PK Porthcurno
Museum of Global Communications, Porthcurno, Cornwall - formerly Porthcurno Telegraph Museum
PK Porthcurno, Eastern House, Porthcurno, Penzance, Cornwall, TR19 6JX | 01736 810966
A unique museum in an extraordinary setting
Tucked into its own grounds in the wooded Porthcurno valley, PK Porthcurno is a genuinely unusual museum, telling the story of how this small Cornish village became - for a time - the most important communications hub on Earth. In 1870, engineers landed the first undersea telegraph cable here, connecting Porthcurno directly to Bombay using the most advanced technology of the day. That single connection kicked off more than a century as a nerve centre of global telegraph and cable communications, at one point handling messages from across the British Empire.
The site's importance only grew during the Second World War, when the cable station's operations were moved into a purpose-built, bomb-proof and gas-proof underground bunker to keep transmissions running through the war. Visitors today can explore that same underground network, alongside galleries of working telegraph and communications equipment, hands-on exhibits, and displays exploring the "Victorian internet" - the 19th-century telegraph network that first made near-instant global communication possible.
The museum has kept building on that story rather than resting on it: current exhibitions include "FAKE NEWS?", exploring the history of propaganda and misinformation from the Victorian era to today, and the museum won Gold at the Cornwall Tourism Awards in 2024-2025. It runs a full programme of school-holiday activities and workshops, including partnerships with venues such as The Exchange in Penzance, and remains a short walk from Porthcurno's beach and the Minack Theatre for visitors combining several attractions in one day.
Opening Times & Ticket Prices
Open daily 10am-5pm (last admission 4pm) from April to October. From January to March and November to December it's open Monday, Saturday and Sunday only, 10.30am-4pm - but daily during school holidays.
Adult £15.00
Child (under 18) £7.50
Child under 5 Free
Student £12.00
Family (1 adult + up to 2 children) £25.00
Family (2 adults + up to 2 children) £38.00
Family (2 adults + up to 3 children) £45.00
Gift Aid your ticket for free re-entry for 12 months. Historic Houses members enter free; Cornwall Heritage Trust members get 50% off; groups of 10+ receive a 10% discount.
Did you know?
Porthcurno's cable station was so strategically important that during WWII its operations were moved entirely underground into a bomb-proof, gas-proof bunker - which visitors can still explore today.
Visitor Information
Parking
A public car park serves both the museum and the nearby Minack Theatre and Porthcurno Beach - it can fill up on busy summer days.
Facilities
A café, shop, and toilets are on site, along with the museum's underground galleries and outdoor grounds - bring a reusable cup for a discount on hot drinks.
Disabled Access
The museum publishes a dedicated accessibility guide covering step-free routes and the underground galleries - check it before visiting or contact the museum directly to discuss individual needs.
Things to Do Nearby
- The Minack Theatre - Cornwall's cliffside open-air theatre, a short walk away.
- Porthcurno Beach - pale sand and turquoise water right below the museum.
- Land's End - Sennen - England's most westerly point.
- St Ives - Cornwall's famous art town, with beaches and the Tate St Ives gallery.
- Isles of Scilly - reachable by ferry or plane from Penzance.
Nearby Places to Stay
Frequently Asked Questions
Official Website
For the latest opening times, ticket prices and exhibitions, visit the official PK Porthcurno website directly, or view a live copy below.
Visit pkporthcurno.comPage last updated: 20 August 2026