Planning a trip to Penzance

Getting There -- Ten express trains leave daily from Paddington Station in London for Penzance; the trip takes 5 1/2 hours. Call tel. 0845/748-4950 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Five buses per day, run by National Express (tel. 0871/781-81-81; www.nationalexpress.com), leave from London's Victoria Station heading for Penzance (trip time: 8 1/2-9 hr.). The buses have toilets and reclining seats.

By car, you can drive southwest across Cornwall on the A30 all the way to Penzance; the trip takes between 5 and 6 hours.

Visitor Information -- The Tourist Information Centre is on Station Approach (tel. 01736/362207; www.penzance.world-guides.com/index.html). It's open Easter to September daily 9am to 5pm; October to Easter, hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.