Overlook London! This Coastal City Affords Smaller Crowds & Medieval Allure

London is a bucket listing vacation spot for hundreds of thousands of People, and pay attention, we completely get it: who does not wish to threat a cheeky selfie with a pink phone field, stroll alongside the Thames riverfront, or witness the change of the Royal Guard with Buckingham Palace for a backdrop?

The unhappy actuality is, there are two variations of London, one which exists within the minds of vacationers, and the truth on the bottom.

Sure, it’s a fascinating metropolis packed filled with iconic sights, however on the draw back, it is chaotic, fast-paced, more and more harmful, and as a rule, you not often really feel as if you happen to’re really in England.

We imply, good luck listening to some good outdated cockney round, and even English in any respect in components of North London. Now, if you happen to’re craving a few of that unspoiled English allure, there’s this attractive coastal city, some 5 hours away by practice, but to be spoiled by the plenty:

Welcome To Penzance, England’s Greatest Stored Secret

Positioned near the southwestern-most tip of England, within the Celtic-influenced Cornwall, Penzance is a small port city with round 21,000 residents that solely English (or ought to we are saying Cornish?) locals appear to learn about.

Whereas St. Ives has grown in recognition lately, the equally fairly Penzance continues to be missed, regardless of its plain cultural supply and coastal views.

For starters, it sits on Mount’s Bay, overlooking St Michael’s Mount, a medieval fortress perched on a tidal island (yep, very like the French St. Michael’s Mount, besides it’s miles much less touristy).

Then there’s the truth that Penzance is the quintessential English harbor city, with a storybook cowl of an Outdated City, peppered with Georgian semi-detached homes, elegant Regency-era buildings, and boasting a scenic promenade.

A Peaceable Fall Getaway

Penzance will not be almost as well-known as different coastal gems in England, like Brighton, Blackpool, or Bournemouth, however it is actually acquired quite a bit going for it.

In summer season, it turns into one in all Cornwall’s liveliest seashore getaways, with Cornish households flocking to its shingle-covered Promenade Seashore, or the close by Wherrytown Seashore, a stretch of sandy, light slopes wedged between Penzance city itself and neighboring Newlyn.

Within the fall, it continues to get pleasure from a temperate local weather, with thermometers hitting as excessive as 67°F, and dipping to nighttime lows of round 54–57°F in September.

It is not precisely the Mediterranean, but it surely’s as heat because it will get in England within the low season. It is a surprise that subtropical crops thrive right here, notably on the Morrab Gardens, a Victorian verdant escape traversed with winding pathways by way of landscaped plantings.

Medieval Allure With out The Crowds

Delicate fall climate apart, Penzance has acquired its fair proportion of medieval aptitude. Whereas the city itself is not as outdated as St. Ives or Truro, having solely grown considerably within the sixteenth century, it is positioned inside brief driving distance of a few of Cornwall’s oldest websites.

These embrace the aforementioned St. Michael’s Mount, clearly seen from Penzance’s waterfront, and roughly quarter-hour driving, the much-overlooked St. Maddern’s Church, which has Norman origins and an historical effectively locals deem holy, and the previous village of Gulval:

Traditionally its personal parish, Gulval has formally been absorbed into Penzance, although it nonetheless looks like a separate village, in a manner: image quaint, stone-built townhouses, slender lanes, and an idyllic medieval church.

Should you’re into historic ruins, then you can also’t miss out on Chysauster Historical Village, an Iron Age archaeological web site round a 30-minute drive up the coastal B3306.

Unspoiled English Allure

Atlantic views and medieval attract apart, Penzance’s best draw is its traditionalism. Whether or not you are professional or in opposition to London’s multiculturalism, we are able to all agree it is not precisely consultant of deep, unmistakably English England.

Although there may be the odd Chinese language or kebab, the native chippy stays the popular takeout spot, and belief us after we say Penzance’s family-owned Fraser’s serves a killer fish and chips.

Freshly-caught fish, enveloped in that crispy batter we love, and melt-in-your-mouth-soft on the within, coupled with locally-farmed potatoes, and just for round $13.45.

Should you love pub fare, you will be thrilled to know there are a few well-loved public homes serving Cornish pies and scrumptious beer proper on the harbor: we’re pondering The Ship Inn, overlooking the fishing boats and with a vigorous really feel, and the nautical-themed The Admiral Benbow.

Penzance is famously featured in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance opera, and maintaining with the piracy custom, the Admiral has its personal ‘pirate’ fish pie, consisting of smoked haddock and hard-boiled egg, and topped with mashed potatoes and cheese sauce on the facet.

Penzance Is Safer Than London

Final however actually not least, the principle motive for the good exodus of Brits escaping London lately is the rising crime.

From knifing to pickpocketing to residence burglaries, the English capital is more and more resembling World South metropolises. Penzance, alternatively, is quite a bit safer compared, as is a majority of Cornish cities.

As of Might 2025, the general crime price in London is 76 per 100,000 residents, as seen on CrimeRate UK, whereas in Cornwall, the general determine is 50 per 100,000. That is decrease than the nationwide common of 70.

In different phrases, it is not essentially crime-free, however let’s simply say you are manner much less more likely to get mugged by a masked biker strolling Penzance’s usually-peaceful promenade than purchasing up Oxford Road.

From London Paddington To Penzance

Questioning the best way to get to Penzance this fall? Straightforward! Hop on a direct practice at London Paddington:

Penzance lies alongside the Nice Western Railway route (GWR), and the journey there from the capital takes round 5 hours. It travels principally alongside the coast, and because the practice heads west, you are graced with epic views of the Atlantic and different sleepy English cities.

Off-peak, advance tickets begin from as low-cost as $58 one-way, and they are often booked instantly at GWR’s web site.