St. Ives

Idyllic beaches & bustling harbour

St. Ives harbour is bustling with privately owned, traditional and charming fishing boats. However, there is plenty to do here for landlubbers too! Browse through the quirky independent shops, grab a bite to eat, walks along the pier, or simply sit by the harbour and watch the waves gently lap against the shore. 

St. Ives has several beaches along its coastline, all of which are within a short walking distance from the town centre. Many of these glorious beaches are reminiscent of the Caribbean - fully accompanied by flourishing palm trees, white sands, and crystal-clear blue waters. Whilst Harbour Beach is often considered St. Ives’ main beach, Porthmeor is the biggest beach and is a popular hotspot amongst surfers.

St. Ives harbour is bustling with privately owned, traditional and charming fishing boats. However, there is plenty to do here for landlubbers too! Browse through the quirky independent shops, grab a bite to eat, walks along the pier, or simply sit by the harbour and watch the waves gently lap against the shore. 

St. Ives has several beaches along its coastline, all of which are within a short walking distance from the town centre. Many of these glorious beaches are reminiscent of the Caribbean - fully accompanied by flourishing palm trees, white sands, and crystal-clear blue waters. Whilst Harbour Beach is often considered St. Ives’ main beach, Porthmeor is the biggest beach and is a popular hotspot amongst surfers.

• Tate St. Ives – Much like the famous Tate Museum in London, you can expect exceptionally talented artists to be featured in this gallery. Consisting of a mixture of British and International art, the gallery's walls are forever changing with new exhibitions and featured artists. 

• The Leach Pottery and Museum – This museum celebrates the life and work of Bernard Leach, who paved the way for artistic potters around the world. The Leach Pottery and Museum also offer courses and classes for adults, teens, and children regardless of your pottery skill. 

The streets of St. Ives are often filled with musicians and street buskers, however many of the local organisations and pubs often hold musical nights. Why not drop into The Sloop Inn’s live music nights, or even book a ticket to see a musical act in St. Ives’ Guildhall? St. Ives also holds its annual 15-day long Festival, where you can watch live artists perform a variety of genres from rhythm and blues to Cornish folk-rock. 

Arts & Culture

Cornwall is home to many musicians, artists, actors, and writers, so there’s always something exciting going on. If the arts interest you, spend a day marvelling in the art galleries that put this quaint seaside town on the map. Here are our top art gallery picks.

• The Barbara Hepworth Museum - Created in 1949, this museum consists of a studio and a sculpture garden full of a wide variety of modern sculptures made from wood, stone, plaster, and bronze. 

Shopping & Markets

If you love quirky, unique shops, then St. Ives is the place for you. With over a hundred shops, many of which are independent and locally run, you’ll be able to find things in St. Ives that you’ll can’t find elsewhere. Our personal shop recommendations include St. Ives Bookseller, Cornwall Soapbox, Rose Land and Onda.

There are also plenty of markets going on in St Ives, from the Farmer’s Market which runs every Thursday, to unique one-off events such as ‘we are.’ Vintage Second Life Fashion Pop-Up Market. To keep up to date with all the markets taking place in St. Ives, please refer to the St. Ives Markets Facebook page. 

Food & Drink

St. Ives is full of award-winning restaurants, cafes, bars, and takeaways, so you’ll be spoilt for choice when deciding where to dine. We highly recommend popping into St. Ives Bakery to sample one of their traditional pasties packed full of tasty veggies and quality beef. They also do veggie and vegan alternatives, if you’d prefer.  

Nothing beats tucking into a fish and chips by the sea! There are plenty of takeaway options available in St. Ives, however, one of our favourite fish n’ chip shops and restaurants is By The Sea. Located on chapel street, and a perfect walking distance from the harbour, you won’t miss the brightly painted family shop. By The Sea also serves fresh crab, prawns, mussels, fish n’ chips and vegan options too. 

St. Ives truly is a multicultural hub, and the food is no exception! If you fancy something a little different, there are plenty of Indian, Italian, Thai and Chinese restaurants to choose from. If you’d like a view of the harbourfront whilst you dine, Talay Thai Kitchen has an excellent atmosphere and a cocktail bar that serves deliciously authentic Thai food. 

Getting to St. Ives

Getting to St. Ives from our holiday park is incredibly easy.  The drive usually takes under twenty minutes and is a relatively laid-back drive through Hayle, and other small towns. There is also a bus stop, which is a six-minute walk from our park and can take you into St. Ives in thirty minutes. Once you have arrived in the seaside town, all points of interest are within walking distance of each other.