St. Ives Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing
(St. Ives, Cornwall, England, UK)
With such as exceptional coastline, it will come as no real surprise that the main tourist attractions in St. Ives are its outstanding beaches, all of which are easy to reach and close to the town centre. Guided tours around St. Ives are a good way to get to know the town and pass many historical and interesting tourist attractions along the way.
Those looking for something suitable for all the family will find the animal attractions at the nearby Paradise Park hard to beat, with its exotic creatures and small petting zoo.
Beaches
The coastline surrounding St. Ives is particularly attractive and there are a number of beautiful sandy beaches in this part of Cornwall. The main beaches around St. Ives are as follows:
- Porthmeor Beach - the main surfing beach, located on the northern side of St. Ives.
- Porthgwidden Beach - a small stretch of sand lying to the east and next to a rocky hill.
- Porthminster Beach - a popular stretch of around 1 km / 0.5 miles of sand, appealing to families and sited to the south of St. Ives. A car park is available close to the beachfront.
- Carbis Bay - on the south-eastern side of town and highly suitable for young children.
- Porth Kidney Sands - good for swimming, although you must always stay in the designated area, between the flags.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free
Organised Tours
Tel: +44 (0)1736 810 287
Various walking tours are available in the St. Ives area and are led by experienced and knowledgeable local guides during the summer months. Walking tours tend to last around one and a half hours, or slightly longer, and can be booked at the town's Tourist Information Centre at the Guildhall. Spooky ghost tours are also available during the evenings, passing many reputedly haunted sights along the route.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: charge, discounts for children
Paradise Park
Address: 16 Trelissick Road, Hayle, Cornwall, TR27 4HB, England, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1736 753 365
The perfect family attraction with something for all ages, Paradise Park is close to St. Ives and can be found in the Penwith district of Cornwall, in the town of Hayle. Paradise Park contains more than 400 different species of both exotic and endangered, rare birds, with top attractions here including parrots, eagles, owls and even penguins, which are fed twice daily. Visiting children are often asked to assist with the feeding of the penguins. There are also a number of appealing animal attractions here, such as pot-bellied pigs, guinea pigs and goats. Families staying nearby always enjoy everything about the park, with facilities such as picnic spots, the Fort Paradise playground, and a Victorian house complete with formal gardens.
Open hours: daily, May to September - 10:00 to 17:00; November to February - 10:00 to 15:00; March and April - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts for seniors and children, children three years old and under are free
Kidz R Us Theatre
Address: Lower Stennack, St. Ives, Cornwall, TR26 1QG, England, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1736 797 007
Based in the very heart of St. Ives, the Kidz R Us Theatre company features its very own theatre, which can seat more than 300 people. Based in a converted chapel, this youth-based theatre features many seasonal performances year round, including many famous musicals, which are frequently sold out.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 16:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 12:00, 19:00 to 20:00 on show nights, hours of actual performances vary per show
Admission: charge for show / event