We have a Garmin GPS with current UK maps loaded in it. Also discovered there are Hop on Hop off buses in the Penzance area, which I am so glad my wife is favourable about using.
I remember driving some twisting curvy roads through the woods with a 50 mph speed limit. My wife gets motion sickness on roads like that, so here I am doing about 35! The locals were too happy with me 😡☹️ I can just image narrow winding roads in walled and hedge rows, plus sheep herds just around the blind corner! Yikes... Take the bus 😍

Ron - when driving the hire car in UK simply remember the driver sits in the middle of the road .(Since its a right hand drive.) (Piece of advice given by a friend who lives in France.) Certainly worked in Europe when driving a hire car (left hand drive as in the US/Canada)
If your hire car does not have a built in GPS - make sure you get one of those as well as the auto box (ab a very good idea) - very easy to drive around in circles on the narrow back roads in Cornwall. Good map is also useful for planning your next day itinerary - too much nuisance whilst driving.

Be sure to visit Looe and take a boat trip to Polperro - the trip alone is worth it - well worth a visit but the walk down to Polperro from the car park is killing if you go by car. Lots of good B&B's near Looe - interesting town - lots of boats in the harbour plus ship chandlers & other shops will be worth a visit. There used to be a MB club in nearby Liskeard - sure they would welcome you if they are still going. perhaps someone on this site knows ?

Agree with you Ron, an auto box would be better as
most of UK gear changes are extended H, but the other way round from yours ie:
From neutral centre..
1st gear - up and over to left
2nd gear - straight down from 1st
3rd gear - up and over to right
4th gear - straight down
5th gear - up and over again to right
Reverse gear is different on many cars, my Peugeot
is push gear knob down whilst in neutral then pull down, my Citroen is Automatic,No Problems! hope this helps.😊

Cheers, Pete

Hi Ron.
I live 20 miles from Exeter. There is a reasonable boat museum there.
The SS Great Britain, a four mast ship, Nerys will know more, resides in Bristol, 80 miles away. HMS Victory is in Portsmouth Harbour, 120 miles away. There is lots to see. Cornwall is a perfect place to visit. Beautiful coastal villages.
In 1980 to 1982 I lived in Ontario. Beautiful country also.
Peter.

If you are looking to see boats, then Cornwall is a good choice. You'll find everything from sailing dinghies to larger yachts and working fishing boats. However, I would suggest you visit the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth where there is a large collection of small boats from around the world as well as many British sailing dinghies and a Thames pleasure boat, the Waterlily. There is also a hall devoted to boat building. Make sure you go to the 18thcentury Georgian harbour of Charleston where you will find several traditional working sailing craft and smaller tall ships.

If you are visiting London, then St. Katherines dock is a must. You will find several Thames Sailing Barges moored there as well as a plethora of yachts.

Hope you have a lovely holiday.

Nerys

I try to rent an automatic transmission vehicle, just one thing less to think about when driving. I have never tried shifting gears with my left hand, I suppose the gear shift is the same as here. H with 1, down 2, over and up or forward 3 and back or down 4 with Neutral in the middle.Ah, but then there is those overdrive gears, 5&6...🥴

Just for information Ron, yes, we drive on the left, but the steering wheel is on the right, the accelerator, clutch and brake are the same as yours, but the handbrake is nearly always on the left hand side, dead easy to adapt, I do it everytime I go to Europe on holidays.🤗
btw, we sail our boats on the left too!
Cheers, Pete