St Just in Penwith is situated on the edge of the Atlantic and Britain’s most westerly town.
It is a thriving community, with high-tech businesses, artists, craftsmen & women, shops that meet the needs of the people who live here.
Land’s End Aerodrome, music, choirs, theatre and dance, fiesta and feast, good places to eat and drink, walks, talks, tours, ancient monuments, Iron Age forts, quoits & cromlechs, fougous and footpaths, museums and mermaids, golden gorse, choughs, cliffs ...and always, the shining, silver sea.
Bordering the square is the Plain-an-Gwarry (‘Playing Place’ in Cornish). This open grass space is one of only a few remaining sites of a medieval open-air theatre.
The beautiful 14th Century St Just in Penwith Church features rare wall paintings of ‘St George and the Dragon’ and ‘Christ of the Trades’ - dating to the 15th Century.
There really is something for everyone and we hope this helps to highlight some of the amenities that can be found within walking distance of the town.
One of the best ways to enjoy what St Just has to offer is simply having a wander, grabbing some artisan food or a proper Cornish pasty and exploring the various nooks and crannies around the town.
You will never be far away from something inspiring and interesting!
Heading west from the town, rows of terraced cottages lead down the road to Cape Cornwall with access to the South West Coast Path and its myriad of famous locations.
More on these may be found on our 'The Area' page.
Tucked away off Bank Square in the heart of St Just, the Café Dog & Rabbit is a lively, warm and welcoming place serving coffee, cakes, breakfasts and lunch.
They offer organic produce and unforgettable food that you will want to return to! Their opening hours are 10.00am to 5.00pm daily except for Tuesdays.
For those of you wishing to eat at Café Dog & Rabbit it is strongly advised to book in advance due to the popularity of this wonderful gem of a place!
Ben, the owner comments that 'People come in as strangers and leave knowing each other'.
Their contact details are as follows:
North Row, Saint Just, United Kingdom, TR19 7LB
01736 449811
A number of well known artists, craftsmen and women live in and around St Just.
Artwork in Banjo Cottage includes pieces by local artists Richard Guy (who has a studio in Fore Street) and Kate Day-Dawson. The Cornish Mermaid mosaic is by Nicola Kathrens (who also makes beautiful knitwear) from slightly further afield in Lyme Regis on Dorset's Jurassic Coast.
The local galleries have an excellent selection of works for sale, incorporating paintings, pottery, glasswork, sculptures and photography.
St Just is also blessed with local artist Kurt Jackson’s gallery - The Jackson Foundation which was opened in 2018. Check it out on North Row, around the corner from Café Dog & Rabbit.
St Just has a plethora of shops and facilities, including two butchers, a bakery, a health food shop (also selling fruit, flowers, vegetables and ice-cream), a newsagent, Moomaid of Zennor ice-cream shop, pharmacy, pet shop, gardening & DIY shop, the Co-op, two hairdressers and two garages.
In St Just alone we have four characterful pubs, three cafés, a fish & chip shop and a Chinese take-away (next door to Banjo Cottage). We also have a sandwich shop (The Square) that also offers gluten-free pizzas and take-away roast dinner (dependant on season).
Facilities include a doctor’s surgery, post office, a library, a taxi service and fire station.
Buses run regularly to and from Penzance and outlying districts if you wish to sample some fabulous restaurants in the local area.
Our favourites include The Victoria at Perranuthnoe, The Old Coastguard in Mousehole, The Gurnards Head, The Porthminster Beach Café in St Ives. You really are spoilt for choice!
Standing as witness to over 1400 years of Christian worship, prayer, teaching and service, St Just in Penwith Church forms part of the Penwith Pilgrims Churches, together with Pendeen and Morvah Churches.
The key features include ...
- The Selus Stone - an inscribed 5th / 6th Century memorial stone with Chi Rho monogram.
- A memorial cross shaft dating from the 8th to 10th Century, decorated with Celtic interlacing.
- Flamboyant east window tracery dating from the late 14th or early 15th Century.
- Piers, pillars and capitals of limestone (possibly Beer or Caen stone), exceptionally well carved and unusual for Cornish and remote churches.
- Shields on capitals depicting de Beaupré, Bray and Fitz Ive families.
- Religious label stops for the south aisle windows. The same devices appear on shields borne by angels on the south aisle capitals.
- Secco Wall Paintings: pre reformation / 15th century ‘Christ of the Trades’ and ‘Saint George and the Dragon’.
- Reredos: beautifully carved of Derbyshire alabaster from 1896, depicting 14 Cornish Saints in alcoves.
Cape Cornwall Golf Club has stunning views over The Brisons and Cape Cornwall.
St Just Sports Centre has a well-equipped gym and sports hall – both of which welcome visitors.
There are public tennis courts, a children’s playground, and surfing at Sennen and Gwenver. The granite cliffs of West Cornwall offer some of the finest climbs in Britain.
