St Ives is one of those places that can look almost too pretty in photographs: whitewashed cottages, blue-green water, sandy beaches and fishing boats sitting in a small Cornish harbour. The good news is that the real town has plenty of character beyond the postcard views.
A Cornish seaside favourite
St Ives sits on the north coast of Cornwall and has long attracted holidaymakers, surfers and artists. The town is compact enough to explore on foot, although the steep streets will remind you that this is Cornwall rather than a flat seaside resort.
Start around the harbour, but do not stay there all day. Wander through the narrow streets, follow the coast and explore the beaches on both sides of town.
Art by the Atlantic
St Ives has an unusually strong artistic identity. Tate St Ives overlooks Porthmeor Beach, while the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden offers a more intimate connection with one of the artists most closely associated with the town.
Small independent galleries are scattered through the streets, so art becomes part of an ordinary walk rather than something confined to one museum.
Bring your walking shoes
The coastline is a major part of the experience. You can spend hours on the beaches, but I would also make time for a section of the South West Coast Path. Even a relatively short walk can give you spectacular Atlantic views.
Stay for more than a day
St Ives is popular as a day trip, but I think it is much better after the day visitors leave. Early mornings around the harbour and evenings in the narrow streets have a completely different atmosphere.
Give yourself at least a couple of nights if you can. St Ives is not a place that needs a long checklist. It is somewhere to walk, eat, look at the sea and occasionally do absolutely nothing.