St Ives, Cornwall, England travel guide

Why go

Four beaches, a working harbour and a warren of granite lanes make up a town you can cross in twenty minutes. The peninsula catches light from three sides, which is why painters settled here a century ago and why the Tate keeps an outpost above Porthmeor. Surfers take the Atlantic side, families take the sheltered sand by the harbour, and gulls are a genuine hazard around pasties.

The branch line from St Erth is one of the loveliest short train rides in Britain and neatly solves the parking problem, which is otherwise real. Three or four nights allows the coast path towards Zennor and a day out at the far west. June and September are the sweet spots; July and August are crowded and expensive, and winter is quiet, wild and half-shut.

Ideal stay: 3–4 nights
The vibe: Bright, artistic, salt-scrubbed

From our guides

Porthmeor has the surf and the sunsets; Porthminster the calm water and the palm trees. The light really is different here — painters have been saying so for a century. Come in June or September, when the alleys breathe again.

Featured in Ten lovely beach towns for lazy harbourside evenings

Things to do

Porthmeor beach

The town's Atlantic-facing surf beach, with a lifeguarded season, surf hire and the best sunsets. The Tate sits directly above it, which is not a coincidence.
Tate St Ives

A modern gallery built into the dunes above Porthmeor, showing twentieth-century and contemporary work with a strong Cornish thread and a café view worth the ticket alone.
Barbara Hepworth Museum

The sculptor's studio and walled garden, left much as she used it, with bronzes set among the planting. Small, unhurried and the most affecting thing in town.
Porthminster's calm water

East-facing, shallow and sheltered by the headland, with palm trees on the slope behind. The best swimming beach for children and the warmest of the four.
Coast path to Zennor

Roughly ten kilometres of rough, rocky, slow walking along an unusually wild stretch of coast. Allow four hours and check the bus times back.
Cream tea, Cornish order

Jam first, then cream, and be prepared to defend the position in Devon. Local bakeries do the pasties, crimped along the side rather than the top.

Getting there

Fly to
Newquay (NQY)

Nearest airport to St Ives, about 43km away as the crow flies.
Then
To St Ives

Land's End (LEQ) is a tiny airfield flying mainly to the Isles of Scilly, so arrive at Newquay (NQY) instead, about 45 minutes by car. The main line train to St Erth and the branch line into St Ives is the pleasanter option.
On the ground
Getting around

The town is steep, narrow and best walked, with all four beaches within twenty minutes of the harbour. Use the park and ride at Lelant Saltings rather than driving in.

Public transport: The St Erth to St Ives branch line is one of Britain's prettiest rides and spares you the parking misery; buses cover the rest of the peninsula.

Flights

Los Angeles St Ives, Cornwall, England

Flying from

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Roughly 10h 50m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.

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When to go

Daytime highs run from about 10°C in January to 20°C in August. Driest in April and June; wettest in December, with rain on about 17 days. The sea is warmest in August at around 17°C, coolest at 10°C.

The year at a glance — pick a month for detail

August20° · rain 11 days · sea 17°Mild with rain most weeks.

Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis).

Where to stay

Guesthouses and small hotels in the town, holiday cottages and flats by the hundred, plus a few larger hotels at Carbis Bay. Almost nothing all-inclusive.

Best base overall
St Ives town centre

The whitewashed lanes around the harbour put four beaches, the Tate and the restaurants within a walk. Parking is the catch, so pick somewhere with a space or plan to use the park and ride.
Find stays in St Ives town centre
Best for couples
Porthmeor and the Island

The northern side above the surf beach, where the sunsets happen and the headland walk begins. Steep lanes and a few minutes further from the harbour, which keeps it calmer.
Find stays in Porthmeor and the Island
Best with children
Carbis Bay

One stop along the branch line, with a sheltered sandy beach and larger hotels that have pools and parking. Quieter evenings, and the little train into town is an outing in itself.
Find stays in Carbis Bay
Best value
Hayle and Lelant

Across the estuary, with three miles of dunes and beach, cheaper rooms and easy parking for the branch line. Not pretty in the St Ives way, but far kinder on the budget.
Find stays in Hayle and Lelant

Worth knowing before you book: Cottages let Saturday to Saturday and the summer weeks go by January, while the town's parking restrictions mean you should confirm a space before you book.

Search everything else in St Ives by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.

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Good to know

Parking: Town car parks fill early in summer and the streets are effectively impassable. Use the park and ride at Lelant Saltings or St Erth and take the branch line in.
Getting there: Main line to St Erth, then a ten-minute branch line that runs along the estuary and above Carbis Bay. Sit on the right heading into town.
Gulls: Herring gulls here take food from hands with practised efficiency. Eat pasties indoors, under cover, or with your back to a wall.
Crowds: School holidays double the population. Late May, June and September give the same light with a fraction of the queueing.
Pack this: Layers and a waterproof whatever the forecast says, plus something warm for evenings. Atlantic weather changes within the hour.

Similar places

Nearby destinations

Elsewhere in England

Alton Towers Bath Glastonbury London The Cotswolds Thermae Bath Spa

Quick answers

When is the best time to visit St Ives?

Daytime highs run from about 10°C in January to 20°C in August. Driest in April and June; wettest in December, with rain on about 17 days. The sea is warmest in August at around 17°C, coolest at 10°C.

How long should I spend in St Ives?

Our suggestion: 3–4 nights.

How do I get to St Ives?

Land's End (LEQ) is a tiny airfield flying mainly to the Isles of Scilly, so arrive at Newquay (NQY) instead, about 45 minutes by car. The main line train to St Erth and the branch line into St Ives is the pleasanter option.

Do I need a car in St Ives?

No. The St Erth to St Ives branch line is one of Britain's prettiest rides and spares you the parking misery; buses cover the rest of the peninsula.

What currency and language are used in St Ives?

Currency: Pound sterling (GBP). Language: English. Plugs: type G.

Who is St Ives best for?

Best for couples, beach lovers and culture seekers. In a phrase: bright, artistic, salt-scrubbed.

St Ives

Porthmeor beach

Tate St Ives

Barbara Hepworth Museum

Porthminster's calm water

Coast path to Zennor

Cream tea, Cornish order

Newquay (NQY)

To St Ives

Getting around

St Ives town centre

Porthmeor and the Island

Carbis Bay

Hayle and Lelant

Île de Ré

Vis

San Sebastián

Porthcurno

Kynance Cove

Fistral Beach

Cornwall

Isles of Scilly

A working farm stay

Ten lovely beach towns for lazy harbourside evenings