Land’s End is the far western tip of mainland England, where the granite cliffs of west Cornwall drop into the Atlantic. It is famous for the signpost, the Longships Lighthouse out at sea, huge sunsets and the start (or finish) of the 874-mile Land’s End to John O’Groats journey. This local guide covers everything you need to plan a visit: what is free and what you pay for, parking, the best walks, wildlife, the best time to go, where to eat and stay, and the brilliant places within a few miles, from Sennen Cove to the Minack Theatre.

Where is Land’s End?

Land’s End sits at the very end of the West Penwith peninsula in the far west of Cornwall, in the parish of Sennen. It is about 9 miles west of Penzance and about 17 miles by road from St Ives. The A30, which runs all the way from London, finishes here in the Land’s End car park.

It is often called England’s most westerly point, and that is right for the mainland: the true tip is a rocky point called Dr Syntax’s Head, just a short walk north of the signpost. It is not the most southerly point, though. That honour goes to Lizard Point, across Mount’s Bay on the Lizard peninsula. Put the two together and you get the description you will see everywhere: Land’s End is England’s most south-westerly point.

On a clear day you can see the Longships Lighthouse a mile and a quarter offshore, the Wolf Rock lighthouse further out to the south-west, and, if you are lucky, the low line of the Isles of Scilly about 28 miles away on the horizon.

Is Land’s End free to visit?

Yes, walking around the headland is free. The 110-acre site, the cliff-top paths and the views are open all year round, and there is no charge to walk to the edge, see the signpost or follow the South West Coast Path in either direction. What you pay for is:

• Parking in the main Land’s End car park (the first 20 minutes are free).
• The family attractions in the visitor centre, which are ticketed.
• An official personalised signpost photo, if you want your own name and home town on the sign. Seeing and photographing the signpost yourself costs nothing.

If you want a properly free day, park in Sennen Cove (or come by bus) and walk the coast path up to Land’s End. For more ideas like this, see our guide to free things to do in Cornwall.

Parking and how to get to Land’s End

By car

Follow the A30 west through Penzance and keep going: the road ends at Land’s End, about 9 miles further on, after passing through Crows-an-Wra and Sennen. The postcode for sat navs is TR19 7AA. Allow 20–25 minutes from Penzance and a little longer in summer, when the lanes are busy with caravans and coaches.

Land’s End parking

The large car park is run by the Land’s End site. You buy your ticket on arrival (it cannot be pre-booked). At the time of writing the first 20 minutes are free, a full-day ticket is from £5.50 and there is a cheaper evening rate after 4pm, but prices change with the seasons, so check the boards when you arrive. Cornish residents can register their car for a free Locals Pass by showing proof of address at the site.

Cheaper and free alternatives

• Sennen Cove: pay car parks by the beach and harbour, then a lovely 30–40 minute coast path walk to Land’s End.
• Bus: the most relaxed option in summer, with no parking to worry about.
• Evening visit: come for sunset on the cheaper evening rate, when the crowds have gone.

By bus and train

The nearest railway station is Penzance, the end of the Great Western line from London Paddington. From the bus station next door, First Kernow buses run to Sennen and Land’s End (route 1 and its variants). Services are less frequent in winter, so check the timetable before you set off. In summer First Kernow usually runs the open-top Land’s End Coaster bus, which is a sightseeing trip in its own right. Taxis wait at Penzance station too.

On foot

Land’s End is on the South West Coast Path, so you can walk in from Sennen Cove (about 1 mile), Porthgwarra (about 3 miles) or Porthcurno (about 6 miles).

What to see at Land’s End

Most people spend an hour or two wandering the cliff-tops, but there is more here than first meets the eye. These are the highlights, roughly in the order you will find them walking from the car park.

1. The Land’s End signpost

The white signpost on the cliff edge is one of the most photographed spots in Britain. It points to John O’Groats (874 miles), New York (3,147 miles) and the Isles of Scilly, among other places. The sign belongs to the site, and during the day a photographer can add your own name, home town and distance for a printed photo (there is a charge for this). You are free to take your own photos of the sign at any time, and early mornings and evenings are much quieter.

2. Longships Lighthouse

Just over a mile offshore, the grey granite tower of the Longships Lighthouse stands on Carn Bras, the biggest of the Longships rocks. The first lighthouse here was lit in 1795; the tower you see today was first lit in 1873 and has had a helipad on top since 1974. It has been run automatically by Trinity House since 1988, when the last keepers left. In a westerly gale the waves can break right over it, which is a remarkable sight from the cliffs.

3. Enys Dodnan arch and the Armed Knight

Look south from the signpost and you will see Enys Dodnan, a big rock island with a natural arch worn right through it, and the jagged pinnacle beside it known as the Armed Knight. They are at their most dramatic at low tide and in a big swell, and they make the classic Land’s End photo with the lighthouse behind.

4. Dr Syntax’s Head

A short walk north of the hotel, this rocky point is the true westernmost tip of mainland England. There is no sign or fuss, just a fantastic view along the cliffs to Sennen Cove and Cape Cornwall.

5. The First and Last House

On the cliff path south of the main buildings, the little white First and Last House is a small shop and ice cream stop with a viewing area, and it is a nice target for a short stroll.

6. Greeb Farm and the craft workshops

Tucked into a hollow towards the south of the site, Greeb Farm is a small farm attraction with animals for younger children, part of the ticketed attractions. Nearby there are usually craft workshops and small shops, open seasonally.

7. Sunset over the Atlantic

Because Land’s End faces west across open ocean, sunsets here are some of the best in Britain. On a clear evening the sky turns orange and pink behind the Longships, and the car park is cheaper after 4pm. Bring a warm layer: it is windy even in summer.

The paid family attractions

The visitor centre buildings behind the signpost hold a handful of ticketed attractions aimed mainly at families with younger children. The line-up changes from time to time, but recently it has included:

• Aardman presents: A Grand Experience, a walk-through exhibition from the studio behind Wallace and Gromit.
• A 4D film experience, a short pirate-themed film with moving seats and special effects.
• Golf Adventure, an adventure golf course themed around the lost land of Lyonesse.
• Greeb Farm, with farm animals and space for little ones to run about.
• The End to End Story, telling the tales of the people who have walked, cycled, run and even pushed beds between Land’s End and John O’Groats.

Tickets can be bought singly or as a bundle, and bundles work out cheaper if you plan to do three or four. Under-3s go free. Cornish residents with a Locals Pass get money off package tickets. Opening is from 10am in season, but the attractions can close for winter maintenance, so if they are the main reason for your trip, check the official Land’s End website or call 01736 871501 before you travel.

Best walks from Land’s End

The South West Coast Path runs straight through Land’s End, and the stretch in each direction is among the most beautiful on its whole 630-mile route. Paths on the headland itself are mostly wide and well surfaced, but once you leave the site they become narrow, rocky and exposed, with steep drops. Wear proper shoes, keep children and dogs close, and check the weather: sea mist can roll in very quickly. Our guide to the top 50 walks in Cornwall has many more routes.

Land’s End to Sennen Cove (the classic short walk)

Head north from the signpost past the hotel. The path rises gently around Dr Syntax’s Head, then passes the earthworks of Maen Castle, one of Cornwall’s oldest cliff castles, before dropping down to the lifeboat station and harbour at Sennen Cove. Grab a drink or an ice cream and walk back the same way, or take the bus back up the hill. Allow about 30–40 minutes each way.

Land’s End to Nanjizal

Go south past the First and Last House and Greeb Farm and follow the cliffs for about 1.5 miles to Nanjizal (also called Mill Bay). Down a steep path is a secluded cove with a tall, narrow arch known as the Song of the Sea. At low tide on a sunny day the pool beneath it glows turquoise. It is a favourite with photographers, but it is a scramble down and back, so it is not suitable for pushchairs.

Land’s End to Porthcurno

If you only do one big walk in west Cornwall, make it this. From Nanjizal the path climbs over Gwennap Head, the most southerly point of the Penwith peninsula and a top spot for seabirds, then drops into Porthgwarra, a tiny cove with tunnels cut through the rock by miners. It carries on past the white sands of Porth Chapel to the Minack Theatre and Porthcurno beach. Allow 3–4 hours and catch the bus back.

Wildlife watching at Land’s End

Land’s End sticks so far out into the Atlantic that it is one of the best places in England to see sea life from land. Bring binoculars and look out for:

• Grey seals, all year, bobbing in the gullies or hauled out on the rocks below the cliffs and around the Longships.
• Basking sharks, mainly from May to August on calm days. Look for a big triangular fin and tail tip moving slowly through the water. They eat plankton and are harmless.
• Dolphins and porpoises, especially common dolphins in late summer, autumn and winter.
• Gannets, diving into the sea like arrows, plus shags, fulmars and kittiwakes on the cliffs.
• Choughs, red-billed members of the crow family and the bird on the Cornish coat of arms, which returned to breed in Cornwall in 2001 after decades away. Listen for their high “chee-ow” call.
• Wild flowers: thrift, sea campion and spring squill turn the cliff-tops pink, white and blue in spring.

Please watch from the cliffs, keep dogs on a lead near seals and nesting birds, and never go near hauled-out seals on the beaches. For more of the best spots, read our guide to seeing seals, dolphins and puffins in Cornwall.

History and legends of Land’s End

Why is it called Land’s End?

The name means exactly what it says: the end of the land. In Cornish it is Penn an Wlas, “the end of the land” or “end of the country”. Long before that, Greek writers recorded the far tip of Britain as Belerion, often translated as “the shining one” or “place of the sun”, and the area was already known to traders who came for Cornish tin more than 2,000 years ago.

The lost land of Lyonesse

Cornish legend says that between Land’s End and the Isles of Scilly there once lay Lyonesse, a rich country of fields, towns and 140 churches, swallowed by the sea in a single night. Only one man, riding a white horse, is said to have escaped the flood. It is a story, but sea levels really were much lower after the last Ice Age, and on very low tides the remains of ancient forests still appear on some Cornish beaches. Fishermen used to claim they could hear church bells under the waves.

Shipwrecks and the lighthouse

The rocks around Land’s End have wrecked hundreds of ships, which is why the Longships Lighthouse was built in the 1790s. Out beyond the lighthouse is the Seven Stones reef, where the oil tanker Torrey Canyon ran aground in March 1967, causing one of the worst oil spills in British history. As recently as 2003 a cargo ship, the RMS Mülheim, ran aground in a cove just north of the signpost.

End to End: Land’s End to John O’Groats

Land’s End is the start (or finish) of Britain’s most famous long journey: Land’s End to John O’Groats, often shortened to LEJOG, or JOGLE if you go the other way. The signpost gives the distance as 874 miles, and people have done it on foot, by bike, on horseback, in wheelchairs and in all sorts of fancy dress, often raising money for charity. If you see a tired-looking cyclist being cheered in by friends at the signpost, you have probably just witnessed the end of a 1,000-mile ride.

Best time to visit Land’s End

Land’s End is open every day of the year, and every season has something going for it.

Best time of day: before 10am or after 5pm. You will dodge the coach parties, the light is softer for photos, and in the evening you get the sunset. Weather tip: Land’s End can be in thick sea mist while Penzance is sunny, or the other way round. If it is murky, head to Porthcurno or Mousehole on the south coast first and come back later.

Where to eat at and near Land’s End

• On site: the Land’s End Hotel restaurant and bar has big windows over the sea and serves lunch, dinner and cream teas. There are also cafés and kiosks for pasties, coffee and ice cream, although some close in the quieter months.
• The First and Last Inn, Sennen: a proper old pub in Sennen churchtown, about a mile inland, with a long history and links to Cornwall’s smuggling past. See our First and Last Inn listing.
• The Old Success Inn, Sennen Cove: right above the beach, perfect after the coast path walk. See our Old Success Inn listing.
• The Logan Rock Inn, Treen: a cosy pub near Porthcurno and the Logan Rock. See our Logan Rock Inn listing.
• Penzance, Newlyn and Mousehole: for the widest choice, from fish and chips to fine dining. Our foodie’s guide to Cornwall has the best picks.

Missing Cornwall already? You can have proper Cornish treats delivered to your door from the Hello Cornwall shop.

Where to stay near Land’s End

• The Land’s End Hotel: the only place where you can sleep right on the cliff-top, with rooms looking out to the Longships. Wonderful for sunsets and for watching storms in winter.
• Sennen Cove: holiday cottages and inns a short walk from one of the best surf beaches in Cornwall.
• St Just and the far west: a working old mining town with pubs, galleries and great access to Cape Cornwall and the tin-mining coast.
• Penzance and Mousehole: the best bases if you want restaurants, shops and the train, with Land’s End only 20–25 minutes away.
• Camping and touring: there are several campsites around Sennen and St Buryan, many with sea views.

For a hand-picked shortlist across the county, see our guide to the best hotels in Cornwall.

Places to visit near Land’s End

Land’s End sits in the middle of some of the most beautiful and historic countryside in Britain. Everything below is within about 10 miles, so you can easily fit two or three into a day.

Sennen Cove (1 mile)

A fishing village and a mile-long sweep of white sand known as Whitesand Bay. It is one of Cornwall’s best surfing beaches, with lifeguards in the main season, a busy RNLI lifeboat station and a little harbour. Walk there along the cliffs from Land’s End. Read more on our Sennen Cove listing and in our guide to the best beaches in Cornwall.

Porthcurno and the Minack Theatre (4 miles)

Porthcurno has one of the most beautiful beaches in Britain, with soft white shell sand and water that turns Caribbean blue on sunny days. Strong currents mean you should only swim when lifeguards are on duty. Above it is the Minack Theatre, an open-air theatre carved into the cliff, started in 1932 by Rowena Cade and built largely by hand. You can visit by day or catch a show in summer. Down in the valley, PK Porthcurno tells the story of the undersea telegraph cables that once connected Britain to the world from this tiny cove. See our Porthcurno beach, Minack Theatre and PK Porthcurno listings.

Logan Rock and Treryn Dinas (4.5 miles)

On the headland east of Porthcurno is Treryn Dinas, an Iron Age cliff fort, and the Logan Rock, a huge granite boulder that used to rock at a touch. In 1824 a naval officer, Lieutenant Goldsmith, and his crew pushed it off its perch, and the locals were so angry that he was made to put it back at his own expense. Park at Treen and finish at the Logan Rock Inn. See our Treryn Dinas and Logan Rock listing.

Porthgwarra and Nanjizal (1.5–3 miles)

Two of the most secret-feeling coves in Cornwall, both on the coast path south of Land’s End. Porthgwarra has a slipway, tunnels in the rock and a tiny beach. Nanjizal has the Song of the Sea arch. Parking at Porthgwarra is very limited, so walking in is often easier. See our Porthgwarra listing.

Cape Cornwall (5 miles)

A green, conical headland topped by an old mine chimney, looking across to the Brisons rocks. It is quieter than Land’s End, cared for by the National Trust, and fantastic at sunset. See our Cape Cornwall listing.

The tin-mining coast: Botallack, Levant and Geevor (6–8 miles)

North of St Just, the cliffs are lined with the engine houses of Cornwall’s mining past, part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. The Crowns engine houses at Botallack cling to the rocks just above the waves. At Levant you can see a working steam beam engine, and at Geevor Tin Mine, which only closed in 1990, you can go underground into old workings. See our Botallack, Levant and Geevor listings.

Ancient sites: Carn Euny and the Merry Maidens (4–5 miles)

West Penwith is packed with prehistoric remains. Carn Euny is an Iron Age village with an underground passage called a fogou, and the Merry Maidens is a circle of 19 standing stones near St Buryan. Legend says they were girls turned to stone for dancing on a Sunday. Both are free to visit. See our Carn Euny and Merry Maidens listings.

Lamorna Cove, Mousehole and Penzance (7–10 miles)

Head east along the south coast for the pretty granite cove at Lamorna, the picture-perfect fishing village of Mousehole (famous for its Christmas lights) and the bustling town of Penzance, with its art deco Jubilee Pool. Read our guides to things to do in Mousehole and Penzance, and see what is happening in our Christmas in Cornwall guide.

St Michael’s Mount (about 13 miles)

The castle on a tidal island in Mount’s Bay, which you can reach on foot across the causeway at low tide or by boat at high tide. Read our complete guide to St Michael’s Mount.

The Isles of Scilly (28 miles offshore)

On a clear day you can see Scilly from Land’s End. You can get there by ferry from Penzance in the main season, or by small plane from Land’s End Airport near St Just, just a few minutes’ drive from the signpost.

A perfect day at Land’s End: suggested itinerary

Rainy day? Swap the beach for PK Porthcurno or Geevor Tin Mine, both largely under cover. Looking for more inspiration across the county? See our 52 things to do in Cornwall and check what’s on in Cornwall this month.

Land’s End vs other famous Cornish headlands

Local tips for visiting Land’s End

• Bring layers. It is nearly always windier and cooler on the cliffs than in town.
• Stay behind the fences. The cliffs are sheer and the edges can crumble. Waves can also reach surprisingly high in a big swell.
• Bring binoculars. Seals, dolphins and basking sharks are often too far out to see well without them.
• Combine it. Land’s End on its own is a 1–2 hour visit; with Sennen and Porthcurno it becomes a brilliant full day.
• Go free. Walk in from Sennen Cove or arrive by bus to avoid the main car park.
• Check the attractions. If your children have their heart set on the indoor attractions, check they are open before you set off, especially in winter.
• Accessibility. The main area around the buildings and signpost has firm paths, and the site lends a small number of wheelchairs. The coast path beyond is rough and steep in places. Call ahead for details.
• Dogs are welcome on the headland and coast path on a lead, but not inside the attractions.

Land’s End FAQs

We check this guide regularly, but opening times, attractions and prices at Land’s End change with the seasons. Please check with the site before you travel. Last updated November 2026.