Want to spend your holiday in a quiet yet picturesque little town? Come to Penryn. Undiscovered by tourists, this Cornish small town is a hidden treasure as more famous tourist spots nearby like Falmouth draws visitors like bees to honey.
In fact, we aren’t really doing any justice to it when we say Penryn will capture your heart with its wonderful, breathtaking views of nature and splendour known only to old, medieval towns with cobbled streets and ancient architecture. There is a lot more to Penryn that will entice you.
Every turn in Penryn, you discover something. Its lanes boast of an unaltered timeline of architecture reminiscent of Tudor, Jacobean and Georgian times alongside a busy Penryn River. It is one of Cornwall's oldest towns.
Explore the town’s history through the Penryn Nature Trail organized by the ‘Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change’. The gargoyles, keystones, and other pieces of fine ancient stonework that make up the grand 13th century Glasney College, the famous medieval monastery of Cornwall later demolished in the 15th century. The relics are still open today for public views.
You can spend a memorable day exploring the local spaces, stop by to enjoy boat races under the bridge, welcome the evening with glasses of locally-brewed Cornish ale and lip-smacking seafood to go with it, and then, wind up with the grand musical story telling of the ‘All Seasons Story Makers’ accompanied by the beauty of nature all through the way.
Whether you want a quiet stroll through the gardens of historical buildings or to engage in adventures like water sports, trailing and biking or simply want to while your time sailing and fishing in this medieval port town, Penryn has many options to offer.
Have you seen a talking chair, well there is one here, come listen to the tales it tells of the bygone era of Penryn and the Glasney College at the Penryn Town Museum and satisfy your curiosity.
The trekker in you can delight from the climbing, navigation training both indoors and outdoors in the beautiful Cornish cliffs as well as on walking expeditions on Dartmoor.
Take a rain check with your kids at ‘Raze the Roof’ on gloomy days which is quite a delight for kids and adults alike with laser tags, mega play frame slides and their big ball pit for children to tumble and hide. Sip a cuppa coffee while your kids play safe.
Spend your time surfing the waters or learn the new unique lifestyle sport wake-boarding at the Kernow Adventure Park. Yes you can snowboard or skateboard, but in water and it doesn’t matter if you are a beginner, all you need is interest and the right attitude.
Century-old homes of Penryn accommodate visitors on holidays. Equipped with modern amenities, one can feel living in history in these charming little cottages.
Food infused with the local flavour is in abundance in this charming little town. Indulge in home-made cakes, cream teas in one of the many cafés, or have a pot of tea overlooking the Penryn River at The Muddy Beach Café which can match up to any stunning cafés from around the world. Drink chilled ale and gorge on delicious fare from The New Inn or munch on the ever popular fish ‘n’ chips at the Penryn Fish ‘n’ Chip.
In the centre of the town, you have the magnificent clock tower made of granite surrounded by little shops and galleries as well as unsurpassed views to Falmouth. The shops by the locale are full of character and a complete delight for the shopaholic in you. Get some vintage furniture back home from the Retro Chic Warehouse or take home a beautiful hand-crafted memento from the very cute Just Delights.
Take a trip through Penryn and watch the past come alive with all its beauty and culture in this historic medieval port town.