On the hunt for a house for sale in Penzance? You’ve made a great choice! Penzance and the surrounding area is a fantastic base in West Cornwall; wild rugged landscapes and long stretches of golden sand will be within easy reach, and the town itself has a vibrant cultural scene and plenty of amenities.
It’s not surprising that Penzance is often tipped as a town on the rise. If you fancy the geothermally-heated Jubilee Pool on your doorstep, great restaurants to choose from, a busy music and arts scene, and the Isles of Scilly just a boat-ride away – you’ve found the perfect Cornish location!
Will your Cornish adventure take you to the far west?
Penzance and the surrounding area has become increasingly popular during 2021 with the average house price reaching £345k. There’s an array of housing types to meet all needs – from seaview apartments to beautiful Victorian residences, affordable family homes to secluded farmhouses.
Location and transport links
Penzance is at the end of the train line to London – it’s a long journey (around 5hrs) but an easy one, and there’s a handy overnight sleeper service which gets you into the heart of the capital in time for a morning meeting.
Penzance is around 1hr drive from Newquay airport, where domestic and international services allow for handy connections around the world.
St Ives is just a short drive from Penzance
The town is well connected to the rest of Cornwall by the A30. St Ives, St Just, and Hayle are all within a 20 minutes drive.
Penzance is the departure point for The Scillonian, a daily ferry service to the beautiful Isles of Scilly archipelago; you can also catch the Skybus service to the islands from nearby Land’s End airport.
Places to eat and drink
Casual Eats
The Mexico Inn – This friendly family-run pub in Longrock is perfect for Sunday lunches with the family, or for those mid-week evenings when you just don’t fancy cooking. The food is a step up from regular pub grub but unpretentious; fish and chips and burgers regularly feature on the menu, as do more elaborate dishes showcasing fresh seafood and meat from local farms.
Become a regular at the friendly Mexico Inn
Totti – This pizza place in the centre of Penzance is often described as one of the best in Cornwall. Authentic Italian ingredients and a revolving selection of classic and seasonally-inspired pizzas makes this a great takeaway option.
Archie Browns – This popular health food shop is hidden away in Old Brewery Yard just off Causewayhead. Upstairs you’ll find an equally popular cafe serving juices and smoothies, delicious cakes and vegetarian breakfast and lunch – it’s a great spot to meet friends for a catch-up.
Splashing Out
The Shore – For a memorable meal, head to Bruce Rennie’s restaurant in the centre of Penzance, where he’ll serve you his masterful take on Cornish seafood. Bruce headed up a Michelin-starred Edinburgh restaurant for many years before moving to Cornwall, where he clearly revels in access to shoreline ingredients.
The Tolcarne Inn in Newlyn is a great destination for seafood lovers
The Tolcarne Inn – Ben Tunnicliffe is also no stranger to Michelin Stars, having held one himself back in the 2000s. He has successfully translated that success into the humble pub setting, creating a seafood dining destination right next to the sea wall in Newlyn to rivals those of Padstow and Port Isaac.
The Old Coastguard – A little further West in the picturesque village of Mousehole you’ll find The Old Coastguard – a hotel and restaurant which attracts the local crowd throughout the year. Expect an impressive wine list and a menu full of delicious local produce. In the summer all of this can be enjoyed in a peaceful garden overlooking the sea.
The Old Coastguard in Mousehole is a favourite with local foodies
Local amenities
Penzance serves as a local hub for the whole of West Cornwall and so it’s not surprising that supermarkets and handy out of town stores are in plentiful supply.
In the town centre, high street stores intermingle with independent boutiques and galleries, making for a practical and pleasant shopping experience.
There are a handful of primary schools in Penzance and two secondary schools – Humphrey Davy and Mounts Bay Academy. Humphry Davy is one of only 15 specialist music colleges in the country, whilst Mounts Bay is a National Sports Academy. A little further afield in St Just, you will find Cape Cornwall school, a secondary school which is part of the Truro and Penwith Academy Trust.
There is a good range of sports and recreation facilities in and around Penzance, from golf clubs to community leisure centres. There is also of course the unique attraction that is Jubilee Pool – an art deco outdoor pool which has seen lots of investment over the past decade and now has a geothermally-heated section.
Penlee Park, with a wonderful art gallery at its centre, has tennis courts, lots of space to roam and also hosts outdoor theatre in the summer.
Tremenheere Sculpture Garden is one of many local gems…
Your visitors will no doubt want to experience St Michael’s Mount for themselves, while Trengwainton Gardens (a National Trust property) will become your regular haunt, with its pleasant cafe and meandering pathways. You’ll also want to invest in an annual pass for Tremenheere Scultpture Garden – an impressive sub-tropical paradise on the edge of town which also has an excellent cafe.
Further afield, entrepid walkers will enjoy access to the West Penwith moors and the South West Coast Path, while beach-lovers will be keen to head to Sennen, Praa Sands and Porthcurno (where you’ll also find The Minack Theatre).
Porthcurno and The Minack Theatre – this could become a regular haunt!
Housing
Penzance has a good range of housing, as you’d expect from a town of this size.
If outdoor space isn’t an issue, opt for a modern apartment with a seaview. The endlessly-changing vista will keep you entertained!
Some of the most desirable properties are in the streets of Victorian townhouses surrounding the centre. These large properties, with high ceilings and original features, would make the perfect base for making the most of all the town has to offer.
A little further from the centre there are streets of detached villas surrounded by gardens – great for families and retirees alike.
Further out still, as town gives way to countryside you’ll find secluded farmhouses and traditional stone cottages – perfect for enjoying rural life with all the benefits of a vibrant town nearby.Â
If that doesn’t persuade you to take a closer look at houses for sale in Penzance, we don’t know what will! To discuss your unique property search give our team a call – we’re always keen to help no matter what stage you’re at with the search for a new home in Cornwall.
