Visit St Ives, Cornwall

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Cornwall is a major tourist destination for people in the UK and visitors from overseas, with its many beaches, historic towns and scenic coastline you are spoilt for choice as to where to go.



On this trip, we went St Ives, a small coastal town with picturesque beaches all around.

Knowing how busy these seaside towns can get and how narrow the streets are with limited parking, we decided to use a park and ride at St Erth, jumping on the train for a short 10-minute train ride taking in the scenic coastline and green countryside.

The cost of a return trip is only 8GBP for a family of four on the train and 2.30GBP to park on the weekend. It was easier and cheaper than driving into St Ives through the crowded narrow streets.



Once in St Ives, there were lots of things to see and do.

With a wide range of cafes and restaurants serving food to suit all tastes and budgets, some of them come with the bonus of a scenic view over the coast.

If you need some retail therapy, there are many local independent shops, selling a wide variety of unique products ranging from clothing and gifts to jewellery and confectionery, with a few charity shops in between.

For the art lovers, you won't be disappointed with what's on offer in the array of art stores, so many different styles of works are on display, whether looking for inspiration or something to purchase there are lots to see.

You can visit the local museum, watch a live show or take a stroll through a gallery. If you fancy yourself as an artist or just want to get creative and hands-on, there are several places where you can go to get your creative juices flowing and some experience while learning new ways of creating art these include

54-lemons has pop-in pot painting, creative writing and DIY - check their website for availability and pricing.

St Ives School of Painting run art classes in their Porthmeor studios which overlook the ocean.

For time out at a beach, there is a mix of surf and chill out beaches, all of which have sand that is perfect for the kids to build their sandcastles. All around the area there are lots of places to take a walk and enjoy the views.



Like almost every seaside town around Cornwall, if you want to stay for the night, there are caravans parks, B&Bs, hotels and guest houses - something to suit everyone. Though if its peak season when the schools in England are on holiday, the prices tend to double or even triple. We've found its best to book well in advance and contact the accommodation provider directly to secure a good deal.

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