About this Event
The Egyptian House Open Days
Penzance, Cornwall
Saturday 25 - Sunday 26 July 2026, 10am-4pm
This summer, step inside one of Penzance's most recognisable buildings and find out more about its past and the work of the Landmark Trust. Entry is free but donations towards our work are very welcome.
Information about the history and restoration will be available with Landmark Trust staff on hand throughout the weekend.
Pre-booking is preferred but drop-in's on the day are also welcome.
About The Egyptian House
The Egyptian House is a rare and unusual survivor of a style that enjoyed a vogue after Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt in 1798. It dates from about 1835 and the front elevation is similar to that of the former Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, designed by P. F. Robinson. Comprised of three separate flats over four floors, the ground floor is a shop and above it are three apartments.
It was built for John Lavin as a museum and geological repository. Although picked over by Victorians, the beaches at Penzance still hold every kind of pebble. When Landmark acquired the building in 1968, its colossal façade, with lotus bud capitals and enrichments of artificial stone, concealed two small granite houses above shops, solid and with a rear elevation but very tired interiors. During the work to the front, we reconstructed these as three compact apartments, the highest of which has a view, through a small window, of St Michael’s Mount.
In spring 2026, The Egyptian House will undergo its latest upgrade with further refurbishment to the facade and interiors.
Open Day entry
Due to the historic nature of our buildings we have a limited capacity for our Open Day events. You may therefore be asked to wait a short time while other visitors finish their visit. Whilst booking is not essential, priority will be given to those who have booked in advance. Thank you for your co-operation.
Getting here
The Egyptian House is situated in the centre of Penzance. Address: The Egyptian House, 6/7 Chapel Street, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 4AJ.
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Public transport: Penzance train station is located half a mile away with national rail links.
There is no parking available at this property. Local public car parks can be found in the town:
- Greenmarket (short stay)
- Wellfields (long stay)
- Harbour (long stay)
Making a donation to Landmark as part of your visit
We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to visit a Landmark for free as part of our Open Day programme, and as such we’re pleased to continue to offer free entry at all our Open Days in 2026.
The Landmark Trust is a building conservation charity that relies on donations to support its work. Over the past 60 years, public support has helped us rescue over 200 historic buildings and make them available for all to experience and enjoy. Your support by attending our events, booking a workshop, and making a donation allows us to continue to save buildings at risk and continue to maintain those already in our care. Your donation could help train the craftspeople needed to restore a future Landmark, offer opportunities for young people to experience history first-hand, or provide a charity with free Landmark stay for their service users through our 50 for Free scheme.
Donations can be made when you book your Eventbrite ticket, at the event via contactless donation points, or after your visit via our website under Support.
Accessibility
Please note that due to the nature of our historic buildings, some may not be suitable for those with limited mobility or certain disabilities. Egyptian House has three floors with a tight winding staircase between levels. There are also steps and changes of level.
Registered assistance dogs only will be admitted.
We do all we can to enable access wherever possible; for further information or if you have any access concerns that you’d like to discuss before visiting, please contact our Booking Enquiries team on 01628 825925 or [email protected]. The Booking Office is open Mon to Fri - 9am to 5pm.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Egyptian House, Chapel Street, Penzance, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
