Local story
Atlantic art coast
St Ives wraps around a small harbour on the Atlantic edge of Cornwall, with four town beaches, a maze of narrow lanes and a reputation for light that has drawn artists for more than a century.
The art story runs deep. Tate St Ives above Porthmeor Beach, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and the town’s studios and independent galleries are the thread that ties a visit together, whether or not you came for the art.
Beaches give the town its shape: sheltered Porthminster by the railway, harbour sand and Porthgwidden for calmer days, the surf and space of Porthmeor, and the long sweep of St Ives Bay towards Lelant.
The old quarter of Downalong, the harbour and the Island reward slow wandering. Fishermen’s cottages, the lifeboat station, bakeries, pubs and small shops all sit within a few minutes of each other, but the streets are steep in places.
Arriving matters on busy days. The branch-line train from St Erth is scenic and leaves you by the beach, while parking fills early, so an early start or the train makes the day easier.
Out of season the town slows right down and the coast path is at its best, with Zennor and the wild Penwith coast to the west and the dunes of Hayle and Gwithian across the bay.
Use Cornish.co.uk to find places to stay, food and drink and things to do around St Ives. Open the interactive map for pins, including nearby beaches, or jump to Cornwall walks and local services. Discover & connect lists neighbouring towns and parishes.
