Pronounced “mowsle”, Mousehole is an historic Cornish town on its south western coast (just round the the bay from Penzance. It's a pretty town of cobbled lanes, white cottages, local artist’s galleries and studios, and restaurants serving delicious Cornish seafood. It's the epitome of the perfect Cornish retreat and the best places to stay in Mousehole include quiet B&Bs, pubs-with-rooms and guesthouses, most with sea views and warmly welcoming service.

There are a few other reasons visitors are drawn to Mousehole. it’s very well positioned for walkers wanting to explore the Cornish coast, there’s easy access to St. Michael’s Mount and Mount’s Bay too, and the Christmastime illuminations are extremely famous locally.

For many years the town was Cornwall’s busiest pilchard port, but now tourism threatens to take over as the primary industry. For visitors that means more great places to eat and drink, and more local galleries and boutiques to buy from. It also mean the best places to stay in Mousehole are very busy. To avoid disappointment, do your research and book well ahead!

The Best Places to Stay in Mousehole

Best B&Bs

• With a colourful name and a great location, The Old Pilchard Works is an ideal quaint Cornish village escape. It’s a B&B with just two rooms, both of them decorated in white to make the most of the amazing natural light, and both rooms with private patios (guests are able to take their breakfasts there in the summer months). Adults only, and within a very pleasant stroll of a number of excellent local bars and restaurants.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• The closest airport to Mousehole is Cornwall Airport Newquay, which is about an hour away by car or taxi, or about four hours away by public transport. Exeter Airport is next closest, about two hours away by car or taxi, but still around four hours away by public transport. If you’re travelling via London, you catch the train from Paddington, which takes about five hours to reach Penzance, and then it’s a 15 minute bus, car, or taxi journey from there.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• Mousehole is busiest during the summer months, really from June onwards. If you’d prefer to avoid the peak season, our Gurus recommend September, if you still want to go in the sea, otherwise there’s not really a bad time to visit, with temperatures remaining mild through most of the year (this mildness includes the summer, when temperatures are much more likely to be in the mid-20°Cs than higher). If you do visit out of season make sure you check to see what is and isn’t open, and whenever you visit it’s a good idea to pack your wet weather gear.

Still not sure where to stay?

• Expand your search to include all the best places to stay in Cornwall
• Expand your search just beyond Mousehole to include neighbours, like the best places to stay in Penzance, Marazion or even St Ives
• Refine your search by the type of accommodation you’re looking for and consider the best hotels in Cornwall for families, Cornwall’s best pubs-with-rooms, the most romantic hotels in Cornwall or Cornwall’s best sea view hotels
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.