Things to Do in Penzance

A mile-long Victorian promenade with views of St Michael's Mount, perfect for a stroll at any time of day.

• Recently restored and modernized
• Features a skate park, children's play areas, and flower gardens
• Shingle beach along the way
• Great spot for sunrise over the mount

The seafront at Penzance is lined by a beautiful Victorian promenade that recently underwent a major regeneration. It extends about a mile from Jubilee Pool near the town centre across to neighbouring Newlyn. Along the wide walkway you'll find sculpted features, a skate park, children's play areas, flowery gardens, and a stretch of shingle beach. The view of St Michael's Mount across the bay is constant. It's a lovely walk at any hour, but dawn is especially good. The shoreline faces east, so you can see the sun rising over the mount.

An art deco lido that is the largest of its kind in the UK, with a geothermal pool and a regular saltwater pool.

• Opened in 1935 and named after King George V's silver jubilee
• Geothermal pool heated to 30-35°C
• Regular pool at 16-20°C
• Run as a social enterprise with an on-site cafe

Jubilee Pool sits on battery rocks at the tip of the headland between Penzance Harbour and the promenade. It first opened in 1935 and is the largest art deco lido in the UK. After suffering storm damage, a multi-million-pound restoration brought it back to life. The geothermal pool is fed by the site's own well and stays at a warm 30-35°C. The main pool is a cooler 16-20°C and has inflatables during the summer holidays. The cafe serves coffee and cake while you sit in deckchairs looking out to sea. The lido is run as a social enterprise, with all profits going back into the pool. Tickets are booked online and sell out fast in summer.

Penzance's biggest contemporary art space, housed in a former telephone exchange with a striking glass façade.

• Opened in 2007
• Features works from local and international artists
• Hosts workshops and events year-round
• One of two sites linked to Newlyn Art Gallery

The Exchange Gallery opened in 2007 in a former telephone exchange building. Its curved glass façade is fitted with LED lights and stands out against the surrounding streets. Inside, the gallery shows a varied programme of contemporary work in all media, from painting to installation. It's one of two sites managed by the same trust - the other is Newlyn Art Gallery, a short walk down the promenade. The Exchange also runs workshops and events throughout the year.

The Tuscan-style dome-ceilinged building that has been Penzance's centrepiece for nearly two centuries.

• Formerly a market, prison, school, corn exchange, and theatre
• Currently a bank, but a major refurbishment is turning it into a food hall
• Exterior work completed, interior underway, opening later in 2026
• Hard to miss with its distinctive dome above the rooftops

Market House has been a landmark since it was built nearly 200 years ago. Its Tuscan-style dome rises above the town centre and is visible from many parts of Penzance. Over the years it has served as a market, a prison, a school, a corn exchange, and a theatre. At the moment it operates as a bank, though a major refurbishment is underway. The exterior work is finished, and the interior is being converted into a food hall and restaurant. It is set to open later in 2026. For now, you can still admire the architecture from the outside.