Discover St Ives: Your Ultimate Holiday Guide

For such a small town, St Ives offers a stunning array of things to see and do. You won’t find multiplex cinemas or massive water parks here.

Instead, you’ll discover a world of quirky, delightful, and unforgettable coastal experiences. Whether you are looking for surf, culture, or incredible food, here is everything you need to know.

The Magnificent Seven: St Ives Beaches

You can’t visit St Ives without stepping onto the sand. We boast seven distinct beaches, each offering different conditions, vibes, and views. If the wind is howling on one, another is usually calm and sheltered.

• Porthmeor Beach: A large, soft sandy beach perfect for surfing. It sits below the Tate St Ives and features a surf school, cafes, and lifeguards from March to November.
• Porthminster Beach: A tropical-looking haven below the train station. Calm waters make it ideal for swimming and paddleboarding. Lifeguarded May to September.
• Porthgwidden Beach: A smaller cove tucked between The Island and Bamaluz. Great for young children, swimming, and kayaking.
• Harbour Beach: A beautiful tidal harbour sheltered by Smeaton’s Pier. It transforms into a massive sandy expanse at low tide, connecting right across to Porthminster.
• Bamaluz, Breakwater, and Lambeth: Our hidden gems, offering year-round access for your four-legged friends.

Dog-Friendly Sands Outside of summer, all St Ives beaches welcome dogs. During the summer months, daytime dog restrictions apply to Porthmeor, Porthgwidden, Harbour, and Porthminster.

Bamaluz, Breakwater, and Lambeth remain completely dog-friendly all year. A five-minute drive also takes you to the expansive, dog-friendly Porthkidney Sands.

Exploring the Great Outdoors

Man’s Head & The Island Man’s Head is a striking rocky outcrop overlooking Porthmeor Beach. It’s the perfect spot to join the South West Coast Path and watch the surfers from the cliffs.

The Island is actually a beautiful headland jutting into St Ives Bay. It offers panoramic views, the historic St Nicholas Chapel, and fantastic wildlife spotting.

Steeple Woodland & Town Gardens The Steeple Woodland Nature Reserve overlooks Carbis Bay. It’s a 40-acre open space featuring Knill’s Monument, perfect for woodland walks and exploring the local heathland.

When you need a break from the sand, seek out our free town gardens. Trewyn Gardens, Memorial Gardens, and The Malakoff offer subtropical plants and quiet benches to relax on.

Coastal Wildlife The cliffs and waters around St Ives are teeming with life. Seal colonies are a common sight in the harbour, and you may even spot large pods of dolphins or whales out in the bay.

Birdwatchers can easily spot cormorants, shags, and kestrels hunting along the rugged cliffs.

Art, Culture & Heritage

The Tate & Barbara Hepworth The Tate St Ives is a town icon, exhibiting modern British art in a stunning former gas works building right above Porthmeor Beach.

The Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden offers a magical, tranquil escape in the town center, showcasing her iconic works in her original open-air studio.

Studios & Local Craft The Leach Pottery, founded in 1920, operates as a working studio, museum, and gallery. It remains a cornerstone of the St Ives artistic legacy.

Porthmeor Studios, housed in Grade II listed former net lofts, host artists and the St Ives School of Painting. For evening entertainment, The St Ives Arts Club has supported local creatives since 1890.

A Walk Through History

Smeaton’s Pier & The Chapels Smeaton’s Pier is one of the UK’s most photographed landmarks. Look out for its two lighthouses, the arches, and the tiny St Leonard’s Chapel where fishermen once prayed for safe return.

High on The Island sits St Nicholas’ Chapel. Dating back to before 1434, it has served as a place of worship, a smuggler’s lookout, and even a WWII base.

Barnoon Cemetery & St Ives Museum Barnoon Cemetery sits high above Porthmeor Beach. It is a peaceful place containing the beautifully tiled grave of naive artist Alfred Wallis and memorials to shipwreck victims.

The St Ives Museum is a treasure trove tucked behind the harbour on Wheal Dream. It houses fascinating, quirky artifacts detailing the town’s mining, fishing, and tourism history.

The St Ives Food Scene

Classic Cornish Eats You haven’t experienced St Ives without a proper Cornish pasty. The St Ives Bakery on Fore Street serves flaky, heavily filled pasties that beat mass-produced versions every time.

For local fish and chips, The Balancing Eel by the harbour or By The Sea on Chapel Street offer fresh, crispy perfection. Eat them on the beach, but keep an eye on the seagulls.

Pubs, Coffee & Dining St Ives is packed with incredible dining options, from The Mermaid and Porthminster Cafe to Blas Burgerworks.

Grab a coffee at The Hub, Yallah, or Porthmeor Beach Cafe. For a pint, seek out the historic Sloop Inn or the tiny, hidden Pilchard Press.

Independent Shopping

Markets & Arcades The St Ives Farmers’ Market (Mondays) is packed with fresh Cornish fish, organic veg, local cheeses, and honey.

Explore the three shopping arcades (The Drill Hall, Cyrill Noall Square, and Court Arcade) for an eclectic mix of collectables, antiques, and local gifts.

The Sloop Studios Hidden behind The Sloop Inn is a tranquil courtyard of local makers and artists.

Wander through to watch glassmakers, jewelers, illustrators, and sculptors at work in their own creative studios.

Watersports & Active Adventures

Surfing & Paddleboarding Porthmeor Beach is the hub for St Ives Surf School, offering lessons and gear hire for all abilities.

Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) is huge here. Launch from the harbour at high tide or from Porthminster Beach for a unique, calm perspective of the coastline.

Boats, Swimming & Beyond Hire a self-drive boat or a jet ski from the harbour, or book a boat trip to Seal Island to see the local marine life up close.

Prefer a pool? Visit the St Ives Leisure Centre or nearby outdoor lidos like Hayle Open Air Pool and the Jubilee Pool in Penzance. Golfers can also enjoy the scenic 9-hole course at Tregenna Castle.

Family Fun & Big Days Out

Skate Parks to Rockpools The new St Ives skate park features world-class concrete designs, including the “Hepworth Vortex” loop.

At low tide, grab a net and explore the rockpools at Porthmeor’s West Beach or in front of the Pedn Olva Hotel on Porthminster.

Epic Day Trips If you want to explore further, St Ives is a perfect base for wider Cornwall adventures.

The Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan, the Minack Theatre, and the Cornish Seal Sanctuary are all fantastic family day trips within driving distance.

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Ready to book your St Ives escape?

If you are looking for a cosy cottage, a large family house, a studio for two, or a sea-view apartment, we have exactly what you need.

Explore our bespoke collection of handpicked properties or call the Cherished team today on 01736 490 640.