The Closest town to Land's End is Penzance which is sheltered by Mounts Bay.

'Pen Sans' as Penzance was first called in the traditional Cornish dialect, translates as Holy Headland due to a chapel near to the harbour. Penzance was renowned centuries ago as being a favoured haunt of pirates. Penzance has a rich heritage, dating back hundreds of years and the proof of its bygone past remains evident to this day. Strict planning rules in many areas of the town have helped to maintain a great deal of its original character.

Penzance has developed into a delightful artistic place with a great vibe. Being granted its initial Royal Charter in 1512 assisted it to grow Having once was reliant on fishing as its major income, Penzance now caters mainly for the tourism industry. Its great popularity has lead to a steady increase of visitors each year.

It is uncomplicated to reach Penzance by road, despite it being tucked away in the furthest corner of the UK. Coach and railway connections to the town are also easy to access.

It is a terrific town with lots to discover in the local area. Penzance has one of the most temperate climates in the UK due to the Atlantic Gulf Stream.

Whilst Queen Victoria was is power a large number of tropical seeds and plants were imported to this region. Due to the huge number of exotic plants and trees, this location has a very Mediterranean feel to it.

In June there is the Golowan Festival, when thousands of people are attracted to Penzance making hotels and apartments hard to come by. Marking the arrival of Midsummer, the Golowan Festival is an ancient tradition. At this event you will enjoy live music, parades, art and be thoroughly entertained. You can also enjoy dramatic fires, firework displays and visit the fair with its traditional rides. With colour decorating the streets from brightly coloured banners to fresh flowers, Penzance comes alive.

Another very popular Festival in the immediate area is the Newlyn Fish Festival , held annually on the last Monday of August. This festival celebrates Newlyn's tradition of fishing which has been a fundamental element of Cornish life which has assisted Penzance to develop into the prosperous place that it is today. Many different types of boats fill the whole harbour and a wonderful array of the area's regularly caught fish are displayed in the local fish market. Many stalls are there in addition to entertainment.

In Penzance there is great choice in food outlets and good shopping facilitiesshopping and dining facilities. A selection of ancient monuments survive in the surrounding area, and offer great opportunities for a day trip.

Besides London, the area has the largest concentration of artists in the United Kingdomand has numerous art galleries and studio's. The Gallery situated at Penlee Park has been open since 1895 and houses work by several famous artists such as Stanhope Forbes along with work by students from the local Newlyn School. There are a number of excellent privately owned galleries to visit and the nearby town of St Ives offers world-class galleries , for example the Tate, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and the Leach Pottery.