Holbein House

Holbein House is a six-room Victorian guest house on Alexandra Road in Penzance, built in 1886 and fully refurbished in 2016 after years of disrepair. The end-of-terrace building faces south, and each of the six bedrooms is individually furnished with a mix of period and modern pieces. None of the rooms share a wall, so noise stays low between them, and the guest house holds a 9.6 rating from 650 Booking.com reviews.

Guests get a private bathroom, tea and coffee maker, work desk and soundproofing in every room. Breakfast runs to continental, American, buffet and full English or Irish, with vegetarian, vegan, halal and gluten-free options available. The garden includes a sun terrace and a tennis court.

It's a 10-minute walk to Penzance town centre and the promenade, and Penzance Promenade Beach is 8 minutes away on foot. The Egyptian House is under 0.6 miles away, St Michael's Mount is 4.3 miles by road, and the Minack Theatre is 8.7 miles along the coast.

Best for couples wanting a soundproofed room with period character close to Penzance's seafront. Less good for anyone chasing a sea view from the room itself, since the house sits inland on a residential avenue rather than on the promenade.