Tucked away near Britain’s southwestern tip, Penzance is frequently overlooked in favour of picture-postcard Cornish towns like nearby St Ives. Yet those who pass it by do so at their own cost. Unlike some of the county’s more popular tourist traps, it bustles with activity all year round, with a fiercely independent and creative spirit that is quite unlike anywhere else.
Holidaymakers who do book a coastal break to this distant part of Cornwall are seldom disappointed with its earthy old seaman’s pubs, innovative restaurant scene, museums, art galleries, stunning subtropical gardens and, of course, the Jubilee Pool, the largest saltwater lido in the UK.
It’s also an ideal spot for exploring Cornwall’s wild west. Marazion and St Michael’s Mount are just three miles to the east; the honeypot fishing village of Mousehole is three miles to the south. The pristine beaches of Porthcurno, Sennen and Praa are all within easy reach, as are the charming harbour towns of St Ives and Porthleven.
To help you plan your visit, here are the best hotels to stay in and around Penzance.
For the best hotels in St Ives, Padstow or Newquay, the best boutique hotels in Cornwall, the best family-friendly hotels in Cornwall and the best of the best hotels in Cornwall, see our guides.
Best hotels in Penzance 2025
At a glance
1. Artist Residence Penzance hotel
If you’re looking to stay somewhere that captures the spirit of Penzance, you could hardly pick a better spot. Vibrant and creative, with more than a touch of eccentricity, the Artist Residence quickly became a firm favourite after taking over a pair of Georgian townhouses on historic Chapel Street back in 2010. Today, its convivial restaurant and bar are frequented by guests and locals, as is the courtyard garden, where live music, games and an outdoor bar draw in the punters at the weekends.
Upstairs, there are 22 rooms scattered throughout its winding corridors, each one quite different from the next, although all have an artfully worn-looking vintage industrial vibe, with sliding warehouse doors, exposed wooden beams, ‘distressed’ furnishings and retro artworks on the walls.
Address: 20 Chapel St, Penzance TR18 4AW
Highlights: Best for couples
Read more: Best hotels in Newquay for surfing and Cornish coastal views
2. Chapel House hotel
This sleek and stylish boutique hotel occupies another of Chapel Street’s 18th-century houses, although any similarity with the neighbouring Artist Residence ends at the front door. The interiors are gleaming white and contemporary in look, with mid-century modern furnishings, various vibrant works from the Newlyn School of Art, and occasional Georgian accents that stand out all the more amidst their pared-back surroundings.
There are six rooms in the main house, each with its own character and quirks: a couple in the eaves with exposed wooden beams and skylight views; some with free-standing bathtubs and wood-burning stoves. Then there’s a pair of duplex suites in an annexe: each has a bedroom on the ground floor and a living area upstairs, the latter with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over Mounts Bay. The hotel doesn’t have a restaurant per se, but does run a Supper Club, with guests and non-residents invited to dine together around one table.
Address: Chapel Street, Penzance, TR18 4AQ
Highlights: Boutique, best for views
Price: From £225
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Read more: The best hotels in Cornwall, for sea views and walking retreats
3. Hotel Penzance
Situated high on a hilltop at the eastern end of town, this elegant Edwardian villa has what could well be the best views of any hotel in Penzance. It’s also handy for the train station, which is just a five-minute walk away. The 25 rooms are simple but inviting, decorated in soothing shades of sea green, with charming vintage railway posters on the walls depicting sunny scenes of Cornish seaside resorts.
There’s an airy restaurant that opens out onto a pleasant dining terrace overlooking Mounts Bay, with a small but punchy menu of hearty dishes, such as chicken roulade, lamb chops, and fresh fish sourced directly from nearby Newlyn Harbour. There’s also a small bar and, perhaps best of all, an open-air pool.
Address: Britons Hill, Penzance, TR18 3AF
Highlights: Best for views
Read more: The best things to in Cornwall on a rainy day, approved by families
4. The Old Coastguard hotel
A little way down the road from Penzance, on the outskirts of Mousehole, you’ll find The Old Coastguard. This charming seaside hotel fuses Victorian character with New England coastal cool, with breezily painted panelled walls, antiques scattered liberally among the bedrooms and public spaces, and plenty of jaunty nautical touches. Its location makes it the ideal base for exploring what Dylan Thomas described as “the loveliest village in England”, with the idyllic little harbour just a minute’s walk away. Penzance, meanwhile, is a 10-minute drive along the picturesque coast road.
A definite highlight is the palm-fringed garden, which slopes down from the restaurant terrace toward the sea. There are benches scattered about, and an open-air bar where guests and locals mingle in good spirits on balmy summer evenings. The restaurant is also a popular haunt and has garnered plenty of accolades for its innovative menus.
Address: The Parade, Mousehole, TR19 6PR
Highlights: Best for foodies, local walks
Price: From £197.50
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Read more: How to visit this popular Cornwall beach town without the crowds
5. The Godolphin hotel
Is this the inn with the best view in England? There can’t be many that can claim better. The Godolphin sits on the waterfront in Marazion, facing directly out towards the looming outcrop of St Michael’s Mount. The vista is extraordinary, and best enjoyed over a plate of top-notch pub fare in the boho-chic Shutters restaurant, or drink in hand on the expansive sun-trap terrace, which juts out over Marazion beach (incidentally a fantastic spot for watersports, and particularly windsurfing).
Some of the hotel’s 10 bedrooms also face out towards the Mount, and the best have private terraces where you can sit and watch the sun set over the bay. The others face towards town, although all are kitted out in equitably comfortable style, with soft beds, mod-cons, and quirky individual design touches (tropical prints, Art Deco furnishings, period Georgian features) that make them pleasant spaces in which to hang out.
Address: West End, Marazion, TR17 0EN
Highlights: Best for families
Price: From £96
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Read more: The best beaches in Cornwall
6. The Gurnard’s Head hotel
Driving across the West Penwith Moors, you’ll find it hard to miss the bright yellow facade of this iconic gastro-pub. With the rugged hills to one side and the blue Atlantic to the other, the location is breathtakingly romantic, albeit quite remote, with Penzance and St Ives roughly six miles away in either direction. Nonetheless, it’s become something of a cult hit over the years, thanks to the quality of the food that comes out of its kitchens. The menu is kept short and simple, but varies from day to day depending on whatever ingredients happen to be available.
Those who wish to combine their meal with an overnight stay have the choice of seven different bedrooms, each one en-suite and all with Vispring beds, Roberts radios, and views of either the moors or the sea.
Address: Nr Zennor, TR26 3DE
Highlights: Best for foodies
Price: From £167.50
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Read more: Why autumn is the best time to visit Cornwall
Why trust us
The hotels featured in this list have been carefully selected by The Independent’s expert travel writers, each with a deep knowledge of the destinations they cover. Our contributors either live in these locations or visit frequently, ensuring a personal and informed perspective. When picking which hotels to include, they consider their own experience staying in the hotels and evaluate location, facilities, service and all the other details that make for an exceptional stay for all types of traveller.
FAQs
When is the best time to visit Penzance?
Visit in spring or autumn and you’ll find that the beaches will be less busy, top restaurants will have tables, and the landscape comes alive with bright and bold colours.
Winter months bring better conditions for surfing, as stronger winds create bigger waves. If you’d prefer the weather to be warmer, book a trip to Penzance in the height of summer, but be mindful that the summer holidays bring big crowds and prices will be higher at many hotels. You’ll also need to book further in advance.
How to save on hotels in Penzance
You’ll usually find cheaper rates if you travel outside of the peak summer season or book a midweek stay in Penzance.
Once you’ve found a hotel that ticks all the boxes, don’t forget to look at price comparison sites such as Skyscanner or Google’s travel search to make sure that you’re getting the best price. You should also check if you can save by directly booking with the hotel, or give them a call to see if they can beat the rate that you’ve found.
With our exclusive Expedia discount code below, you can get six per cent off stays at some of our recommended hotels, including Artist Residence Penzance and Hotel Penzance.
