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You are here: Towns -> Places to Visit in Cornwall -> St. Ives

Things to do in St. Ives, Cornwall

St. Ives is magnificently situated, overlooking a spectacular crescent of beaches.

St. Ives, Cornwall © Dan Breckwoldt - stock.adobe.com

St Ives grew up around a small chapel built by St. Ia in the sixth century.

The productive waters around St. Ives made it an important fishing port, where vast quantities of pilchards were landed.

St Ives © Chin - stock.adobe.com

The diarist Francis Kilvert recorded that the local vicar told him that at times the smell of fish was so great, as to stop the church clock!

Aerial Photograph of St Ives, Cornwall © Tim - stock.adobe.com

Visitors to the town today need have no fear of being overwhelmed by a fishy smell, as little fishing now takes place from the town.

View of Porthmeor Beach at St Ives, Cornwall © philipbird123 - stock.adobe.com

However the old fishing quarter is worth exploring, it is a picturesque warren of stone cottages, cobbled alleys and narrow streets.

St. Ives with its wonderful pure light, has been attracting artists since the nineteenth century and has had an artists' colony for almost 100 years.

Porthminster Beach, St. Ives, Cornwall © Jon Ritchie - stock.adobe.com

Sickert, Whistler, Nicholson and Lanyon are all names associated with the town.

The Island Chapel in St Ives © Helen Hotson - stock.adobe.com

Porthmeor Beach to the north side of St. Ives is a wide expanse of sands and popular with surfers.

Porthminster Beach is a favourite for swimming and sunbathing.

Houses and studios on Porthmeor Beach, St Ives © Diana Leadbetter - stock.adobe.com

East of the town is St. Ives Bay, with magnificent golden beaches.

St Ives holds a major arts and folk festival each September.

St Ives Harbour © mickblakey - stock.adobe.com

There are many great things to do in St Ives, including:

The famous Tate Gallery St. Ives which has changing displays from the Tate's collection, temporary exhibitions, contemporary artists' projects, an events programme, and a café with spectacular sea views.

Boats Moored the Harbour © martin wilson/EyeEm - stock.adobe.com

The Barbara Hepworth Museum which has sculptures by Barbara Hepworth arranged in the house and garden. Also on display are photographs, letters and catalogues relating to Hepworth's art.

St Ives path © dirk - stock.adobe.com

St. Ives Museum which has a unique collection of art, blacksmiths, Cornish kitchen, farming, fishing, geology, Hain Steamship Company, lifeboat, mining, photography, railway and toys.

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Things to do in Cornwall

Self Catering

Pednolver Apartments - < 1 Mile

Shell Cottage - < 1 Mile

more self catering near St. Ives...

Days Out in St. Ives

Wayside Folk Museum (4 Miles)*
Chysauster Ancient Village (5 Miles)*
Trengwainton Garden (7 Miles)*
Godolphin (7 Miles)*
The Flambards Experience (12 Miles)*
National Seal Sanctuary (15 Miles)*
Penjerrick Garden (17 Miles)*
Glendurgan Gardens (17 Miles)*
Trebah Garden (17 Miles)*
Pendennis Castle (18 Miles)*

Places to Visit near St. Ives

Zennor (4 Miles)*
Marazion (6 Miles)*
Penzance (7 Miles)*
Newlyn (8 Miles)*
Mousehole (9 Miles)*
Porthleven (11 Miles)*
Redruth (11 Miles)*
Helston (11 Miles)*
Porthcurno (13 Miles)*
St. Agnes (14 Miles)*

Also near St. Ives

Bed and Breakfast:
	Coast B&B	<1 Mile
	The Nook	<1 Mile
	Little Pengelly	7 Miles
more bed and breakfasts near St. Ives...

Self Catering:
	Pednolver Apartments	<1 Mile
	The Crow's Nest	<1 Mile
	Shell Cottage	<1 Mile
more self catering near St. Ives...

Campsites:
	Higher Penderleath Caravan&Camping pk	2 Miles
	Atlantic Coast Holiday Park	4 Miles
	Gwithian Farm Campsite	4 Miles

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