Land's End

Land's End is the most westerly point of mainland England, a dramatic granite headland near the village of Sennen where the Atlantic stretches unbroken to the horizon. Its Cornish name is Penn an Wlas. Whether you're on holiday in Cornwall or out for the day with family or friends, it's one of the South West's genuinely iconic places to visit. The clifftop, coastal paths and the area around the famous signpost are free to walk; you pay for parking, and separately for any of the family attractions you choose.

Family-friendly paths trace the clifftops above the waves, carved over millennia by the Atlantic swell. The 110-acre headland lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is open all year, whatever the weather. It's worth allowing at least a few hours: long enough to stand at the signpost, look out to the Longships Lighthouse, try one or two of the attractions and walk a stretch of the South West Coast Path towards Sennen Cove or Nanjizal.

A Brief History of Land's End

Visitors have made the journey to the end of England for centuries. The poet John Taylor came here in 1649, and by the late 1800s day-trippers were travelling out from Penzance by horse-drawn carriage, often stopping at the First and Last Inn in Sennen on the way. J.M.W. Turner sketched the Longships Lighthouse from Dr Syntax's Head, the rocky promontory that marks the true westernmost tip of the headland. The present hotel and visitor complex stands at Carn Kez, a short walk south of that point.

Land's End was owned by a Cornish family until 1982. In 1987 the entrepreneur Peter de Savary outbid the National Trust and bought it for almost £7 million, and the land changed hands again in 1991. The current owners bought it in 1996 and formed Heritage Great Britain PLC, which runs the site today as Land's End Landmark. In 2012, Land's End was the starting point of the London Olympic torch relay.

The Iconic Signpost

A local family-run business put up the famous Land's End signpost in the 1950s, and a photograph beside it has been a holiday ritual ever since. For decades it was run by Penzance photographers; since January 2024 Land's End Landmark has operated the Signpost Experience itself. Tell the photographers your home town and they'll fit its name and mileage onto the arms of the sign; they hold distances from Land's End to thousands of places worldwide. You can collect your photo the same day, along with a digital download, from Penwith House, the Signpost Shop.

End to End: Land's End to John o' Groats

Land's End is the traditional start or finish of the End to End journey to John o' Groats in the far north of Scotland. The traditional distance is 874 miles; the shortest route on classified roads is about 838 miles. The first recorded End to End walk was made in 1871 by the brothers John and Robert Naylor. Today, cyclists typically take 10 to 14 days, while walkers following off-road routes often take two to three months. Many raise money for charity. The End to End Story exhibition on site tells the tales of the walkers, cyclists, runners and eccentrics who have made the journey.

What to See from the Clifftops

A little over a mile offshore stands the Longships Lighthouse on the rocky islets of the same name. The first light here was lit in 1795, and the present 35-metre granite tower, designed by Sir James Douglass, dates from 1875. It was automated in 1988 and its beam reaches 15 nautical miles. On a clear day you can see the Isles of Scilly, about 28 miles to the south-west. Local legend says the Longships, the Seven Stones reef and Scilly are the last remains of Lyonesse, the lost Arthurian land said to lie beneath the waves.

Closer to shore, look for Enys Dodnan, an offshore island pierced by a natural arch, and the Armed Knight, a pyramid of rock whose name is thought to come from a spire on top resembling a jousting lance. The cliffs are made of granite formed between 268 and 275 million years ago. Around the hotel it is coarse-grained, with large crystals; further north, towards the First and Last House, it is finer-grained and weathers more smoothly.

Wildlife on the Headland

Land's End and the neighbouring cliffs are among the best places in Cornwall to watch for wildlife. Look out for choughs (Cornwall's emblem bird, now back on these cliffs), peregrine falcons, kestrels and ravens. In calm summer weather, grey seals, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks are regularly spotted from the clifftops. The wildflower-rich heath here is recognised by the charity Plantlife as an Important Plant Area for its rare flora. Binoculars are well worth packing.

Family Attractions at Land's End

Alongside the free headland, Land's End has a cluster of paid attractions. You can buy them individually or as a package:

• Aardman Presents: A Grand Experience – an interactive experience with Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph.
• The Lost Treasure of Lyonesse – a golf adventure across three levels, themed on the legend of the lost land.
• Jolly Roger 4D Film Experience – a pirate adventure with special effects, and a good choice for a wet day.
• Greeb Farm – a restored 200-year-old farmstead with animals to meet and craftworkers' studios.
• End to End Story – an interactive exhibition about the famous Land's End to John o' Groats journey.

The West Country Shopping Village, the First and Last House and Penwith House all sell Cornish gifts and souvenirs. Registered Cornish residents can join the Locals Pass scheme for free parking and half-price attraction packages.

Magic in the Skies

On summer holiday evenings, Land's End hosts Magic in the Skies, a firework display set to a soundtrack written for the headland. In 2026 a drone light show was added, telling stories of Cornwall's landscape, coast and heritage, to make a two-part evening. In 2026 it ran on Tuesdays and Thursdays from late July to late August, with live music, food and family entertainment during the day. Check the official website for the current year's dates.

Walks from Land's End

The South West Coast Path runs right through the site, and both directions are spectacular. Heading north, the path passes Maen Castle, a clifftop fort built in the Late Bronze Age and still in use in the Iron Age, cared for by the National Trust on Mayon Cliff. It continues past the granite coastguard lookout of 1891 and drops down to Sennen Cove, with its lifeboat station, cafes and the long sands of Whitesand Bay, popular with surfers. It's roughly a mile each way and makes an easy return walk.

Heading south, the path leads to Nanjizal (Mill Bay), a secluded cove with a narrow rock archway known as the Song of the Sea. Beyond it lie Porthgwarra and, after a longer and hillier walk, Porthcurno, home of the Minack Theatre and PK Porthcurno. Cliff paths here are uneven, stony and exposed, so wear proper footwear and keep well back from the edges, especially in wind.

Eating, Shopping & Staying

Food options on site include the recently refurbished Land's End Restaurant & Bar for lunch and evening meals, the family-friendly self-service Cornish Pantry, The Cafe overlooking Greeb Farm, and kiosks and an ice cream parlour for quick bites. To stay right on the clifftop, choose from the Land's End Hotel, the four Penwith Studios in a former 1860 Temperance Hotel, and the Saddle & Stablerooms apartments. Staying over means you can watch the sun set behind the Longships after the day visitors have gone. For more self-catering options nearby, see Nearby Places to Stay in the sidebar.

Opening Times & Prices

• Headland & coastal paths: open all year.
• Visitor Centre, attractions, Signpost Experience & shops: daily from 10am in season; catering times vary by outlet.
• Winter: the four main attractions and the West Country Shopping Village close for maintenance. The hotel, Signpost Experience and Penwith House shop stay open (10am–4pm daily).
• Christmas: all facilities are closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
• Admission: the headland itself is free. The attractions are paid individually or as packages, priced on the official website.
• Parking: charges vary by season and are paid on arrival; there is no pre-booking.

All information given in good faith — for use as guidance only. Please confirm opening times and prices with the attraction before travelling.