Saint Ives combines a distinctive artistic history with beaches and harbour life. These themes offer different focuses for planning a trip: the Leach Pottery, Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum each highlight different chapters in art; Porthmeor Beach and Harbour Beach are all about beach activities and life by the harbour.

Art and History in Saint Ives

The Leach Pottery was founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada. Many consider it the birthplace of British studio pottery. Pottery is therefore one of the town's defining cultural themes, alongside painting and sculpture.

Tate St Ives is located at Porthmeor Beach and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. The gallery features particularly celebrated British works of art from the 20th century, as well as changing exhibitions of British and international modern and contemporary art. Tate also explores how Saint Ives became a centre of abstract art after the Second World War.

Barbara Hepworth's work is also closely connected with Saint Ives: in 1949, she established a studio and sculpture garden there, where she lived and worked until the end of her life. The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden includes more than 30 works in wood, stone, plaster and bronze. The collection offers a distinctive perspective on her artistic practice and the different materials she worked with.

St Ives Museum is in the heart of the former fishing community of Downlong. Its building was once used as a sardine curing cellar, a Bible Christian chapel, a laundry and a cinema; the museum also has an original sardine curing cellar on display. St Ia's Church was consecrated in 1434.

Beaches, the Coastal Path and the Harbour

Porthmeor Beach is a soft sandy beach sheltered by two headlands. You can swim, explore rock pools and go stand-up paddleboarding there. The South West Coast Path also runs through Porthmeor. The beach and coastal path are therefore directly connected here, while the activities mentioned offer different ways to spend time by the water.

Harbour Beach offers a different experience: it provides an easily accessible place to swim and build sandcastles. From there, you can watch local fishermen land mackerel and sea bass in a working harbour. In Saint Ives, beaches and fishing are therefore not just separate themes; at Harbour Beach, you can watch the activity in the harbour from the beach.

Excursions and Trip Planning

St Ives Boats offers daily boat trips from St Ives Harbour to spot seals at Seal Island. This adds a boat trip to the activities available on the beach and on land. For another view of the coast, the branch line between St Erth and St Ives follows the coast on its way to St Ives.

The annual St Ives Food Festival is another recurring feature of the town. Together with studio pottery, art collections, the coast and the working harbour, it offers a range of very different focuses for your stay. Which ones you prioritise can help guide your search for suitable accommodation in Saint Ives.

Discover more destinations: Saint Mawgan, Budock Water, Lanlivery, Porthcurno, Feock, St Just, Chacewater, Edmonton.

For the main travel overview: Cornwall.