The Great Indoors

West Cornwall

Whether you wake up to a particularly grey day or a storm’s about to blow in, it’s a good idea to have a wet weather plan when you’re travelling to Cornwall out of season.

West Cornwall has plenty of cultural experiences for rainy days. You could explore the history of Penzance town, find your way out of an escape room, or head to Newlyn for an independent cinema experience.

Rain creates the perfect opportunity for a cultural day in

You can mix and match from the suggested activities to create a great day out during your stay. If you were to do all the activities on this itinerary, it would take around two-three days.

Please note: You will need to contact the venue or experience provider directly to book.

Escape the wet weather with an escape room activity in Penzance. In an immersive mystery from Eureka Escape Cornwall, you’ll be tasked with unravelling clues inspired by the local area. The challenge is to make your way out of a locked room within the hour. Eureka’s escape rooms are suitable for up to 6 people. Find out more here.

The Great Escape

Eureka Escape Cornwall

Independent cinema experience

Newlyn Filmhouse

What used to be a granite fish cellar and smokery underwent an incredible transformation in 2015. Today, the building is a two-screen cinema with an art-house atmosphere, making it the ideal location for independent film events. In fact, the venue recently hosted the Q+A for BAIT, the BAFTA-winning Cornish-made film. The addition of the ‘EATHOUSE’ means the Newlyn Filmhouse is also a place to gather over seasonal feasts and showstopping cocktails. Find out more

Town trail

Penzance

Give yourself permission to duck in and out of the shops by following the Penzance Town Trail. This self-guided tour takes approximately two hours and encourages you to explore some of the town’s most interesting buildings and landmarks, including the Union Hotel (where the death of Admiral Horatio Nelson was announced) and Jubilee Pool. It’s a great way to find your bearings. Get the map here.

Exhibitions & collections on Cornish life

Penlee House Museum & Gallery

Penlee House Gallery and Museum celebrates the history and culture of Cornwall. It’s home to a substantial collection of artworks by painters from the Newlyn School – a group of artists who helped to shape the British art world and explored the Newlyn way of life in their paintings. Visit the Penlee House website to see what the team are showcasing on their walls this winter.

Cornish Bakery

Penzance

Cornish pasties, artisan bread and a fridge stocked with locally sourced goodies. You’ll find this welcoming café, deli and bakery on Alverton St in Penzance. You could pick up the ingredients for a picnic or pause in the café for fresh sandwiches, homemade pies, sweets, pastries and Cornish cream teas. Find out more here.

Places to eat

Essential Information

Places to stay

Retreat to a cosy self-catering cottage or book a stylish hotel in the heart of town. Discover the perfect seaside stay for your winter in Cornwall.

More inspiration?

Visit out of season and step into an adventure. Explore our entire collection of inspiring itineraries and plan a great day out.

Accessibility

Many of the activities in our itineraries are accessible, however some will be difficult to access with limited mobility. We advise that you contact the venue or experience provider in advance to confirm. You can also find information about accessible venues through Access Cornwall.