St Ives

Travel Guide

St Ives showing boating, a bay or harbor and a coastal town
St Ives showing boating, a coastal town and rocky coastline
Porthmeor Beach featuring a coastal town and a sandy beach as well as a large group of people
Porthminster Beach featuring swimming and a beach
St Ives which includes general coastal views, a coastal town and boating

With its white-washed cottages and white-sand beaches, this seaside village is as pretty as a painting and a magnet for artists and artistic happenings.

The town of St. Ives curves around a harbor overlooking the clear waters of its eponymous bay. Beyond the shoreline lie a cluster of fishermen’s cottages and narrow cobbled lanes where galleries, cafés and craft shops proliferate. Splash around in the surf and explore the impressive artistic offerings in town.

Though once just a regular fishing village, St. Ives has attracted many prominent artists since the early 19th century, including J.M.W. Turner and James McNeill Whistler. The town’s reputation as an artistic hub still remains and many renowned galleries are now based here.

Stop by the Tate St. Ives near the popular swimming spot of Porthmeor Beach. See works from modern British artists, including painter Ben Nicholson. Another important figure in the art scene of St. Ives is modernist sculptor Barbara Hepworth. She is honored at the Tate-owned Barbara HepworthMuseum and Sculpture Garden. Continue your artistic explorations at the Leach Pottery museum, where displays are devoted to the work of the master British potter Bernard Leach.

For relaxation during the warmer months, hit the golden sands of Porthminster Beach. From here, admire views of the Godrevy Lighthouse, the inspiration for Virginia Woolf’s famous 1927 novelTo the Lighthouse. Adventurers surf, kayak and paddleboard here too.

Explore the labyrinthine streets in the old heart of the town, known locally as Downalong. To learn more about the town’s history, visit the St. Ives Museum. Exhibits focus on its mining, fishing and boatbuilding industries.

When dining, seafood is the obvious choice. Eat beer-battered fish and chips at a cozy gastro pub or try some other delicious Cornish seafood. In between meals, snack on traditional Cornish pasties, savory baked pastries filled with minced meat and vegetables.

There is lots to keep you excited and amused in St. Ives, but consider a boat excursion out to Seal Island, where a colony of seals reside.

St. Ives is located in Cornwall on England’s southwest coast. Make the 3-hour drive from Bristol or use rail or coach services instead. Enjoy simple seaside pleasures and artistic delights at this picturesque harbor town.

Tregenna Castle Resort

Tregenna Castle Resort

3 out of 5
Tregenna Castle Estate, Treloyon Avenue, St Ives, England
The price is ¥21,280 per night from Sep 14 to Sep 15
¥21,280
¥25,536 total
Sep 14 - Sep 15
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star spa hotel in St Ives. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,002 reviews)
"A well-situated hotel a little way out of St Ives, the building was a bit tired perhaps, but the staff were very friendly and helpful."

Reviewed on Aug 11, 2025

Tregenna Castle Resort
The St Ives Bay Hotel

The St Ives Bay Hotel

3.5 out of 5
The Terrace, Cornwall, St Ives, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ¥13,167 per night from Aug 31 to Sep 1
¥13,167
¥15,801 total
Aug 31 - Sep 1
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in St Ives. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a 24-hour front desk, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
6.4/10 (603 reviews)
"Me and Mum had a weekend break at St Ives Bay was a wonderful stay staff were kind and helpful and breakfast was yummy. A great location close to the beach and town loads of shops and restaurants will definitely be coming back to this place 😁⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"

Reviewed on Aug 15, 2025

The St Ives Bay Hotel
Harbour Hotel St Ives

Harbour Hotel St Ives

4 out of 5
The Terrace, St Ives, England
The price is ¥39,900 per night from Sep 7 to Sep 8
¥39,900
¥47,880 total
Sep 7 - Sep 8
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in St Ives. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (632 reviews)
"Disappointed with the service. Although my Hotels.com booking clearly stated a double bed and a single bed, we were given a family room with a double bed and a bunk bed. When I raised the issue, the staff claimed that the requested option wasn’t visible in their system and blamed the third-party ..."

Reviewed on Aug 14, 2025

Harbour Hotel St Ives
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
WOODLAND RETREAT - Summer school holiday dates still available.

WOODLAND RETREAT - Summer school holiday dates still available.

Lelant
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in St Ives. Enjoy free WiFi, patios, and air conditioning. Popular attractions Carbis Bay Beach and St Ives ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (38 reviews)
"It was really nice and quite place to relax. It will be much better if it had a something like a shelter in front of the bungalow."

Reviewed on Jul 27, 2025

WOODLAND RETREAT - Summer school holiday dates still available.
Newly renovated 4 en-suite bedrooms, panoramic sea views, Hot Tub, EV charger

Newly renovated 4 en-suite bedrooms, panoramic sea views, Hot Tub, EV charger

Carbis Bay
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in St Ives. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Carbis Bay Beach and St ...
10/10 Exceptional! (15 reviews)
Amazing holiday home in Carbis Bay
"Stunning property with brilliant facilities which very comfortably accommodated our family of 9 of various ages. The check in and check out process was very simple. Any questions we had were answered quickly through the app. Carbis bay is beautiful. We all enjoyed the hot tub and amazing scenery ..."

Reviewed on Aug 9, 2025

Newly renovated 4 en-suite bedrooms, panoramic sea views, Hot Tub, EV charger
Beautiful and Cosy Garden Pod Saintives

Beautiful and Cosy Garden Pod Saintives

3 out of 5
St Ives
Stay at this 3-star cabin in St Ives. Enjoy free WiFi and a garden. Popular attractions Carbis Bay Beach and St Ives Harbour are located nearby.
9.6/10 Exceptional! (5 reviews)
"A lovely, quiet and private location. The pod is compact and well appointed, with a lovely modern feel. Very well presented and some lovely welcoming touches. Communication was great from initial contact through to the welcome on arrival. Parking is up the road but only a couple of minutes walk. ..."

Reviewed on Aug 12, 2025

Beautiful and Cosy Garden Pod Saintives
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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