St Ives (Cornish: Porth Ia) is a small seaside town on the north coast of Cornwall, near Penzance.
Originally a fishing village, it grew up into a seaside resort, and has long attracted artists. Today it's a huddle of cottages, small alleys, and craft and gift shops, climbing the slopes above Portminster harbour (facing east into the bay) and crossing the ridge to Portmeor beach (facing north into the Atlantic). These two coastlines meet at the headland called "The Island". South of the main town and railway station, St Ives straggles into Carbis Bay.
The Tourist Information Centre is on Street-an-Pol, TR26 2DS +44 1736 796297. It's open all year round and can help with accommodation.
- Tate St Ives, Porthmeor Beach TR26 1TG, +44 1736 796226. Mar-Oct daily 10AM-5:20PM, Nov-Feb Tu-Su 10AM-4:20PM. Outpost of the Tate, majoring on Cornwall-based artists such as Alfred Wallis, Terry Frost and Barbara Hepworth. The circular modern building is a nod to the gas works which used to stand here.
There is s combi-ticket with the Hepworth, and £1 off admission if you show a public transport ticket to town that day. A £15 Art Pass (valid 7 days) also gives admission to Penlee Gallery in Penzance. Adult £10.50, conc £9.40; combined with Hepworth £14.50, £13.20. - Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, Barnoon Hill TR26 1AD, +44 1736 796226. Daily 10AM-5:20PM. Indoor gallery, garden display and studio showcasing the work of this influential sculptor, who worked in bronze, stone, wood and more. Adult £7.70, conc £6.60; combined with Tate £14.50 / £13.20.
- The Saint Ives Museum, Wheal Dream TR26 1PR, +44 1736 796005. Mar-Oct: M-Sa 10:30AM-4:30PM; closed Nov-Feb. Local history exhibition, in 2-storey building that has variously been a pilchard-curing factory, a chapel, laundry and cinema. Adult £3, child 50p.
- Anima-Mundi, Street-an-Pol TR26 2DS, +44 1736 793121. M-Sa 10AM-5PM. Art gallery with rotating exhibitions of modern fine art and ceramics.
Tate St Ives, Porthmeor Beach TR26 1TG, +44 1736 796226. Mar-Oct daily 10AM-5:20PM, Nov-Feb Tu-Su 10AM-4:20PM. Outpost of the Tate, majoring on Cornwall-based artists such as Alfred Wallis, Terry Frost and Barbara Hepworth. The circular modern building is a nod to the gas works which used to stand here.
There is s combi-ticket with the Hepworth, and £1 off admission if you show a public transport ticket to town that day. A £15 Art Pass (valid 7 days) also gives admission to Penlee Gallery in Penzance. Adult £10.50, conc £9.40; combined with Hepworth £14.50, £13.20.
Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, Barnoon Hill TR26 1AD, +44 1736 796226. Daily 10AM-5:20PM. Indoor gallery, garden display and studio showcasing the work of this influential sculptor, who worked in bronze, stone, wood and more. Adult £7.70, conc £6.60; combined with Tate £14.50 / £13.20.
The Saint Ives Museum, Wheal Dream TR26 1PR, +44 1736 796005. Mar-Oct: M-Sa 10:30AM-4:30PM; closed Nov-Feb. Local history exhibition, in 2-storey building that has variously been a pilchard-curing factory, a chapel, laundry and cinema. Adult £3, child 50p.
Anima-Mundi, Street-an-Pol TR26 2DS, +44 1736 793121. M-Sa 10AM-5PM. Art gallery with rotating exhibitions of modern fine art and ceramics.
- Beaches
Porthmeor Beach is on the north side of town facing the Atlantic. It's half a mile-long beach with firm sands, and sometimes has some good waves for surfing.
Porthminster Beach is the sheltered, east-facing beach, more suitable for small children.
Carbis Bay two miles south of St Ives is a great sandy sweep of beach.
- New Year's Eve Fancy Dress and Fireworks. One giant fancy dress party on the beach and in the town with fireworks at midnight.
Beaches
Porthmeor Beach is on the north side of town facing the Atlantic. It's half a mile-long beach with firm sands, and sometimes has some good waves for surfing.
Porthminster Beach is the sheltered, east-facing beach, more suitable for small children.
Carbis Bay two miles south of St Ives is a great sandy sweep of beach.
New Year's Eve Fancy Dress and Fireworks. One giant fancy dress party on the beach and in the town with fireworks at midnight.
- Blas Burgerworks, The Warren, TR26 2EA, +44 1736 797272. Daily 5-9:30PM. Convenient and cosy restaurant serving burgers, including for vegetarians.
- The Bean Inn, Carbis Bay, TR26 2RT (2 miles south of St Ives, +44 1736 795918. Tu-Sa 17:30-22:30. Simple veggie fare.
Blas Burgerworks, The Warren, TR26 2EA, +44 1736 797272. Daily 5-9:30PM. Convenient and cosy restaurant serving burgers, including for vegetarians.
The Bean Inn, Carbis Bay, TR26 2RT (2 miles south of St Ives, +44 1736 795918. Tu-Sa 17:30-22:30. Simple veggie fare.
Usual selection of traditional pubs and (more recently) wine bars.
- The Sloop Inn, The Wharf, TR26 1LP, +44 1736 796584. The Sloop Inn on the harbour front is one of the town's most popular, and you are likely to make at least one friend while there as most locals get on very well with fellow drinkers.
- The Legion, Higher Stennack, TR26 1DB. Another popular pub is The Legion at the bottom of the hill atop which St Ives Junior School resides. It is very similar to the Sloop, but be aware of rowdiness late at night.
The Sloop Inn, The Wharf, TR26 1LP, +44 1736 796584. The Sloop Inn on the harbour front is one of the town's most popular, and you are likely to make at least one friend while there as most locals get on very well with fellow drinkers.
The Legion, Higher Stennack, TR26 1DB. Another popular pub is The Legion at the bottom of the hill atop which St Ives Junior School resides. It is very similar to the Sloop, but be aware of rowdiness late at night.
Generally crime free, but the usual precautionary advice applicable to UK is appropriate.
It's either west to Penzance, Land's End and Isles of Scilly (day-trips possible) or back east towards St Austell (for Eden Project), Plymouth and Exeter.