on 16/01/2023
(Photo Credit: @stivesharbour on Instagram)
St Ives is, in many eyes, the crown jewel of Cornwall in the summer. It has beaches, attractions and some of the nicest restuarants and accomodations in the county. It's also not very big, given its notoriety, at just over 10 squared kilometers, which means that alot of the renowned attractions of the town are just a short walk from eachother. Oh, and it's also beautiful to an extent that is difficult to explain if you've never been- if we forgot to mention that already.
But, as with any trip, you'd hate to spend a weekend there and leave feeling like you hadn't seen or tasted the best the coastal town had to offer. So for this week's select cornwall blog you have our list of the Top 3 'Must See and Do' activities in St Ives.
Kicking off our list is perhaps the most famous attraction in St Ives. People are often suprised to find out that a major gallery sits on the banks of a town as small as this one. But, as Picasso's work is inseperable from the beauty of the spanish coast, St Ives itself has always been inseperable from great (often abstract) art.
St Ives was a well known muse of world-renowned abstractionists like Mark Rothko and Barbara Hepworth. And, when the Tate opened their St Ives gallery in 1993 they did so with the goal of showcasing the rich creative history of the town and imortalising the inspiration that has happened there for so many years.
In this, seeing Tate St Ives first, before you venture into the views of the town, allows you to understand the historical value of the sights that you're seeing. These sunsets, beaches and waves inspired some of the most significant artwork of the last 200 years - which is an incredible context to have when percieving the natural world.
The historical significance of St Ives in the art world is also aparent in the quality of work displayed there. Visitors can walk through 'Barbara Hepworth: Art and Life' until May 2023, which is an exhibit which centres on the artist's life, artwork and how both came to be so inseperable from the area.
Additionally, if you're not normally a fan of abstract work, it can be illuminating to look at the work in the context of it's inspiration. So perhaps Tate St Ives could be for everyone? even if abstract art notoriously is not.
At number 2 in our list, is the fantastically named Seal Island. The Island is a little over 3 miles from the mailand and can be accessed via the daily boat trips dedicated to observing its seals. It's the Cornish equivalent of whale watching in Australia. It's also relatively inexpensive at £25 per adult for the day out.
Seal Island makes it onto our list because its a bit different. You may want an afternoon slightly less high-brow than walking through a garden of Barbara Hepburn sculptures listening to a audio-essay about her life - in which case this is a very cute option. The island is also a fantastic option for families with children, who cost just £15 per-child to be brough on the boat ride and are famously uninterested in the history of art in St Ives.
The trips also leave on the hour every hour from 9 am to 8 pm, which makes them easy to plan last minute. One small additional tip however, is to not leave booking your trip to the last minute if you're in St Ives in the summer as the number of tourists can make it quite competitive to get a seat on 'Dolly P' (the boat).
We also recommend booking around sunset for one-of-a-kind views of the coastline (again, you have no chance of getting a seat on Dolly for this kind of show if you don't book beforehand).
Our bronze medalist is the charming and fairytale-like St Ives railway running from St Erth to St Ives since 1877. Described by Great Scenic Railways as one of the most scenic journeys in Britain, the St Ives railway is a novelty way to get in some of Cornwall's most beautiful views.
It is suitable for any and all and, at just over 10 minutes, is an amazing way to squeeze in some landscape views on a day out with small children. It costs an affordable £3 per person and tickets can be booked online, at the station and via the trainline App.
A must for foodies - Porthminster offers phenomenal sea food freshly caught from the Cornish coast and is THE restaurant to go to in St Ives, even if you only go to one.
Our recommended stay in St Ives is this high-ceiling stunner, with beach views and a hot tub. Waves End is tastefully decorated to make the perfect backdrop for a relaxing trip away. Thoughtful touches like a private outdoor space, parking for multiple cars and 4 seperate bathrooms guarantee that you have a trip like no other.
If you decide to give any of our suggestions a go tag us on Instagram (@select_cornwall) to be featured. Comment down below your favourite St Ives activities you think we've missed out and let us know of any other Cornish towns you'd like a guide to for 2023!
