Looking for a break with your family and wondering where to go? Pack your bags and head to St Ives in Cornwall for a beach holiday. Rated as the best Family Holiday Destination by the Coast Magazine, this seaside town is a subtropical oasis with plenty of golden beaches and lush green vegetation accompanied by soothing climate all year around, thanks to the warmth of the Gulf Stream.
Still having second thoughts on ticking this place for your holiday? Read on to know more about this seaside beauty that captures everyone’s hearts who visit.
Miles of sand which gleams like gold and water that sparkles like crystal greets you from all sides on St Ives. Put on your shoes and jog down the streets by the beach every morning or walk along the shores feeling the sand and frothy waves kiss your feet.
Isn’t it a pleasure to be able to do this every single day? And what’s more? They are clean compared to any other beach front since the completion of the £100 million ‘Clean Sweep’ Scheme for Mount’s Bay, St Ives and Hayle. In fact, West Cornwall boasts of having the cleanest bathing waters in the whole of Western Europe.
The four beaches of St Ives, Porthmeor, Porthminister, Portgwidden and Harbour each with their own charm can give you the well-deserved break from your usual rush of life.
Surf at the Porthmeor and sunbath, view the spectacular sunsets, watch the local fishermen at work in the Harbour port, delight yourself with the sandy coves of Porthgwidden and laze around in the beach huts, swim at the sheltered and safe Porthminster or enjoy the scenery as you walk towards the Carbis Bay.
Millions of artists have been inspired by this seaside wonder town since the 1800s. The Tates St Ives is standing proof for this at the Porthmeor beach. Did you know that there are only four such galleries in the world and this small town has the privilege to have one of them. This impressive gallery is home to more than a hundred artworks since 1800s right till the 21st century, all produced by the St Ives school.
This gallery is family friendly offering family trails that allow you to explore the artworks and the buildings at your own pace. They also have activity packs as well as guided tours to get you acquainted with art. If you want to pursue a whole day of art, get the combined tickets and check out the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden for more amazing sculptures in bronze, wood and stone by leading 20th century artists.
Being primarily a fishing town, you can sample some of the freshest and finest seafood in Cornwall’s Cultural Capital. With its range of beach cafés and seafood restaurants you will be spoilt for choice here.
Sample the freshly cooked fish and seafood in the European style seafood restaurant Alba, taste the perfectly cooked steaks at Firehouse Bar and Grill or check out the delicious seafood tapas of a wide variety at the Porthmeor Beach Café, all the while taking in a perfect view of the sea.
That’s not all, indulge your kids with their choice of burgers at the Blas Burgerworks giving you value for your money by offering you the best organic burgers that are ranked in the Top 5 burgers of Europe by Wall Street Journal. To get upfront and personal with your food, head to the Seafood Café, and get your custom-made dish by selecting from their range of locally caught seafood in a cold display, along with your choice of sauces and vegetables.
By Road: If you get to Exeter or Bristol, it would take you less than three hours to get to St. Ives and it takes six hours from London. The M5 and M6 and the major holiday routes A30 and A38 make up your journey.
By Train: Regular day train services from London Paddington are available and an overnight Riviera Sleeper from First Great Western allows you to save travelling during day. Get down at St. Erth Station and hop on to the St Ives branch line which is just 15 minutes travel.
By Air: Newquay airport is the nearest airport at a 50-minute drive to St Ives.
Come to this exotic beach location for your next holiday and be delighted with its amazing beaches, fantastic restaurants, and stunning galleries. Trust us, you will take back home memories that will last a lifetime!