Darn Good Digs Review - Editors' Choice

Camilla House, Penzance, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Nominated By: P Dubrow, San Mateo, California, December '09

check availability, get rates, and reserve online

Price Range: £38-£85 (breakfast included) # of Rooms: 8 Kid-Friendly: yes

What makes the Camilla House so Darn Good? The inn has friendly and helpful owners and an excellent location just a block from the town’s sea-front promenade.

Location: In its heyday at the turn of the century, Penzance was a fashionable seaside resort, and some relics of the town’s colorful history remain, most notably the open-air Art Deco style Jubilee bathing pool just a few blocks from the Camilla House. Today, Penzance’s seaside promenade, art galleries, and historic architecture continue to make the town a popular summer destination. Penzance is the westernmost town in England in the County of Cornwall, and is a good base to explore the area’s rugged coastline, Celtic ruins, and medieval castles.

Rooms: Each of the eight rooms in this Georgian townhouse is tastefully decorated and comes with fluffy white towels and bathrobes. Our “classic” room looked out on a green churchyard, but all “superior” rooms have views of Penzance promenade and Mount’s Bay. Guests can also relax in the inn’s lounge or small bar which has a selection of Cornish beers and malt whisky.

Food: Camilla House offers many choices for a full English breakfast and uses locally-sourced ingredients and seasonal produce whenever possible. House favorites include the platter of fresh fruit, local Cornish cheeses, and natural yogurt; and the locally smoked haddock poached with an egg. For excursions along the coast or into the countryside, the Camilla House will provide packed lunches or picnic hampers, and for quiet evenings at home, the inn serves light dinners in its dining room. In addition, several restaurants and pubs are within easy walking distance.

Vibe: The Camilla House is very relaxing, and Simon and Susan, the inn’s friendly hosts, greet guests with a pot of tea, maps, and an informative introduction to the area.

Keep in Mind: Penzance is easily reachable by public transportation from London and has several busses to surrounding towns. Camilla House loans out bikes and will drop guests off at points along the South West Coast Path.