I’ve been to St Ives several times now and found it’s a great holiday destination.
Location
St Ives is located in Cornwall on the North Coast. It’s around 5 hours drive from London. En-route to St Ives, you’ll pass near to Newquay. St Ives is a perfect base to explore other parts of Cornwall such as Porthcurno and Marazion – home to Saint Michael’s Mount.
Top Things to Do
There is lots to do in St Ives. Here are some of the things we did and enjoyed.
1) Visit The Beaches
St Ives has an incredible four beaches – Porthmeor, Porthwiddden, Harbour and Porthminster. Porthmeor in particular is a great beach for surfing.

2) Go Shopping
In St Ives there are a number of independent shops and some smaller national retailers.
3) Eat Tasty Food at a Restaurant
There are a good variety of restaurants catering for a broad range of tastes. Many serve local fresh fish.
4) Visit Tate St Ives
Aside from the beaches, there is plenty to do in St Ives. It is home to Tate St Ives – a great art gallery.
5) Go on a Boat Trip
There are also a variety of boat trips you can take, including a visit to see seals on Seal Island.
6) Walk along a Coastal Path
There a wonderful coastal paths too.
Holiday Accommodation – Where to Stay?
When thinking where to stay in St Ives there are a variety of options. There are some hotels in the town, plus the luxurious Carbis Bay hotel just a few miles away. There are a large number of rental cottages and apartments available – these do get booked up, so plan well in advance! For those who enjoy camping, there are some campsites on the edge of town, many of which have nice sea views.
Summary
St Ives really is a wonderful place and we look forward to having more holidays there in the future.
Good points
+ Fantastic beaches
+ Great range of restaurants
+ Good location to explore other parts of Cornwall
Bad points
– Can get very busy at peak times and parking can be tricky
– Not many EV chargers