Find your perfect holiday cottage in St Ives
Where you stay in St Ives changes the whole feel of your break:
Downalong, the old fishing quarter beneath the harbour, is a maze of granite cottages, salt air and narrow lanes barely wide enough for two. Fisherman's cottages here put you within minutes of both Porthmeor and Harbour Beach, though you will almost certainly need to park elsewhere as the streets are not built for cars.
Higher St Ives, climbing above the town centre, has more breathing room. Properties up here are more likely to include a driveway or allocated parking space, and a good number look out across St Ives Bay towards Godrevy Lighthouse. On a clear evening, that view alone earns its keep.
Carbis Bay sits about a mile along the coast, well suited to anyone wanting a quieter pace. It has its own sheltered beach, a handful of decent places to eat, and a train connection into St Ives that makes the car entirely optional.
You can filter our St Ives cottages by what you actually require, from dog-friendly properties and self-catering cottages with parking to sea-view apartments, beachside holiday lets, or larger homes for group stays. Luxury cottages with hot tubs and contemporary interiors sit alongside more modest places, and there is no booking fee on any of them.
Beaches in St Ives
Four beaches within walking distance of one another. That is what sets St Ives apart from most Cornish towns.
Porthminster Beach slopes gently from below the station, soft golden sand easing into calm, clear water. It faces south-east and catches the sun for most of the day. The beachfront café has a reputation that reaches well beyond Cornwall. Families return to Porthminster year after year for the sheltered swimming and clean sand.
Porthmeor Beach faces the open Atlantic. The swell rolls in beautifully and the atmosphere shifts. Tate St Ives sits directly above, and that is no coincidence; the light across this water on a clear afternoon is mesmerising.
Harbour Beach is the smallest. It is a strip of sand in front of the harbour wall where fishing boats rest at low tide. The water is calm and it is the nearest beach to the pubs and chip shops around the harbour.
Porthgwidden Beach, tucked around the headland, stays quieter than most even in August. The café serves good seafood, and the rock pools at low tide will keep younger children occupied for hours.
Things to do in St Ives
Tate St Ives, above Porthmeor, regularly presents exhibitions drawing on the town's long association with artists such as Ben Nicholson and Patrick Heron. The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, a short walk uphill, preserves her studio and garden exactly as she left them. Between the two, smaller independent galleries fill the surrounding lanes.
The South West Coast Path passes through St Ives in both directions: west towards Zennor through bracken and granite, east towards Carbis Bay along a gentler stretch above the railway line. Porthmeor is good for beginners wanting to surf (boards can be hired on the beach), and stand-up paddleboarding around the harbour and Porthminster works well in calmer conditions. Boat trips from the harbour head out to Seal Island, where Atlantic grey seals bask on the rocks, and dolphins appear offshore through the summer months.
On quieter days the town itself is the activity: the independent shops of Fore Street, pasties from one of the harbour bakeries, or just sitting on the harbour wall watching the tide shift.
Where to eat and drink in St Ives
Porthminster Beach Café is the one most people know: a proper restaurant rather than a kiosk, with a Mediterranean-influenced seafood menu and views across the bay. Porthmeor Beach Café takes a more relaxed approach and serves tapas, pizzas, and locally brewed beers, with surf noise drifting up from the beach below. In town, Blas Burgerworks and The Rum and Crab Shack serve consistently good, less formal food. The Sloop Inn, one of the oldest pubs in town, pours a reliable pint with harbour views from the front tables.
Explore nearby
Carbis Bay is walkable along the coast path in about 30 minutes and has its own sandy beach with a calmer atmosphere. Hayle's three miles of sand stretch along the opposite side of St Ives Bay and stay uncrowded even during the school holidays. Penzance and Marazion give you St Michael's Mount and the start of the Penwith heritage coast. Land's End is roughly 40 minutes by car, and the moors between St Ives and St Just are dotted with Iron Age settlements and old tin mines.
A week based in St Ives covers West Cornwall comfortably on day trips. You will not feel stretched.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best areas to stay in St Ives?
Downalong puts you right in the middle of the harbour and the cobbled streets. Higher St Ives gives better odds of off-street parking and views towards Godrevy. Carbis Bay, one train stop east, is quieter with its own beach.
Are there dog-friendly holiday cottages in St Ives?
Many cottage owners in St Ives welcome dogs. Most beaches allow dogs all year round except during the summer restricted period (usually May to September), and the coast path has no restrictions. Use the dog-friendly filter on Simply Owners to find what is available.
Can you find holiday cottages in St Ives with parking?
You can, though they go quickly. Narrow streets in the town centre mean most cottages rely on public car parks and Trenwith, above the town, is the most popular. Properties in Higher St Ives, on the outskirts, or around Carbis Bay are more likely to include a parking space. Worth booking early if that matters to you.
When is the best time to visit St Ives?
July and August are warmest and busiest. May, June and September bring reliable weather with fewer crowds and lower prices and the sea is actually warmest in September, after a full summer of heating up. Spring and autumn suit coast path walking. Winter brings dramatic seas, empty beaches and cottage rates that drop considerably.
Book your St Ives holiday cottage
Browse our holiday cottages in St Ives and contact owners directly. No booking fees, no service charges, and the reassurance of our Payment Protection plan. Every property on Simply Owners is listed by its owner, so you can ask questions, check availability and arrange your stay without going through a third party.
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