Territory

St Ives

Main town · Atlantic art coast

Eats29 Stays11 Activities18 Villages6

Where is St Ives? West Cornwall · Atlantic coast Open the local map → Map: Ordnance Survey OpenData contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0

A local guide for visitors and residents

Make St Ives yours.

Start with what you need today: a bed near the beach, somewhere memorable to eat, an art-filled afternoon, a coastal walk or the practical details that make the day easier.

First visitHarbour, art and the island Beach dayFind the right stretch of sand Local favouriteEat, drink and browse independently Planning aheadArrive, park and get around

Plan Monday 17 August

St Ives today

Live weather, daylight and coastal conditions to help you choose the right beach, walk or indoor plan.

Weather now

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Getting the latest St Ives forecast.

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Daylight

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Times are calculated for St Ives in local Cornish time.

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Tide now · Newlyn gauge

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Checking the nearest official live tide gauge.

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Live observations, not navigation predictions. Next turn is an approximate planning guide.

Choose a St Ives beach → Official tide predictions →

Weather data by Open-Meteo. Tide observations use Environment Agency real-time data (Beta).

Beach conditionsChoose a St Ives beachOpen the beach map → Getting herePlan arrival and parkingSee practical advice → Mapped walkSWCP Stage 13View the route → Things to doFind ideas for todayBrowse activities →

Everything in one place

Explore St Ives

Simple routes into the directory—without making you search through a wall of listings first.

01 Stay Find your St Ives base Harbour hideaways, beachside hotels and family cottages. Explore

02 Food & drink Eat by the sea Seafood, bakeries, pubs and memorable tables. Explore

03 Things to do Art, boats and surf Galleries, boat trips, family attractions and surf sessions. Explore

04 Shopping Independent St Ives Makers, galleries, ceramics, clothing and Cornish gifts. Explore

05 Beaches Choose your beach Compare St Ives beaches on the interactive local map. Explore

06 Walks Walk Cornwall Our own mapped walking guide, including SWCP Stage 13. Explore

07 Services Useful local services Transport, health, trades and everyday local help. Explore

Start with an idea

Choose your kind of St Ives day

Shortcuts for the way people actually plan: by company, weather, budget and mood rather than directory category.

First time in St IvesStart with the harbour, art and town beaches.Explore → Family dayBeaches, activities and easier ways to fill the day.Explore → Dog-friendly dayFind space, walks and useful local services.Explore → Rainy-day ideasGalleries, food, shops and indoor activities.Explore → Free and low-costHarbour views, beaches, walking and town discovery.Explore → Food-focused dayBuild your visit around cafés, pubs and restaurants.Explore →

The St Ives essentials

What makes St Ives special?

Discover the art, beaches, coastal walks and independent character that make St Ives one of Cornwall’s most distinctive seaside towns.

Art

Follow the artists’ trail

Build a day around Tate St Ives, the Barbara Hepworth garden, working studios and independent galleries.

Find arts and culture →

Coast

Pick a beach for the day

Choose between harbour atmosphere, family-friendly sand, Atlantic surf and quieter coves around the bay.

Explore beaches on the map →

On foot

Walk beyond the postcards

Circle the island, follow the railway-side coast towards Lelant or head west into wilder Penwith scenery.

Browse local walks →

Know before you go

Plan a smoother St Ives day

St Ives is compact and best explored slowly. On busy days, choosing how you arrive matters as much as choosing what you do.

Arrive without the stress

The branch-line train into St Ives is scenic and puts you within walking distance of the centre and beaches.

Expect steep streets

The harbour is compact, but hills, cobbles and steps can affect pushchairs, wheelchairs and anyone with limited mobility.

Match the beach to your day

Check facilities, surf conditions, seasonal dog restrictions and the walk back before settling on a beach.

Book the important bits

Popular accommodation, restaurants and headline attractions can fill quickly during holidays and event weekends.

The wider St Ives territory

Villages and local areas

Use St Ives as the hub, then discover the smaller places, rural lanes and quieter corners around it.

Halsetown A quieter village base above St Ives. Open local guide → Lelant Estuary views, coast-path access and village character. Open local guide → Towednack Rural lanes, moorland edges and ancient Cornwall. Open local guide → Georgia A small countryside hamlet within the wider territory. Open local guide → Longstone A useful local area between St Ives and Lelant. Open local guide → Trewey A tiny western hamlet on the road towards Zennor. Open local guide →

Make the guide yours

Visiting St Ives or living locally?

Two ways into the same trusted local directory, with the most useful subjects brought forward.

Visiting

Plan a St Ives trip

Stay, food, beaches, attractions, mapped walks and practical arrival information.

Find accommodation Open beach map Things to do

Local

Use St Ives every day

Services, independent shopping, local food and the smaller communities around town.

Local services Independent shops Local areas

St Ives at a glance

Useful local facts

A quick orientation before exploring the detailed guides and interactive map.

SettingAtlantic coast

Harbour town on the western side of St Ives Bay.

Town beachesSix to explore

From sheltered harbour sand to Atlantic-facing Porthmeor.

RailBranch-line station

A scenic connection from St Erth into the town.

Known forArt and coast

Galleries, studios, beaches and exceptional coastal light.

Continue exploring

Towns near St Ives

Use St Ives as one part of a wider west Cornwall visit.

HayleEstuary, towans and miles of sand.Explore town → PenzancePromenade, art and western Cornwall connections.Explore town → CamborneMining heritage and a strong local high street.Explore town →

Planning questions

Frequently asked questions about St Ives

Concise answers to the questions visitors most often need before arriving.

What is St Ives best known for?

St Ives is known for its working harbour, sandy town beaches, Atlantic coastline and internationally recognised art heritage.

Can you visit St Ives without a car?

Yes. The St Ives branch line connects with the main railway at St Erth and arrives within walking distance of the centre and Porthminster Beach.

Which beaches are close to St Ives town centre?

Harbour Beach, Porthmeor, Porthgwidden, Bamaluz and Porthminster are all around the compact town centre. Use the beach map to compare their locations.

Are there walks from St Ives?

Yes. The South West Coast Path runs through town. Cornish.co.uk currently maps the challenging Stage 13 route from St Ives towards Pendeen, with more local routes to be added after verification.

Is St Ives accessible?

The centre is compact, but steep streets, cobbles and steps can make some routes difficult. Check individual listings and plan parking or rail arrival around your access needs.

Geography · click to explore