West Cornwall is the farthest west you can get in mainland England, and it has plenty of beautiful coastlines, sandy beaches, and several Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
There are many lovely towns within the region, including; St Ives, Hayle, Cape Cornwall, Land’s End, Sennen, Penzance, Mousehole, Helston, Lizard Point, Porthleven, Mullion and Coverack, amongst others.
The area has good transport connections, with mainline train services running to and from Penzance to London Paddington, as well as to the north, and Scotland. The Night Riviera Sleeper has overnight services six nights a week from Penzance to London Paddington (and the opposite way), providing a great option for those travelling to the capital for work. The local bus network has services running throughout the region and its services are well connected (buy a ticket for any route on any bus) and easy to use. For those travelling by car, the A30 runs through the centre of the region and right down to Penzance. Cornwall Airport Newquay has flights to UK cities (like London, Newcastle and Manchester) as well as further afield to places like Faro and Alicante.
There’s a good selection of schools throughout the region, with options for all ages. Primary Schools include Penpol School near St Ives, and Mousehole School. Secondary schools examples include St Ives School, Cape Cornwall School and St Piran’s School (in Hayle).
West Cornwall has great variety when it comes to shopping as there are plenty of independent boutiques and stores, as well as high street names. Shop the big brands at places like West Cornwall Shopping Park, which has an M&S, Next, Boots and a Costa. However, you can also enjoy a great mix of independent stores including The Edge Of The World Bookshop in Penzance, Tregullas Farm Shop and Café in Lizard, and Blewett’s Of Hayle (a toy shop).
People visit West Cornwall for the incredible food and drink that’s available here. There are indulgent cream teas, fresh, local produce, and fantastic sea food available throughout the region. And don’t forget the famous Cornish pasty; it’s definitely worth trying our local, original version. The region is bursting with cafes, pubs and restaurants, many with seaside locations, and all providing fresh, delicious food and drinks.
The Tinners Arms is a pub that dates back to 1271 and serves up local ales in St Ives, and The Halzephron Inn in Helston serves fresh fish that’s just come in on the boats. Atlantic View Restaurant in Mullion has been awarded two AA rosettes for its amazing, fresh food served in a gorgeous setting overlooking the harbour.
West Cornwall Hospital is located in Penzance and there are GP services throughout the region providing reliable local healthcare to residents.
When living in West Cornwall you can enjoy the stunning coastline day after day and there’s always more to discover. There are various types of coastline to enjoy here; head to Porthgwarra Beach (where Poldark was filmed) to enjoy a quiet, picturesque fishing cove at Land’s End, or Porthminster Beach in St Ives for a glorious sandy beach, for example.
There’s plenty to do here, and something for all tastes. Enjoy a cliff top walk, try surfing, go on a boat trip, or visit one of the area’s many attractions, such as St Michael’s Mount (an island with an historic castle and gardens).
