Local Area

St Ives is one of Cornwall's most famous destinations.  Built around a working harbour, St Ives has charming narrow cobbled streets and pretty fisherman’s cottages.  It is surrounded by beautiful beaches and has fantastic shops and galleries and wonderful restaurants.

St Ives has attached artists with its natural beauty and unique quality of light.  This started in the mid 1800s with J M W Turner and the marine artist Henry Moore. Since then the town has become a magnet for world renowned painters, sculptors and ceramists and now boasts numerous museums, galleries and exhibitions, including the Tate Gallery, Barbary Hepworth’s House and Garden and the Bernard Leach Pottery.

St Ives has a mild climate and fabulous beaches. Porthmear Beach is a favourite with surfers.  Harbour Beach is in the heart of the town, Porthgwidden Beach is a tiny gem on the other side of Pier Cottage, and Porthminster, close to The Gallery, has a long stretch of lovely sand.  From the Harbour you can take a boat trip out to sea to watch the local colony of seals -  Seal Island is 3½ miles to the West of St Ives and is home to more than 40 seals who often head to Smeaton's Pier to say hello to visitors.  

St Ives is rightly famous for the maze of narrow cobbled streets and fisherman’s cottages, known to the locals as ‘Downlong’. One of the most famous buildings in the area is the 14th century Sloop Inn on the Wharf. The Gallery is located in the heart of St Ives and is close to a wide range of restaurants, bars and cafes, offering something for every taste.