Recreation Park

Recreation Park sits just outside Penzance and is exactly what the name suggests - a proper place for active types who want to burn off some energy without heading into town. There's football pitches, tennis courts, and a general sports setup that works well if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like Roselands, just a mile and a bit away. Kids can run around, adults can have a kick-about, and it's the sort of functional facility that doesn't pretend to be anything fancy.

It's free, which is the main appeal, and you'll spend maybe an hour here if you're using the courts or fields. If you're just passing through, don't bother - there's no views, no history, no reason to stop unless you've got a tennis racket in the car or you're genuinely keen on a match. Real value comes if you're based at Lands End Camping or Roselands for a week and want somewhere to tire the kids out on a rainy afternoon when the beaches are crowded.

The park works best as a break in a wider Penzance trip rather than a destination itself. Combine it with a walk into town for the Penlee House Museum or a proper pasty, and it slots in nicely. Don't make it your main plan - do that with the coastal walks further west instead.