Well Penzance isnt I would say the most attractive town in the county or has the best beaches. Newlyn next door is a little run down as it is a fishing port. However, things going on that side are (i) Marazion and St Michael's Mount castle (Our Brit equivalent of Mont St Michel), the Penlee (Pz) and Newlyn Galleries for their Newlyn School paintings and Marazion too has a lot of little galleries. Newlyn has the most brilliant Cornish ice cream shop run by two old dears (it isn't as sweet as some) - Judds just before you go over the bridge on the right to Mousehole.
Mousehole is really nice, some nice pubs like the Lobster Pot and a wonderful bistro restaurant, 2 Fore St. www.2forestreet.co.uk
Just beyond is the Minack Theatre, an open air theatre on the cliff tops (that's an experience if you are a thespian), and just beyond that, Lamorna Cove.
Marazion has some nice shops and the best pub is a little next village next on towards Helston, the Victoria at Perranuthnoe....good chef and his partner, well she ran front of house for Raymond Blanc.
http://www.victoriain...zance.co.uk/index.htm