Artist Residence

Good-value guesthouse-cum-gallery with a fun and funky vibe in Penzance, Cornwall’s up-and-coming art hotspot

Imagine you could pick your favourite piece of modern British art, then curl up asleep inside it. Welcome to Penzance’s Artist Residence. At this hip boutique guesthouse, housed in a Grade II-listed Georgian mansion in the port town’s historic heart, local artists were given guestrooms as blank canvases. Choose one that appeals to your inner artist - perhaps colourful Pinky Vision, mural-lined Jo Peel or butterfly-themed Ephemeral Opulence - and stay in your own private masterpiece with the comforts of top-notch bedding, ensuite shower rooms and eco-chic toiletries.

The artistic fun doesn’t stop there. The magnificent all-white room on the guesthouse’s ground floor serves as a breakfast room, art gallery and chill-out space, with an eclectic hotchpotch of new and recycled furniture to lounge on. Walk out of the chunky red front door and you’re on Penzance’s most vibrant street, crammed with cafés, pubs and galleries. Charlie, the affable art student-turned-manager, brings an enthusiastic young vibe to the mix and, as well as matchmaking you with a room, she’ll keep you up to speed on anything from the Cornish art scene to the nearest sandy beach.

Highs

• There’s nothing staid about this place. The imaginative rooms are visual feasts, and the gallery hosts rotating exhibitions
• A great base for exploring Penzance’s bohemian charms and burgeoning art scene, plus the gorgeous beaches and coastal paths of West Cornwall
• Delicious breakfasts packed with local produce (honey-roasted ham, pastries from St Ives, Cornish apple juice), plus great restaurants within walking distance
• Fantastic value for money
• Easy to reach by rail if you fancy a car-free break, and a convenient stopover if you’re taking the ferry to the Scilly Isles

Lows

• Some might find the art a little too off-the-wall, but the ever-attentive Charlie will help you find a room to suit your taste
• The soundproofing could be better in some rooms; bring earplugs if you’re a light sleeper
• Rooms are compact with very little storage space and some of the furniture is a little flimsy, but the art more than makes up for it
• There's no car park
• There's a 2-night minimum stay and a supplementary charge over Bank Holidays