Penrose Water Gardens
Penrose Water Gardens
Penrose Water Gardens
4
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Penrose Water Gardens has been established for over 40 years. It is set within beautiful woodland valley 2.2 Miles from Truro, Cornwall. The gardens cover six and a half acres of marshland and are made up of 40 ponds fed by natural springs. The ponds host 40 different varieties of water lilies and other aquatic plant and wildlife. Also onsite is a Conference Venue and The Lily Tearooms. Free parking, Wifi & entry to Gardens.
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- KRR1961Birmingham, United Kingdom41 contributionsGreat new café!We visited the Water Gardens for the first time today because we'd heard that new owners took over the café last week. We were not disappointed! The weather was lovely so we sat outside on the café balcony seating area (there was lots of space inside too). The coffee was excellent, as expected - this is The Cornish Barista. But the food was excellent too. The all day breakfasts we saw looked extremely good! We had homemade soup and loaded fries. All fresh, home made, very tasty. Prices reasonable. The staff were lovely and the atmosphere was friendly. There was a lovely view of the ponds full of water lilies, and the surrounding trees were beautiful in the sunshine. We plan to come back when the lily flowers are out. There was ample free parking, and we enjoyed our walk around the ponds, although it was slightly muddy after all the rain this winter. All in all, a great breakfast/lunch/tea venue, especially in the sunshine.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 6 May 2024
- Heather H6 contributionsHard to find due to lack of signage ,one found , great 👍Very close to nature , tranquil and soo relaxing !!! However, nearly aborted ,turned around and went home due to lack of sign posting !!! Even though we used sat nav just ended up going round and round in circles until found a local to give clearer directions !!!! Please put up clearer signage . That said ,once found ,had a great experience and will defo return in the future as only live in Truro .Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 June 2024
- Richard LFalmouth, United Kingdom387 contributionsPerfect for large group breakfast meeting.The brilliant cafe was the chosen meeting place for the Cornwall Blood bikers to have a breakfast get together. Over 30 of us enjoyed fantastic food, beautifully cooked and piping hot by friendly and efficient staff. Venue seemed popular with the locals too.Visited January 2025Travelled with friendsWritten 25 January 2025
- Stella W15 contributionsBright and friendly ambience excellent foodA lovely setting for a casual lunch . Service was great as was the food . I had a jacket potato with huge salad for a side offering. Cakes first rate .Excellent value for money . A woodland walk around the lily ponds afterwards.Visited February 2025Travelled with familyWritten 1 February 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.0
54 reviews
Excellent
26
Very good
10
Average
9
Poor
4
Terrible
5
Haze W
London, UK265 contributions
Sept 2021
We decided to come here based on the positive reviews. I admit that it’s a pleasant and peaceful spot ideal for relaxing away from it all. However, we were a bit disappointed with the layout of the ponds, which are rather overgrown, rectangular and laid out in a grid pattern surrounded by trees and bushes, each pond having a particular colour of water lily. We were expecting a much less regimented layout.
The restaurant/café was closed when we arrived but we went on a day when the kiosk was open and had a cup of hot chocolate and piece of their delicious chocolate cake (gluten free but you wouldn’t know it). The lady serving was very pleasant and helpful. .
The restaurant/café was closed when we arrived but we went on a day when the kiosk was open and had a cup of hot chocolate and piece of their delicious chocolate cake (gluten free but you wouldn’t know it). The lady serving was very pleasant and helpful. .
Written 11 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KRR1961
Birmingham, UK41 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We visited the Water Gardens for the first time today because we'd heard that new owners took over the café last week.
We were not disappointed! The weather was lovely so we sat outside on the café balcony seating area (there was lots of space inside too). The coffee was excellent, as expected - this is The Cornish Barista. But the food was excellent too. The all day breakfasts we saw looked extremely good! We had homemade soup and loaded fries. All fresh, home made, very tasty. Prices reasonable. The staff were lovely and the atmosphere was friendly.
There was a lovely view of the ponds full of water lilies, and the surrounding trees were beautiful in the sunshine. We plan to come back when the lily flowers are out.
There was ample free parking, and we enjoyed our walk around the ponds, although it was slightly muddy after all the rain this winter.
All in all, a great breakfast/lunch/tea venue, especially in the sunshine.
We were not disappointed! The weather was lovely so we sat outside on the café balcony seating area (there was lots of space inside too). The coffee was excellent, as expected - this is The Cornish Barista. But the food was excellent too. The all day breakfasts we saw looked extremely good! We had homemade soup and loaded fries. All fresh, home made, very tasty. Prices reasonable. The staff were lovely and the atmosphere was friendly.
There was a lovely view of the ponds full of water lilies, and the surrounding trees were beautiful in the sunshine. We plan to come back when the lily flowers are out.
There was ample free parking, and we enjoyed our walk around the ponds, although it was slightly muddy after all the rain this winter.
All in all, a great breakfast/lunch/tea venue, especially in the sunshine.
Written 6 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wendymitchell62
Truro, UK11 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
Now that this is open again thought we would try it, food is absolutely wonderful, very well priced, sunday lunch is to die for. Bens teacakes and coffee are a must in the morning. To sit outside or in, and to park is an added bonus!
Written 23 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark W
2 contributions
Jul 2021
Distinct lack of informative engagement with users! Arrived to expect some sort of information about the different flora and fauna. Not a single member of staff around. Really surprised at the lack of even basic health and safety requirements. 'Young children to be accompanied' is on the small print disclaimer. For such a potentially hazardous environment the ALL children should be accompanied by adults. Not even basic signage stating the water depths. Interesting that the restaurant has completely separate ownership to the gardens?? Owners have no idea of how many people are viewing the water gardens at any one time. The environment is truly beautiful but doesn't appear to be running as a business.
Written 29 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JYPayne
Cornwall, UK215 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
Visited the water gardens on 6th July and was so disappointed to see it all such an unkempt overgrown mess.
We have been regular visitors here for several years and normally the pond surrounding areas are beautifully manicured just like the photos they use to promote the place. To see it all so overgrown with long grasses and weeds was saddening and screamed neglect, it’s normally such a beautiful, neat tidy place with clear view right across the ponds.
As overgrown as it is makes it appear quite unsafe with no clear boundary between bank and pond edge. I’m sorry no, not impressed at all, I know what it normally looks like there and at the moment it’s a right mess. I hope somebody makes the effort to tidy it back up before the school summer holidays start. As it is in this dishevelled state it’s an accident waiting to happen.
Such a shame, it was so beautiful this time last year.
We have been regular visitors here for several years and normally the pond surrounding areas are beautifully manicured just like the photos they use to promote the place. To see it all so overgrown with long grasses and weeds was saddening and screamed neglect, it’s normally such a beautiful, neat tidy place with clear view right across the ponds.
As overgrown as it is makes it appear quite unsafe with no clear boundary between bank and pond edge. I’m sorry no, not impressed at all, I know what it normally looks like there and at the moment it’s a right mess. I hope somebody makes the effort to tidy it back up before the school summer holidays start. As it is in this dishevelled state it’s an accident waiting to happen.
Such a shame, it was so beautiful this time last year.
Written 8 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Catrin T
Hayle, England, United Kingdom5 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
We went there this morning Sunday 23 Nov. The place looked nice and clean the staff were pleasant and welcoming the breakfast was good, the whole experience was ruined by the owner being rude and unpleasant to his staff, in front of customers actually reducing one member of staff to tears. He was extremely uprofessional,his behaviour totally changed the atmosphere from relaxed and welcoming to uneasy and unpleasant. We shall not return, not because of the food but because I would not want to give my money to a man who treats his staff in this fashion, disgraceful. A shame really as we have been looking for somewhere to have breakfast regularly on a Sunday morning, seems we will have to keep looking.
Written 23 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SophCornishBird
13 contributions
Jun 2014 • Family
THE STAFF WERE TERRIBLY MISERABLE! THE FOOD WAS AWFUL! THE GARDENS ARE NOT MAINTAINED LIKE THEY SHOULD BE! I visited here on a wim adn was very dissapointed, water gardens are friendly, happy places. The staff were so miserable! There was an elderly bold man walking around who really was the most miserable man i have ever met! NEVER AGAIN!
Written 17 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sam G
Southampton, UK12 contributions
May 2016
Penrose Water Gardens was a disappointment. it is a garden about half the size of a football pitch, with a number of no-bigger-than 6 foot ponds in it, with a few lillies in each. And that's it. There is no attraction, and no information given telling you about the plants in each pond or the fauna that might live in there. They have a tearooms there, however it was closed (and hadn't specified until when) due to no staff. I'm sure that, with staff, the tea rooms would be nice, but there is nothing currently that would make me want to go back. If anything it is a calm place that would attract older people rather than young people with families
Written 25 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
akay07
Truro, UK326 contributions
Aug 2015 • Friends
A friend and I decided to meet here for afternoon tea. Having heard from a few people that it was a lovely place to visit I arrived with high hopes. The approach road is quite a narrow lane but, living in Cornwall, I'm used to them. There is plenty of parking and it's child friendly. The surroundings are quite colourful with the lilies in full bloom at the moment. The staff were friendly but service was quite slow, despite there being hardly anyone around at the time. The cake was a little dry which was a bit disappointing and the tea wasn't anything special. A pot of tea and two small slices of cake came to £9. There are other places that I much prefer which was a pity as this could have been so much better.
Written 6 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patrick M
Truro, UK48 contributions
May 2015 • Friends
Earlier this week I attended a meeting which was held in the Lily Tea Room at Penrose Water Garden in Shortlanesend. What a beautiful, tranquil place. The Tea rooms served a wonderful lunch from a superb menu. The staff were lovely, warm and welcoming.
Written 19 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Please can tell me if there is sufficient wheelchair access around the gardens
.
Written 21 January 2015
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