A good-sized town, Penzance looks out across the bay at one of Cornwall’s most exceptional visitor attractions, the magnificent St. Michael’s Mount. The town has evolved over the last two centuries from a remote market town into a bustling and active community, with great shopping opportunities, a fine collection of art galleries, and plenty of choice of what and where to eat. It doesn’t pretend to be the prettiest of towns, but it’s very much alive, and visitors are welcomed into this atmosphere with open arms. Seafood lovers are well served by the regular catches that come into neighbouring Newlyn, and museums, nearby gardens and beaches make it difficult to get bored here. It’s also possible to catch a ferry to The Isles of Scilly from Penzance for day trips or longer stays.