St. Ives Neighbourhoods, Locations and Districts

(St. Ives, Cornwall, England, UK)



Aerial Picture of St. Ives townscapeStanding next to the scenic St. Ives Bay, the town of St. Ives lies to the north of Penzance and has long been a top holiday resort in its own right. Home to a number of spectacular beaches, St. Ives also contains a number of historic, winding streets, courtyards of seasonal summer flowers, and a number of charming local districts, around which are plenty of interesting places just waiting to be discovered.


Further photo of St. Ives town and shoreline

Orientation

The most popular and impressive stretch of sand in St. Ives is without doubt the awesome Porthmeor Beach, which can be found on the western side of the town. Porthmeor Beach is known for its excellent surf and regularly attracts a large number of surfers of all levels. The modern and extremely impressive Tate Gallery stands directly above Porthmeor Beach and dominates the area, with its flash white facade and curving architecture. Nearby, Porthminster Beach is less exposed to the elements and is an excellent spot for families with young children.

Although St. Ives was once known for it large number of fishing boats, today pleasure boats dominate the harbour and surrounding quays. The town's local fishing community is now centred around the historic Smeaton's Pier, where many colourful characters can be observed at work, landing the latest catch and mending their fish nets. Smeaton's Pier actually shelters much of the adjacent sandy beachfront around the harbour and stands directly opposite Wharf Road and Lifeboat Hill. A number of large car parks are sited close to the beaches, making the many waterfront attractions in St. Ives easy to reach by foot.