Life in Penryn, Cornwall

History

Cornwall has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic period, and it is not difficult to find burial chambers, hill forts, and standing stones dotted across its rolling green hillsides.

Truro is Cornwall's capital and archaeological evidence dates back several centuries, and, in the 12th century, the city was home to a castle built by the Chief Justice of King Henry II. Soaring above the surrounding rooftops, Truro Cathedral is located in the centre of this thriving Cornish city. Completed in 1910, the Cathedral is relatively young, it is still unique and very impressive. Made in the gothic style, the building incorporates fragments of the old parish church that once stood on the same site, and features a number of noteworthy stained glass panels. Each year, the Penryn and Truro Campuses hold their graduation ceremonies in this impressive building; throughout the year, the Cathedral also hosts a number of talks and musical performances that are open to the public.

Founded in 1216 by the Bishop of Exeter, Penryn is one of Cornwall’s oldest towns. From 1265 until 1548, Penryn was home to Glasney College, a religious institution whose dissolution was one of the factors leading to the Prayer Book Rebellion in 1549.

Although Henry VIII built Falmouth’s Pendennis Castle in 1540, the town was not officially incorporated until 1613. Falmouth became the Royal Mail packet station in 1688 and, as such, was the port into which news of the events at the Battle of Trafalgar was brought to the British mainland. The town has a long history of maritime activity; the Falmouth Docks—still highly active today—were founded in 1858. The introduction of the railway in 1863 greatly improved access to the town and allowed Falmouth to develop into the popular tourist destination that it is today.

Those wanting to know more about local history can visit the Penryn Town Museum, which houses artefacts dating back to the 13th century. Truro’s Royal Cornwall Museum also has many exhibits pertaining to life in Cornwall, though it also documents natural history, culture, and art more broadly.

Elsewhere in the region

Most of our students say that there are plenty of social and recreational things on offer in Penryn, Falmouth, and Truro. However, the surrounding area provides many options for students and visitors who are in the mood to explore a bit further afield. A variety of destinations offering adventures in recreation, shopping, history, and culture are just a bus or train ride away.

The Eden Project is a groundbreaking facility erected on the site of a former china clay pit. It features a collection of biomes that house plants from around the world; this includes the largest indoor rainforest in the world. Exhibitions on art, science, nature, and culture can be found scattered throughout the greenhouses and also around the beautiful outdoor gardens that surround them. A skating rink is created on-site each winter, while in the summer visitors can attend a series of outdoor concerts from a variety of musicians ranging from Snow Patrol to Elton John and Kylie Minogue. There are a number of eateries on the grounds, as well as an extensive gift shop.

Cornwall’s North Coast comprises over forty miles of ruggedly beautiful landscape between Bude and Perranporth. It is a popular destination for surfers and beachgoers, but also offers fantastic opportunities for photographers, hikers, and nature-lovers. History buffs won’t want to miss out on Tintagel Castle, a medieval fortification often linked to tales of King Arthur.

The Lizard Peninsula is home to the southernmost point on the UK’s mainland. It offers a stunning and dramatic landscape where you can fully appreciate Cornwall’s unique geology and the habitat that it provides to a variety of rare flora and fauna—including Cornish choughs, which have only recently returned to breed in the county after decades of being locally extinct. The Lizard is considered a National Character Area and is part of Cornwall’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Visitors can dine on locally caught seafood and duck into pubs to hear performances of traditional Cornish music.

Entertainment

Falmouth and Penryn are home to a number of quirky independent retailers as well as well-known high street businesses. In addition to shops selling surf gear, clothing, home decorations, and gifts, there are also many stores specialising in more unique items, such as vintage clothing, vinyl, and antiques. Considered the shopping centre of Cornwall, Truro also boasts a wide variety of both chain and boutique shops.

Cornwall has been a creative hotspot for years and is home to a number of contemporary artists, innovators, and creative organisations whose galleries, workshops, and educational spaces are open to the public.

The Princess Pavilion is located alongside the verdant Gyllyngdune Gardens, and is within a stone’s throw of Falmouth’s scenic beaches (Castle and Gylly). It provides space for live music, arts and crafts fairs, exhibitions, stand-up comedy routines, and small theatrical performances. It also houses the Garden Room, which serves lunch and dinner throughout the year.

The inaugural performance at Hall for Cornwall took place in 1997, but the building itself dates to 1846. The impressive facility has room for nearly 1000 audience members, who come to enjoy everything from stand-up comedy to rock concerts (Elbow have played there) to performances of Shakespeare’s plays. The programme always features a number of family-friendly events and offers matinees as well as evening shows.

There are three main cinemas near the Cornwall campuses: Phoenix and The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society in Falmouth, and the Plaza Cinema in Truro. Both the Phoenix and Plaza Cinemas offer access to blockbusters as well as live broadcast viewings of musicals, ballets, concerts, and plays. The Poly runs a mixture of well-known popular films as well as foreign-language, arthouse, and vintage movies that you won’t find anywhere else.

There is an abundance of museums near the Cornwall campuses that cover a wide variety of subjects. The award-winning National Maritime Museum Cornwall is located in Falmouth’s Discovery Quay (Events Square) which is a vibrant part of Falmouth’s waterfront and features displays exploring the long relationship between humans and the sea. The acclaimed Falmouth Art Gallery features British art in a variety of styles and from a variety of eras; hands-on activities and exhibitions allow children to get up close and personal with the art world.

Nightlife

Sunsets are beautiful in Cornwall—not just because you can watch their orange glow spread across the sea, but also because they signal the start of the county’s nightlife. 

There are plenty of fun bars in Falmouth including The Cornish Bank which often puts on live music, and the unique Beerwolf Books where you can browse affordable literature and enjoy local ales (and more) all in the same 17th-century pub. In Truro you can dance the night away at the Vanilla Bar which is very popular with students and locals. Other venues to enjoy your evening include Vertigo, where you can sample a creative range of stylishly crafted cocktails, and Rocco's Gin & Retro Bar where you can dance along to tunes from the 80s, 90s and 00s.

The Penryn Campus regularly hosts a number of events at the Stannary. Those looking to venture further afield can head off campus for live music, dancing, comedy shows, theatre, and cinema. A number of nationally and internationally acclaimed acts headline at venues in both Falmouth and Truro, and the renowned outdoor Minack Theatre, just over an hour away, offers audience members stunning views of the ocean during performances. For a quieter night, you can drop by one of the many art galleries that routinely host evening engagements, or have a relaxed cocktail at one of the area’s many small, intimate bars.

Visitors to the Cornwall campuses can enjoy evening events in local bars and venues such as pub quizzes, performances of shanties and other local music, karaoke evenings, and open mic nights

Thanks in part to the number of performers who stay in the area after graduating from Falmouth University, there is a thriving community of musicians who regularly perform near the Cornwall campuses.