The area surrounding Penzance is home to some of the major attractions in the whole of the South West of England - from Historical and Heritage sites, gardens and spectacular scenic locations, to wild-life sanctuaries and displays. Amongst the most notable are:-

• Legendary Land's End
• St Michael's Mount
• Levant & Geevor Tin Mines
• The Minack Theatre
• Porthcurno Telegraph Museum
• Zennor Wayside Museum
• Trengwainton Gardens
• Paradise Park Bird Sanctuary
• Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital
• Penlee House Museum, Penzance

Porthcurno Telegraph Museum

Porthcurno Telegraph Museum is just up the valley from Porthcurno beach and commemorates the importance of this otherwise remote location as the primary landing place for Britain's network of international telephone and telegraph cables. The Museum is housed in a series of underground tunnels established during the Second World War as a secret communications base and shows much important historical telegraphy equipment.

Zennor Wayside Museum

Zennor Wayside Museum, located on the coast road that runs from Lands End to St Ives, was founded in the 1930's, and has developed into a collection of some thousands of items all illustrating the many aspects of rural life in West Cornwall in years gone by.

The Museum gives the impression of a "time-capsule" with relics of the Cornish mining industry, waterwheels, corn grinding wheels and tools dating from 3,000 B.C. Housed partly in a Mill Building, containing much original machinery and millstones, a collection of early agricultural implements and a Blacksmith's Forge can be seen. Photographs of residents of the locality in past years are included along with much memorabilia of domestic life in Cornwall of yesterday. Adjacent to the Museum is Zennor Church, where the legend of the "Mermaid of Zennor" continues to fascinate all visitors.

Trengwainton Gardens

Trengwainton Gardens near Madron, owned by the National Trust, surround a large country house on the outskirts of Penzance. These restful Gardens are renowned for their collection of Rhododendrons and Azaleas - at their best in the early spring. There are many other exotic plants and flowers from countries all over the world, particularly the Far East and the southern hemisphere.

..... more on West Cornwall Gardens.

Paradise Park Bird Sanctuary

Paradise Park at Hayle is a wildlife sanctuary dedicated to the preservation and restoration of rare and exotic birds. Headquarters of the World Parrot Trust, many species of these colourful birds can be seen at the Park. Birds of Prey are on show and are frequently allowed to "fly free" while, amongst the more recent successes of the Park, Cornish Choughs - the National Bird of Cornwall - have successfully been bred and released to the wild.

Mousehole Bird Hospital

Cornwall's coast can be a hazardous place for the many species of wild birds - both sea-birds and their land-based cousins - and the Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital has for many years worked unceasingly to provide help and recovery to injured birds, with particular skills in rescuing oiled seabirds. Originally started by two dedicated sisters in 1928, the hospital is a Registered Charity and is always appreciative of public support. The Hospital is open to visitors and can be found half-way up the hill on the far side of Mousehole Harbour.

Penlee House Museum

Penlee House Gallery and Museum is situated in Penlee Memorial Park in Penzance. The 19th century Penlee House contains important collections of works of art, archaeological artifacts and exhibits that reflect the history of West Cornwall and its people. In the gallery are examples of the work of the Newlyn School of Painting as represented by Stanhope Forbes, Walter Langley, Elizabeth Armstrong, Edwin Harris and Norman Garstin. Later works of the 20th century include paintings by Lamorna Birch, Charles Simpson, Harold Harvey and Dod and Ernest Procter. The Museum has recently been given a Gold Award as the best small visitor attraction in the South West Tourism Awards.

..... more on Penzance Museums.