St Ives

For details of places to stay and things to do in St Ives, Cornwall, please try the links on the left.

If your idea of holiday heaven is spending time lazing on the beach then St Ives is the destination for you! A family favourite is Porthminster Beach, which can be found on the eastern edge of the town. With a nearby pitch and putt course, summer lifeguards, beach huts and toilets, it has everything needed for a day spent soaking up the sun. Porthmeor Beach lies on the western edge of town, and although its powerful surf makes it a favourite with surfers of all ages and abilities, it's also popular with families. St Ives also has two smaller beaches: the Harbour Beach, within stepping distance of Wharf Road; and the delightful Porthgwidden Beach, which you'll find on the southern side of The Island.

St Ives' famous artistic traditions are enshrined in the stunning St Ives Tate Gallery above Porthmeor Beach, while the local museum, which is housed in an old Seamens' Mission at Wheal Dream, depicts the life of the town from prehistory to the present day.

Shoppers can browse in the mix of shops in the popular Fore Street, where craft workshops, galleries and unique boutiques are interspersed with small cafes and restaurants serving tasty meals that include many of Cornwall's traditional recipes.

Just along the coastline you'll come across Carbis Bay, which has a curving beach of pale golden sands that are perfect for family bathing.