Looe is a historic Cornish fishing port with quaint streets, restaurants, a variety of shops, a harbour, sandy beach, hidden coves and it's own island. Nearby is Polperro, which is a picturesque Cornish fishing village with traditional white painted cottages overlooking the harbour, famed for its history of smuggling & fishing. The heritage museum at Polperro has old photos and exhibits.

Thepopular Town of Looe is an amalgamation of two ancient boroughs. East Looe, situated in the Doomsday manor of Pendrim, had a charter granted to Sir Henry Bodrugan by Henry II at some time between 1154 and 1189.

West Looe, situated in the Manor of Portallant, was granted the status of free borough by its Lord, Otto de Treverbyn, in 1243. Built around 1500, the Guildhall (pictured below) with its gabled porch, outer stair and pillory cannot be missed. It was originally a single storey structure the upper floor being built for use as a council chamber and courthouse after the charter of Queen Elizabeth I in 1587. The local Looe history museum is now housed there.

The 13th and 14th Centuries were a period of major activity for both towns, which provided ships and men for the forces of Edward I and II . During the Hundred Years War the towns’ naval supply function was at a peak, and at the Siege of Calais the towns supplied 325 men and 20 ships (only five fewer than London) for Edward III . The number of sailors was almost twice the population of the two towns, evidence enough that the ports were major recruiting and victualling centres for the Navy at the time. By the end of the 14th century the harbour was proving too small, so both Fowey and Plymouth took over the naval supply role. The Looe ports carried on as a base for the fishing industry, which continues today in a small way.