New hotels in St Ives

No hotel opening in St Ives is currently tracked on this guide. The town's accommodation has stayed concentrated around long-standing harbourside guesthouses and hotels rather than new arrivals, and this page will be updated as soon as a verified new opening appears.

A fishing town that became an art colony

St Ives sits on Cornwall's north coast, its steep, narrow streets and working harbour largely unchanged since it was one of the busiest pilchard-fishing ports in England. From the late 19th century, the quality of light drew a wave of painters and, later, sculptors, establishing what became known as the St Ives School — a legacy the town still trades on, with more galleries per capita than almost anywhere else in the UK.

Tate St Ives and Porthmeor Beach

Tate St Ives, the gallery's outpost on the town's western headland, sits directly above Porthmeor Beach — one of the few art museums anywhere with a functioning surf break at its front door. The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, a short walk away in the studio where the sculptor lived and worked, is the other essential stop, with her large-scale bronze and stone pieces set among subtropical planting.

Beaches and the harbour

St Ives has four beaches within walking distance of the town centre, each with a different character: Porthmeor for surfing, Porthminster for calmer family swimming and a well-regarded beach café, and the smaller Harbour Beach and Porthgwidden tucked closer to the old town. The harbour itself, still home to working fishing boats, is the centre of daily life, especially at low tide when boats sit on the sand.

Getting there

St Ives is served by its own branch railway, the St Ives Bay Line, which runs along the coast from St Erth on the main Cornish Riviera line — one of Britain's most scenic short train journeys, and the easiest way into town given St Ives' notoriously limited parking.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a new hotel opening in St Ives?

None currently tracked on this guide. St Ives' hotel and guesthouse scene has stayed concentrated around established harbourside properties; this page will be updated as soon as a verified new opening appears.

What is St Ives known for?

Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum, its history as an artists' colony, a working fishing harbour, and beaches — including a surf break right below the main gallery.

Is St Ives good for surfing?

Yes — Porthmeor Beach, directly below Tate St Ives, is the town's main surf beach and one of the more consistent breaks on this stretch of the north Cornish coast.

How do you get to St Ives without a car?

By train, on the St Ives Bay Line branch from St Erth, which connects to the main line from London Paddington via the Cornish Riviera service.

Which St Ives beach is best for families?

Porthminster, on the town's southern side, has calmer water and a well-regarded café, making it the more sheltered option compared to the surf conditions at Porthmeor.