---
title: "Carnson House vs Dolphin Tavern: which hotel is better?"
description: "Carnson House or Dolphin Tavern in Penzance? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/carnson-house-penzance-vs-dolphin-tavern-penzance/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-11
---

# Carnson House vs Dolphin Tavern

Both are in Penzance, 680 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Guesthouse · Treneere
## [Carnson House](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/carnson-house-penzance/)

- **Guest rating:** 9.2 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 8.9

- **Score by category:** 3 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1247682/agoda/?lang=en)

Inn · ★★★ · Wherrytown
## [Dolphin Tavern](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/dolphin-tavern-penzance/)

- **Guest rating:** 9.8 ·  Exceptional

- **Location score:** 7.3

- **Score by category:** 1 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1358970/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick Carnson House

It leads in 3 of 4 categories. 680 m apart.

### Choose Carnson House if you want

-   to be closer to the beach (150 m / 590 m)
-   a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 6 / 3)

### Choose Dolphin Tavern if you want

-   a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 3 / 6)

### Why is Carnson House better than Dolphin Tavern?

1.  450 m closer to the beach (150 m vs 590 m) (−450 m)
2.  580 m closer to public transport (−580 m)
3.  Earlier check-in (10:00 vs 13:00) (−3h)

### Why is Dolphin Tavern better than Carnson House?

1.  Higher guest rating (9.8 vs 9.2) (+0.6)
2.  Later check-out (11:00 vs 10:00) (+1h)

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | Carnson House | Dolphin Tavern |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 9.2 | 9.8  (+0.6) |
| Location | 8.9  (+1.6) | 7.3 |
| Beach access | 9.8  (+1.5) | 8.3 |
| Public transport | 10.0  (+2.6) | 7.4 |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Guest rating | 9.2 | 9.8  (+0.6) |
| Number of reviews | 45  (+38) | 7 |
| Google rating | 4.2/5 | – |
| Google reviews | 82 | – |
| Rank in Penzance | top 19%  (+6%) | top 25% |
| Location |
| Location score | 8.9  (+1.6) | 7.3 |
| Distance to the centre | 920 m | 700 m  (−220 m) |
| To the beach | 150 m  (−450 m) | 590 m |
| To public transport | 50 m  (−580 m) | 630 m |
| To the airport | 52 km | 53 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 54  (+5) | 49 |
| To the nearest food shop | 200 m  (−240 m) | 440 m |
| Shops within 500 m | 5 | 5 |
| Sights within 1 km | 5  (+2) | 3 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | – | ★★★ |
| Rooms | 6 | 3 |
| Listed amenities | 6 | 6 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 10:00  (−3h) | 13:00 |
| Check-out until | 10:00 | 11:00  (+1h) |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | – |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ |
| Blackout curtains | ✓ | – |
| Bar | – | ✓ |
| Smoke-free | – | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Beach holidays | ✓ | – |
| Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | – |
| Business trips | ✓ | – |

## Live prices around both hotels

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

## Location

680 m apart

Carnson House: city centre: 920 m, nearest station Night Riviera Sleeper from Penzance: 50 m, Cornwall Airport Newquay (NQY): 52 km, beach: 150 m, 54 places to eat within 500 m, 5 sights within 1 km.

Dolphin Tavern: city centre: 700 m, nearest station Penzance: 630 m, Cornwall Airport Newquay (NQY): 53 km, beach: 590 m, 49 places to eat within 500 m, 3 sights within 1 km.

## Weather in Penzance

[Penzance weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/united-kingdom/england/penzance/weather)

## Carnson House or Dolphin Tavern: common questions

### Which is better, Carnson House or Dolphin Tavern?

Carnson House leads in 3 of 4 categories, including location, beach access, public transport. Dolphin Tavern is stronger in guest rating.

### Which is cheaper, Carnson House or Dolphin Tavern?

Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

Dolphin Tavern is closer: 700 m from the centre, against 920 m for Carnson House.

### Which hotel is closer to the beach?

Carnson House is 150 m from the nearest beach; Dolphin Tavern is 590 m.

### How far apart are Carnson House and Dolphin Tavern?

The two hotels are 680 m apart in a straight line.

## Compare now

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

---
Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/carnson-house-penzance-vs-dolphin-tavern-penzance/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/