Getting Around, Penzance Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Penzance, Cornwall, England, UK)
A range of public transport around Penzance suits most travellers needs and makes many points of interest simple to reach, with relatively small travel costs. The main types of transport around Penzance including buses, coaches and trains, although many visitors choose to travel to the nearby Isles of Scilly, with both planes and helicopters readily available.
Penzance is joined to all parts of Cornwall and
England by road, making driving a great way to travel around the area. Those without a car and looking for the same convenience around the town centre will find plenty of taxis on hand whenever they are needed.
Airports / Arriving by Air
Various air services travel to the Isles of Scilly, which lies less than 48 km / 30 miles off the Land's End peninsula. These include Isles of Scilly SkyBus planes, which can be booked along Quay Street, and also helicopters at the Penzance heliport operated by the British International Helicopters, reached by bus transport departing from Station Road.
Car Rental
Penzance is well connected to the rest of Cornwall and southern England by the A30 trunk road, which is a dual carriageway for most of the route and passes Lelant, Redruth,
Newquay, Launceston,
Exeter and Honiton, amongst other locations, before joining the A303. Being so easy to reach by car, many people choose to drive to Penzance, although car hire is available in this area, particularly in the neighbouring village of Crowlas, for those who choose to arrive by coach or train. Around the town, plenty of car parks are available, including those along the Harbour, Greenmarket, Causewayhead, Werrytown (end of the Promenade) and St. Clare Street,
Trains
Cornwall is a vast and extremely wide county and travelling by train transport here enables you to reach many popular destinations within a relatively short space of time. The Penzance Railway Station can be found on the eastern side of the town centre on Station Road, alongside the bus station and harbour, and features both Virgin and First Great Western trains. Penzance marks the very end of the line for the InterCity route from northern England, and passengers can use this route to travel to London Paddington in just over five hours.
Buses and Coaches
Town buses are a good way to travel around central Penzance, being operated by the local First Devon and Cornwall transport firm, a subsidiary of UK's First Group. Local bus services here are relatively inexpensive and also travel to many nearby towns and villages, including the world-famous Land's End. The bus station is easy to find and stands along Wharf Road, close to the Harbour Car Park, the Railway Station and also the Penzance Tourist Information Centre. Buses tend to be more frequent during the summer season, although most routes remain open during the winter months. However, winter bus transport is not always available on Sundays. National Express coach services travel to many major cities outside of Penzance, with daily coaches linking London and Heathrow Airport.
Bicycles
Cycling is a particularly popular way to sightsee during the summer months and is especially popular with families planning a relaxing and enjoyable day out. Bicycles can be hired for either a day or two, or for the whole week, and various cycle shops are dotted around Penzance, including branches along New Street and also at the Wharfside Shopping Centre.
Boats and Ferries
Tel: +44 (0)1736 334 220
A regular ferry service from Penzance provides an especially scenic way to travel to the nearby Isles of Scilly, which lies almost 48 km / 30 miles from Land's End. These sea ferries are managed by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company and operate between March and October, with the offices being location along Quay Street.
Taxis
Various taxi companies operate around Penzance and usually the best way to get a taxi is by phone. Taxis can either be booked in advance or requested right away, being on call 24-hours a day. Worth noting, the main taxi rank in the town stands outside of the train station.