became the base of the Newlyn School of painters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and Newlyn is still England’s largest fishing port by tonnage. Beyond them the Penwith peninsula runs west past stone circles near St Buryan and the telegraph museum at Porthcurno to Land’s End, with the tin-mining coast at Botallack and Geevor to the north.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Town and beach
Marazion
Town on Mount's Bay two miles east of Penzance, facing St Michael's Mount.
Nature reserve
Marazion Marsh
RSPB reserve west of Marazion that holds Cornwall's largest reed bed.
Museum and gallery
Penlee House Gallery and Museum
Museum and art gallery in Penzance with many paintings by members of the Newlyn School.
Directions Website Report a problem with Penlee House Gallery and Museum
Lido
Jubilee Pool
Grade II listed Art Deco sea-water lido on the Penzance seafront, about 300 feet long.
Garden
Morrab Gardens
Municipal garden of 1.2 hectares south of the town center, known for Mediterranean and sub-tropical plants.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s End and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Check the causeway
The causeway to St Michael’s Mount from Marazion can be crossed from about mid-tide to low water. The Mount’s own site posts the day’s opening and any closures, such as high winds.
2
Try the Night Riviera
GWR says the Night Riviera Sleeper runs between London Paddington and Penzance nightly except Saturdays, with seats at no extra charge and cabins for a supplement. Check GWR for current times.
3
Follow the artists
Penlee House holds paintings by Newlyn School artists, Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange shows contemporary work, and Lamorna and Mousehole were part of the same artists’ circle.
4
Visit Penzance Visitor Centre
Visit Cornwall lists the Penzance Visitor Centre in the National Trust Welcome Centre on Station Road, beside the station.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
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Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Penzance, Mousehole & Land’s End (area photo): Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Michael's Mount: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, source
- Marazion: The original uploader was Shropman at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Marazion Marsh: James Emmans, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Penlee House Gallery and Museum: Purely Penzance, CC BY 2.0, source
- Jubilee Pool: Tom Corser, CC BY-SA 2.0 uk, source
- Morrab Gardens: Palickap, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange: Steve Tanner, photographer, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Newlyn: Marktee1, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mousehole: Olaf Tausch, CC BY 3.0, source
- Lamorna Cove: Andrew Curtis, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Merry Maidens: Jim Champion, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Boscawen-Un: Waterborough, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- PK Porthcurno: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Land's End: Jakemete, CC BY 3.0, source
- Sennen Cove: Jim Champion, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Cape Cornwall: Stevekraken, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Falmouth & the Helford: Tim Green, CC BY 2.0, source
- Newquay & the North Coast: Otto Domes, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Padstow & the Camel Estuary: Derek Harper, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Fowey, Polperro & the south-east coast: Marika Reinholds, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Ives & West Penwith: ArildV, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
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