Local Guides
A Local’s Guide to St Ives
Dip and dine in arty St Ives White-sand beaches lapped by Caribbean-blue seas. Sub-tropical foliage, wildflowers and wild heathland spilling
14 September 2023
St Ives
Art-infused St Ives has long captivated visitors as one of Cornwall’s most enchanting coastal gems. World-renowned galleries perch above turquoise bays, independent boutiques and artisan studios fill winding cobbled lanes, and – instead of fading seaside nostalgia – these days the town thrives with creative energy and year-round charm.
Pack your hiking boots, and your wetsuit. Be a culture vulture, a surfer, a gastronome, or just a wanderer soaking it all in. From sun-drenched summers to moody winter seascapes, St Ives is a Kernow-style sanctuary that inspires, delights, and leaves you wanting more.
Artists have been painting St Ives’ beaches for centuries — and it’s easy to see why. Turquoise waters, golden sands, and a quartet of stunning bays make this one of Cornwall’s most photogenic playgrounds.
Harbour Beach is perfect for people-watching and paddling over a pasty, Porthminster for sandcastles and gentle swims, Porthmeor for surfers and Atlantic drama, and Porthgwidden for rock-pooling and tucked-away charm.
Paddle, snorkel, surf or simply linger on the rocks watching fishing boats drift in — St Ives is a seaside fix that never gets old.
Whether you’re a local chasing a fresh perspective or a visitor plotting the ultimate escape, St Ives won’t disappoint.
Lose yourself gallery-hopping through the art quarter, wander the South West Coast Path for jaw-dropping views, or just duck down a cobbled street and see where it takes you — in this corner of Cornwall, even getting lost feels like an adventure.
From the Michelin-recommended Porthminster Beach Café to Alba and The Mex – where fresh seafood meets Mediterranean flair – St Ives dishes up inspired coastal cuisine. What’s more, many of its dishes are served with a side of sea views.
Add cosy harbourside pubs pouring Cornish ales, artisan coffee spots tucked down narrow lanes, and everything from wood-fired pizza to fine dining, and you’ve got a creative culinary scene that suits every taste and budget.
From boutique beachfront hotels and luxury sea-view apartments, to quirky B&Bs tucked down cobbled streets and clifftop campsites with big Atlantic views, St Ives has a base to suit every vibe, budget, and sense of adventure.
Rest assured finding a place to stay won’t be the hard part – it will be deciding between that suite in the turrets or a fisherman’s cottage by the sea.
Artistic and timeless, St Ives presents a labyrinth of cobbled streets lined with galleries, ceramics studios, independent shops, and seafood restaurants – all thrumming to the heartbeat of a thriving creative community. Its network of harbour walks, steep granite lanes and secret viewpoints are crammed with hidden gems and local secrets if you know where to look.
Dip and dine in arty St Ives White-sand beaches lapped by Caribbean-blue seas. Sub-tropical foliage, wildflowers and wild heathland spilling
Flaunting an assortment of horseshoe bays, swathes of sugary sands, surf-lashed shores and secret coves, St Ives is truly a
