Top 10 Things to Do in St Ives in 2026
Updated: Sep 11
St Ives rewards a visitor who takes their time. This stretch of Cornwall's north coast holds a working harbour, award-winning beaches, a fascinating art history and a coastline built for slow walking. But don’t rush around trying to see everything - enjoy the best bits!
Our list sets out the ten things that are most worth your time in 2026, with a note on when each is at its best. Whether you’re a family or a foodie, here are our favourites.
1. Walk around the harbour at low tide
St Ives harbour is still a working one, and the tide changes it completely. At low water, the sand stretches out around the moored boats, which settle onto the harbour bed until the water returns. It's the best time to walk the full curve of the front, from the lifeboat station round to Smeaton's Pier, without competing with the crowds later in the day.
Behind the harbour, the narrow lanes of Downalong hold the town's oldest fishermen's cottages. A slow walk through them gives a clearer sense of St Ives as a place people have actually lived and worked. It’s a beautiful, atmospheric area and not to be missed.
“St Ives has this effortless magic to it - the kind of place where you can spend the morning wandering little cobbled streets, stop for a coffee by the harbour, and then find yourself barefoot on the beach by the afternoon. There’s a real sense of creativity and character here, but it’s the combination of the sea, the scenery and that laid-back Cornish way of life that makes you want to slow down and stay a little longer.” - Natalie, Head Of Marketing at Treloyhan Manor
2. Visit the Tate and the Barbara Hepworth Museum
St Ives has drawn artists since the late nineteenth century, when the quality of the light first brought painters here. Tate St Ives sits above Porthmeor Beach and shows work connected to the town's artistic community, including local painters like Alfred Wallis.
A short walk away, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden preserves the studio and garden where Hepworth worked and lived, with her large-scale sculptures still set among the plants she chose for them. If it rains, this pairing turns what could be a lost afternoon into one of the more rewarding stops. Book ahead to avoid disappointment.
3. Surf or watch the surf at Porthmeor Beach
Porthmeor faces west into the Atlantic swell, which makes it the more exposed of St Ives's beaches and the one surfers head for board and wetsuit hire, along with lessons for beginners, are available. Mornings can bring calmer conditions before the wind picks up.
Even without getting in the water, Porthmeor is worth a visit simply to watch surfing. The beach sits directly below Tate St Ives, so the two make a natural pairing: surf in the morning, gallery in the afternoon, or the other way round depending on the swell.
4. Spend a calmer day at Porthminster Beach
Where Porthmeor faces the open Atlantic, Porthminster sits on the sheltered side of the peninsula, facing east across St Ives Bay. The calmer waters are well suited to swimming and paddleboarding, while the wide sandy beach is perfect for beach games, relaxing and a leisurely stop at the café.
“Porthminster Beach has its own beach sauna and plenty of open space for families to enjoy, along with a lovely beach shop where you can pick up everything needed for a fun day by the sea - from buckets and spades to inflatables! During peak season, Porthminster is dog-friendly early in the morning and after 6pm. Outside of the main season, it is a firm favourite with dog owners, who can enjoy the beautiful surroundings together throughout the day. This part of the St Ives coastline is also wonderful for sea swimming, with its white sandy beach and often calm water. There is nothing quite like a refreshing salty swim to leave you feeling completely renewed!” - Leanne, Estate Manager at Treloyhan Manor
Porthminster also sits directly below the town's railway station, on the branch line that runs along the cliff edge from St Erth. Arriving by train puts you on the beach within a few minutes of stepping off, which is worth knowing if you're travelling without a car.
5. Walk a stretch of the South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path runs directly through St Ives, and a short stretch in either direction gives a proper sense of this coastline without committing to a full day's walking.
Heading east towards Carbis Bay, the coastal path takes around twenty minutes and offers beautiful views along the cliff edge, making it a lovely way to explore the coastline from Treloyhan Manor. Head west towards Clodgy Point for a quieter, more rugged walk, where gorse, granite outcrops and sweeping sea views create a wonderfully wild Cornish escape.
If you're walking with a dog, it's worth knowing that St Ives operates seasonal beach restrictions rather than a blanket rule. As of the latest St Ives Town Council guidance:
Carbis Bay, Porthmeor and Porthminster: dogs are kept off between 10am and 6pm from 15 May to 30 September
St Ives Harbour Beach and Porthgwidden: the same daytime restriction applies, but only from 1 July to 31 August
Bamaluz Beach and Lambeth Walk: dog-friendly all year, with no time restriction
The coast path itself: no seasonal restriction applies at any point
Rules are set locally and can be adjusted, so it's worth checking signage on the day. If you’re looking for a base to relax with your pooch, our dog-friendly hotel is nearby.
6. Take a boat trip out to see the seals
Short boat trips run from the harbour in St Ives out towards Godrevy and the rocks beyond, where grey seals haul out and are commonly spotted from the water. Sightings aren't guaranteed on any given trip, since the seals move with the tide and the season.
Calmer sea conditions, more likely earlier in the day, tend to make for a more comfortable trip and better visibility regardless of what wildlife turns up.
7. Browse the galleries and independent shops
Beyond the Tate, St Ives is home to many independent galleries and studios, many tucked into the backstreets around the harbour. Some working studios allow visitors to watch artists at work rather than simply browsing finished pieces, which gives a different sense of the town's creative life than a gallery visit alone. You can even take a painting class.
This is a fine option for a wet or windy day, when the beaches and coast path lose their appeal. The shopping streets around Fore Street and the harbour front stay sheltered and active regardless of the weather outside. A perfect excuse for some retail therapy.
“Leach Pottery is also well worth a visit. It has such a fascinating artistic history, and you may even have the opportunity to watch the talented potters at work. There is also a beautiful collection of handmade ceramics to browse. Jo Downs Handmade Glass is another lovely place to visit. Her beautiful glasswork is inspired by the Cornish coastline, and you will find a wonderful selection of distinctive artwork, jewellery and gifts - perfect for taking a little piece of Cornwall home with you.”- Leanne, Estate Manager at Treloyhan Manor
8. Visit the Island and St Nicholas' Chapel
The headland known locally as the Island sits between Porthmeor and the harbour, reached by a short, fairly steep climb from either side. At the top, the small medieval St Nicholas' Chapel has stood watch over the bay for centuries, and the open ground around it gives a clear view back across both of the town's main beaches at once.
Few of the crowds that build up around the harbour and the galleries make it up here, which makes it one of the quieter stops on this list. Early morning or the hour before sunset tend to work best, when the light is lower and the headland is close to empty.
9. Try local food, from pasties to fresh fish
Cornwall's food culture runs deeper than any single dish, but the Cornish pasty remains the obvious starting point. It carries Protected Geographical Indication status, meaning only a pasty made in Cornwall to the traditional recipe, crimped on the side rather than the top, can legally be sold under the name. Naturally, the ones in St Ives are delicious.
Beyond the pasty, St Ives's harbourside restaurants serve seafood landed hours earlier, and the town's smaller cafés lean on locally sourced produce. You’ll also find a popular farmer’s market on the first and third Saturday of each month in the town centre.
“When it comes to spending a day in St Ives, I’m always drawn to the independent food spots dotted around the town. I love starting my day with a morning matcha from The Manor Coffee Co. at Treloyhan Manor, followed by lunch from Yvette’s Pantry and dinner at Silco Bar & Kitchen, which have some of the best small plates and cocktails in St Ives. There’s such a wonderful food scene here, with independent cafés, restaurants and local food shops around every corner - all adding to the character and charm that makes St Ives so special.” - Millie, Marketing Assistant at Treloyhan Manor
10. Take a slower half-day out to Godrevy
At the far end of St Ives Bay, roughly twenty-five minutes by car, Godrevy combines a long stretch of open beach with a lighthouse sitting just offshore on its own rocky outcrop. The scale here is different: wider, quieter, and better suited to a longer walk than a quick visit. The lighthouse makes for some dramatic photos, so remember to bring a camera.
It's also one of the better viewpoints back across the whole bay, taking in St Ives, Carbis Bay and the coastline between them. Treloyhan Manor sits above Carbis Bay roughly midway along that view, making it a well-placed base if Godrevy is on your list.
Planning your visit to St Ives
Visiting by train? St Ives sits on a branch line from St Erth, which connects to the main line from London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads. The scenic ten-minute train ride along the cliff edge is worth taking even if you're not relying on it for transport.
Within the town of St Ives itself, most of what's on this list is walkable, though the hills between the harbour and the surrounding headlands are steeper than they first appear. Parking in the town centre is limited and comes under real pressure in peak tourist season, so arriving early or using the park-and-ride is worth building into your plans.
Treloyhan Manor sits on the clifftops above Carbis Bay, a short distance from the town, offering self-catered suites and lodges as a calm base for exploring St Ives at whatever pace suits you. It works equally well as a base for an active few days on the coast path and beaches, or a quieter stay built around slower mornings and Godrevy's wide horizon.
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