Showing 1–5 of 5 free attractions in Penzance
Free Family Days Out in Penzance
Five free Penzance listings and all five are coast: Porthcurno Beach, Porthgwarra Beach, Sennen Cove, Long Rock Beach and Lamorna Cove. Between them they cover a good deal of the far west of Cornwall, from sheltered coves to the exposed beaches near Land's End, and they are separate journeys rather than a single afternoon. There is no indoor alternative on this list at all, which makes the forecast the first thing to check and the only thing that will change the plan.
Choose one, go there, and stay. Trying to see several of these in a day turns some of the best coastline in the country into a series of car parks.
Free days out in Penzance: FAQs
Which of these is easiest to reach with a car full of children?
Long Rock Beach is the closest to the town and the least committing, which makes it the practical choice when nobody has the appetite for narrow lanes. Porthgwarra Beach and Lamorna Cove sit down long, steep approaches typical of this coast, and parking at the smaller coves is limited and fills early in summer. The scenery improves as the access gets harder, which is the trade you are making.
Are these beaches safe for swimming?
That varies by beach, by day and by tide, and it would be wrong for a directory to imply otherwise about this coastline in particular. Lifeguard cover here is seasonal and does not extend to every cove. Check the signage on arrival, swim between flags where they are provided, and treat an unpatrolled beach as unpatrolled. Rip currents on this coast are not obvious to anyone who has not been taught to see them.
What do we do if the weather turns?
Nothing on this particular list will help, because every entry is outdoors and exposed. That is worth planning around before you set off rather than discovering in a car park. Having a wet-weather alternative that is not on this page, and knowing roughly where it is, converts a ruined day into a changed one. On this coast the wind is more likely to be the problem than the rain.