St Ives
Porth IaIt's all to do with the light
St Ives has everything you need for a holiday in Cornwall. A choice of beaches, stunning views, great surf, a wide range of places to eat and some of the finest art galleries in the UK. No wonder people come back year after year.
Welcome to St Ives
One of Cornwall’s most treasured towns, St Ives is famed for its picturesque cobbled streets and coastal allure. However, up until the nineteenth century, it was primarily a bustling hub for the pilchard trade and a key exporter of tin across the UK and Europe. The town’s fortunes changed in 1887 with the opening of the St Erth to St Ives railway line, transforming this once modest fishing port into a must-visit destination for holidaymakers and artists alike.
This scenic railway journey is amongst the most beautiful in Britain, as it takes you past the golden beaches of St Ives Bay. On a summer’s day the white sand and turquoise waters could be mistaken for the Caribbean. When you reach St Ives there are six more town beaches – Porthmeor, Porthgwidden, Porthminster, Bamaluz, Lambeth Walk and Harbour Beach. Each offers sweeping views over the bay which is home to the impressive Godrevy Lighthouse.
St Ives is also renowned for its famous quality of light, which has drawn artists to the area for over a century. Despite its size, the town boasts world-class art galleries, including the Tate St Ives, set against a stunning coastal backdrop. Alongside its artistic heritage, St Ives is home to an excellent food scene, highlighted by the annual St Ives Food Festival. For a local tipple, St Ives Brewery is celebrated for its distinctive craft beers.
Did you know?
St Ives gets its name from St Ia, who journeyed there in the fifth century. Legend states that she was an Irish Princess, who was carried to Cornish shores on a single leaf. St Ia’s Church still stands in the town and is over 1,500 years old. You can find it near the harbour, opposite the Memorial Gardens.
Things to do in St Ives
St Ives offers something for everyone, making it a fantastic destination year-round. Whether you’re after a relaxing beach getaway or prefer exploring its eclectic mix of independent shops and galleries, it’s easy to fill your days with activities.
The heart of this family-friendly town is the harbour, which is backed by independent eateries, local galleries and unique shops. Not to be missed is the Sloop Inn, one of the oldest pubs in Britain dating back to 1312 – the perfect location for soaking up the maritime atmosphere.
For those who love a scenic stroll, follow the cliff path north from the harbour to St Ives Island. This grassy peninsula, perched between Porthmeor and Porthgwidden beaches, offers breathtaking views of the surrounding coastline.
St Ives beaches are known for their crystalline waters, perfect for swimming and sunbathing during the summer. In the autumn, swap your swimsuit for a wetsuit and try your hand at surfing with St Ives surf school.
Overlooking Porthmeor Beach is the renowned Tate St Ives, featuring contemporary art exhibitions from world-famous artists. Just a short walk away, the Penwith Gallery – housed in a former pilchard-packing factory – showcases work by the town's many local artists.
Other must-see art spots include the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, where you can admire her striking sculptures, and the historic Leach Pottery, the birthplace of British studio pottery. However, there are many more galleries to be discovered as the town is a haven for artists.
Did you know?
Famous writer Virginia Woolf spent summers in St Ives and the area's rugged scenery left a long-lasting impression on her. Godrevy Lighthouse, which stands tall in St Ives Bay was the inspiration for her novel To the Lighthouse.
Further afield
St Ives forms the boundary of the West Penwith National Landscape, which comprises coastal scenery, ancient farmland and abandoned mining shafts. There are plenty of fantastic walks in the area, or you can head east to walk the ancient St Michael’s Way pilgrimage.
Venturing west you can enjoy the traditional Cornish villages of Zennor and Sennen, before carrying on to Land’s End. The drive skirts the coast on the B3306 and has been voted one of the most scenic drives in Britain.
An alternative option is Mousehole, known for its natural beauty and Cornish folklore tales. Or, head south to Penzance where you can enjoy a dip in the Jubilee Pool. Not to be missed is the Minack Theatre, which puts on open air performances between May and September.
Getting around
The St Ives branch line connects to St Erth, with onward journeys to Truro which is on the main line from London. There are also local buses which take you to nearby towns. However, to enjoy the areas surrounding St Ives it’s best to do so by car. Train schedules can be checked via Great Western Railway, and check Transport for Cornwall for bus timetables.
Things to do in St Ives
Tate St Ives
Inspiring art and breath-taking scenery meet at Tate St Ives. The iconic gallery overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, and showcases some of the best-loved British artworks.
St IvesRead more
St Ives Boats 'Dolly P'
St Ives Boats offer daily boat trips leaving from St Ives harbour, when seal watching along the magnificent Cornish coast at Seal Island.
St IvesRead moreAccommodation in St Ives
Blue Hayes Private Hotel
Small boutique hotel with stunning views over St Ives harbour Blue Hayes Private Hotel in St Ives, West Cornwall has a beautiful large ballustraded terrace. Situated above Porthminster Beach, you can ...
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Cornish Escapes
Cornish Escapes is an established, family-run holiday lettings team. We pride ourselves in offering some of the best quality accommodation in and around Cornwall. Whether you are planning a return tr...
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Plan your trip
Everything you need to know to plan your perfect trip to St Ives
From the M5 at Exeter, follow the A30 all the way down through Cornwall until the end of the Hayle bypass. Here go around the roundabout and take the A3074. Depending on what time of year it is and where you want to go, you may want to turn left onto the road that goes south of St Ives and then enters the town from the west, making it easier to access the large Trenwith carpark in the summertime.
St Ives has several short and long stay carparks, but be aware many are full for most of the summer. A good idea for day trippers is to use the Park & Ride at St Erth Railway Station (on the A30).
The nearest National Express stop to St Ives is Hayle or St Erth, from where local buses and trains serve St Ives.
The towns bus station is close to the town centre and has good connections with most West Cornwall towns and villages.
St Ives Railway Station is reached by a branch line from St Erth, one stop before the end of the main line at Penzance. The scenic line hugs the coast all the way into St Ives, making it one of the finest short rail journeys in the UK
FAQs
View all- RNLI Lifeguards
Porthmeor Beach is patrolled by RNLI Lifeguards from the 29th of March to the 3rd of November, between 10am and 6pm (2024).
Visit Cornwall would hate to take sides here by saying one place is better than the other.
Padstow is best known these days for its foodie connections, though that's not to say there aren't some fine places to eat in St Ives. Padstow might not have the beaches that St Ives has but with the tide out the sandy estuary provides a wonderful place to relax in the sunshine.
St Ives possibly has more for the family than Padstow, although you can't beat sitting on the harbour catching crabs! And Padstow also has the Camel Trail, a safe flat cycle route up river to Wadebridge.
Of course, St Ives is known for it's art, and although there are a few galleries in Padstow, they can't compete with the Tate St Ives, or can they? I suppose it depends on your taste's?
To use an overused term, it has something for everyone! Kids love the beaches, surfers love the beaches, adults love the beaches! There's the art, the views, the coastal walks, the trips out to Seal Island, the harbourside pubs....
Yes, once you get down into the town. The main carpark is up on the hill, but there are hoppa-busses that take you down into the centre.
Although the town centre is not pedestrianied, it's never too busy with vehicles and easy to browse the shops and galleries.
Dogs are welcome on Harbour beach except between the 1st July and the 31st August (10am - 6pm) when a seasonal dog ban is in place.
Dogs are welcome on Porthminster beach except between 15th May and 30 September (10am - 6pm) when a seasonal dog ban is in place.
Dogs are welcome on Porthgwidden beach except from the 1st July to the 31st August between 10am and 6pm when a seasonal dog ban is in place.
Dogs are welcome on Porthmeor beach except between 15th May and 30 September (10am - 6pm) when a seasonal dog ban is in place.
Dogs are allowed on Bamaluz beach all year around.
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