St Ives is widely regarded as the jewel of Cornwall’s crown.  A beautiful seaside town, set in breathtaking coastal scenery - whatever the time of year or day, St Ives gives something special to every visit that makes people want to return again and again.

The continuing popularity of St Ives as a holiday destination is based in a large part on its beaches with golden sand, perfect for family holidays, surfing, admiring the view and capturing it on canvas - following a long tradition set by the artists colony who made the most of the superb quality of the light in St Ives.  With the benefit of the warmth of the Gulf Stream, the town also enjoys a mild sub-tropical climate.

The town itself arcs around the harbour - the heart of the historic fishing community with the legacy of fishing boats bobbing in the harbour itself whilst families play on the beach and explore winding cobbled streets, finding treasures such as the wide range of small independent shops, the recently restored Leach Pottery, the Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Museum, the St Ives Museum and the Tate St Ives.

Year round, St Ives has the power to captivate and enthral.   With a busy events calendar, the town is often buzzing with excitement from the Feast Day in February (with the traditional hurling of the silver ball), to May Day celebrations, town processions, home-grown theatre productions, the St Ives September Festival, and the year ending with lantern parades and carols at Christmas and the renowned fancy dress New Years Eve celebrations.

It is recommended to take the Park and Ride to St Ives along the picturesque St Ives Branchline (with parking at Lelant or St Erth).  The branch line also has a stop in Carbis Bay - another attraction with a stunning beach, local restaurants and businesses, and walks including the coastal path to St Ives and the inland path to the Steeple Woodland and the historic Knills Monument that is a feature in the surrounding landscape.

The Cornish Gorseth will hold its ceremony in St Ives this year: an opportunity in early September for all the Bards of the Cornish Gorseth to meet in the town - always a spectacular sight and a cultural highlight.  2010 also marks the 600th anniversary of the Parish Church and so a veritable feast of wide-ranging musical events are planned thoughout the year - in addition to the local bands and artists who feature regularly in local pubs and in the town’s Art Club.

St Ives boasts a wide range of hotels, guest houses and holiday cottages, with a similarly wide range of places to eat - from takeaways, to cafe’s featuring local produce, to fine dining restaurants.

In addition to the beaches, there are local attractions in St Ives, including a recreation ground with childrens play park and skate park, stunning flower displays in the streets throughout the summer, the cinema in the town centre, enjoy walking the South West Coast Path and visiting the Leisure Centre with excellent gym, dance and swimming facilities - enjoy a swim in a pool with a picture window overlooking the rooftops of the town and looking out into St Ives Bay.  And for those with a love of water, who not enjoy a boat trip around the bay to enjoy the views of the town and local sealife.

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