From visiting the Tate, to procuring within the boutiques and feasting on recent seafood, there are such a lot of superb issues to do in St Ives.
Sunshine, sea air and the slow-paced attraction of a Cornish harbour city, St Ives is a really particular place for a vacation in England. Whether or not you’re visiting for the artwork scene, scrumptious recent fish or to chill out on a seashore, there’s one thing so alluring about this little area of Cornwall.
Our current journey had all the precise elements: a dreamy vacation cottage, golden seashores, household adventures, splash of tradition, and sunshine that felt virtually Mediterranean. Truthfully, if it weren’t for the UK highway indicators and the every day Cornish ice lotions, I’d might need believed we’d escaped someplace a bit extra unique! But, simply 4-5 hours by automobile and right here we had been, on an ideal household vacation in Might.
We spent our days perusing handmade creations in St Ives, recognizing quaint vacation cottages peppered in amongst the charming cobbled streets, having fun with the work of native artists and feasting on tasty native meals. There have been strolls round St Ives Harbour, lazy seashore days, energetic cliff jaunts and limitless images. I imply, how may we not take images when it regarded like this?
The place to remain in Carbis Bay
This was my first time staying round Carbis Bay, and we struck absolute gold with our cottage. We booked by our favorite Cornwall supplier, Aspects Holidays. After reserving this gorgeous cottage in Newquay for a earlier vacation, we had been so excited to test into The Lookout at Hawkes Point.
This timber-clad vacation house is perched above Porthkidney Seashore. The seashore has an enormous tidal vary (linking into Hayle Estuary), and we discovered ourselves mesmerised by the ever-changing views. The home has three double bedrooms. We stayed with one different couple and three little ones. It was very comfy, and felt spacious for a gaggle journey, significantly with the big balcony and garden space.
There was additionally a little bit of magic, with practice tracks working alongside the underside of the backyard! Our little toddler was so excited each time a practice chugged previous. It was like one thing from a film!
As for the situation, it’s the proper base should you’re seeking to spend time in St Ives or visiting southwest Cornwall’s sights. We beloved that we may hop on the practice into St Ives with out worrying in regards to the ordinary parking chaos. It was additionally near different Cornish gems, reminiscent of Marazion, Mousehole and Gwithian Seashore.
On this St Ives information, I’ll share a couple of of our favorite locations to go to in and across the city, a couple of shocking discoveries and a few absolute must-sees.
10 Superb Issues to do in St Ives and Surrounding Areas
Benefit from the artwork scene in St Ives
St Ives is famed for its artwork scene. It’s a city dotted with artwork galleries and artistic areas. Simply wander the streets and also you’ll be met with home windows of vibrant canvases, seaside images and distinctive sculptures.
The most important draw is the Tate St Ives. Whereas the gallery showcases a variety of recent and modern artwork, it additionally has a powerful give attention to artists who lived in Cornwall or had been impressed by the area. I loved seeing the works of Patrick Heron, Alfred Wallis and Barbara Hepworth, and studying extra about their experiences within the space.
The constructing is unimaginable too, with curved structure framing the view over Porthmeor Seashore. It’s a gallery the place the area is nearly as superb because the works adorning the partitions!
I preferred that there was someplace for little ones too! Our toddler beloved the interactive area with actions, books, drawing supplies and beanbags.
We didn’t have time on this journey, however subsequent time I’d love to go to the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. Right here, you possibly can discover her residence and gardens, whereas her placing, outsized sculptures.
Store in St Ives
Cornish seaside cities can really feel a bit samey relating to retailers. , the nautical outfits, cushions with anchor motifs and candy retailers promoting fudge and sticks of rock. Plus, there are a number of chains you see in just about each seaside city within the UK.
Nicely, these exist in St Ives, however there’s much more, too! As I wandered Fore Avenue, I used to be excited to cease by the eye-catching boutiques and one-off present retailers. There have been so many locally-made objects on show. I may have shopped for hours!
A particular point out goes to present retailers The Paper Sailor and The Painted Chicken, outside put on retailer The Frequent Wanderer and homeware retailer, Cream Cornwall. I left with a lovely pair of hammered gold earrings from The Painted Chicken, however I feel I may have decimated my checking account if I’d hung round longer.
Should you’re into surf type, there’s no scarcity of manufacturers like Saltrock, Finisterre and Fats Willy’s. Nonetheless, it’s these smaller, impartial shops that basically stood out.
Benefit from the meals scene in St Ives
On the lookout for one of the best issues to do in St Ives? My suggestion: EAT!
St Ives is a city with inviting eating places and cafes on each nook, many serving native elements, with sea views on the facet. We didn’t have sufficient time to go to all of them, however I heard nice issues about Talay Thai Kitchen, West Greek, Porthgwidden Seashore Café, Silco, The Fish Shed and Onzo Pizzeria.
With a particular birthday to have a good time, we booked a desk at Michelin-recommended, Porthminster Beach Café. Overlooking Porthminster Seashore, this restaurant serves distinctive fine-dining plates (and an important worth lunch menu).
After tucking right into a tasty Asian squid starter, we loved succulent hake fillets with crispy potato galettes, and a heat, salty tartare sauce. The mix of the superb meals with excellent seashore views, made for an ideal begin to our vacation within the area.
Go to the St Ives Meals Competition
This can be a seasonal exercise, however I wished to say it! We had been very fortunate that our vacation in Might coincided with the St Ives Food & Drink Festival. Belief me, in case you are within the space when it’s on, you merely must go! Porthminster Seashore is totally remodeled right into a buzzing celebration of flavours from across the globe.
It’s free to attend, you simply pay for all of the scrumptious stuff you select to eat. With so many tasty treats on provide, I had bother selecting… bao buns, pad Thai, Argentine steaks, tacos, souvlaki… the checklist goes on!
The St Ives Meals Village was an incredible discovery, the place native eating places showcased their meals by pattern dishes, and cooks carried out cookery demos for the crowds.
Consuming recent native produce, studying in regards to the meals tradition and having fun with the spectacular seashore, views and sunshine – it actually was top-of-the-line days I’ve had in Cornwall!
Stroll the South West Coast Path
No journey to Cornwall is full with no coastal stroll. We’ve trekked some superb routes over time, together with across the enormous rocks at Bedruthan Steps and the spectacular route from Newquay to Crantock.
St Ives is near a lot of fairly spots, so we determined to enterprise out. Mousehole is about 20 minutes’ drive from away, and from right here we set off on a 6km coastal loop. This characterful fishing village oozes attraction with its fairly harbour, cobbled streets and small pubs and cafes. From right here we headed south, following the South West Coast Path to Lamorna Cove.
The surroundings was spectacular, with enormous rock formations, sheer drops, turquoise water, forests and hidden coves. It was difficult at occasions, with lots of ups and downs, earlier than we reached the sleepy village of Lamorna Cove. There’s a café right here, which was an important place to cease and refuel (Cornish ice cream in our case!)
We looped again by fields and farmland earlier than ending with lunch at The Rockpool Café in Mousehole, one other great place perched over the water.
For extra info, learn our guide to the Mousehole to Lamorna Cove walk on the Nice British Bucket Record.
Uncover Godrevy Lighthouse and Gwithian Seashore
There are many superb seashores to go to in Cornwall, however we beloved seeing Gwithian Seashore, which provides picture-perfect views over to Godrevy Lighthouse. From our vacation cottage, we may see this lighthouse glinting within the distance, however getting up shut was even higher.
The seashore itself was voted as one of the best within the UK by The Occasions in 2024. Once you step foot on it, you’ll perceive why. It’s obtained protected sand dunes, a large tidal bay, rugged cliffs, rockpools and naturally, Godrevy Lighthouse, too! Simply across the coast, at Mutton Cove, there’s even a possibility to see gray seals within the colder months of the yr.
We loved spending time on the seashore, watching our son splash within the water and play within the sand. We additionally loved an off-the-cuff beachy lunch at Lula Shack, which is moments from the seashore. You’ll see a lot of crowd-pleasing dishes on the menu, together with mussels, lobster rolls, burgers, scorching canine and an appetising checklist of brunch dishes.
Get pleasure from some seashore time
We had been spoiled for selection when it got here to seashores on this a part of Cornwall. St Ives has Porthmeor and Porthminster, that are each idyllic. Porthmeor provides massive waves, making it well-liked with surfers. Carbis Bay is a pristine seashore, missed by the luxurious Carbis Bay Lodge.
In the meantime, slightly below our lodging, we may stroll to Porthkidney Sands. That is dog-friendly all yr spherical (many don’t permit them in peak season). It’s huge, vast, and has an enormous tidal vary. Throughout our go to in Might, we regularly felt like we had been the one ones there!
As talked about, we additionally adored Gwithian Seashore and the areas round Godrevy Lighthouse. There are such a lot of locations alongside the St Ives coast, you possibly can in all probability stick a pin within the map and also you’ll find yourself someplace fairly!
Go on one of many UK’s most stunning practice journeys
The St Ives Department Line provides a few of the most stunning practice views within the nation. I ought to know, as our vacation residence missed the tracks!
For the total expertise, catch the practice from St Erth to St Ives, and again. The journey might solely final ten minutes, but it surely packs in views you received’t overlook in a rush.
The GWR practice snakes across the cliff edges, with views over the seashores round Hayle, Carbis Bay and St Ives. Simply you should definitely seize a seat on the precise as you go in direction of St Ives.
Go to St Michael’s Mount
This majestic tidal island is one probably the most photographed areas in Cornwall. About 20 minutes’ drive from St Ives and also you’ll arrive at Marazion, the small market city dealing with the island. The castle-topped tidal island actually is like one thing from a fairytale! It’s linked to the mainland by a cobbled causeway that disappears with the tide. It was mesmerising to observe.
We timed it virtually completely. Let’s simply say we obtained a bit of damp racing again as the ocean crept in! You may cross the walkway to see the island totally free, however to go to the historic buildings, fort or gardens, you’ll must buy a ticket.
You too can pay a small payment to catch a ship when the tide is simply too excessive to stroll. It’s value noting that the island is closed to guests on Saturdays as that’s when the islanders take pleasure in a time off.
We had an incredible journey to Cornwall. Sure, the sunshine added to our enjoyment (I do know it’s a bit of totally different in blustery situations) however we adored the vary of actions and attraction of this pocket of Cornwall. It provided heaps for households too.
Should you’re planning your personal journey, I can’t advocate our base at Carbis Bay sufficient. There are additionally loads extra lodging choices obtainable by way of Aspects Holidays.
Should you’re searching for any extra assist planning your journey to Cornwall, don’t miss my different guides:
