St Ives is a picture-book seaside resort perched at the northern tip of St Ives Bay. Home to no less than four beautiful sandy beaches, it was deemed 2007 seaside town of the year by the Guardian newspaper.
St Ives was once a bustling fishing port but tourism is now the town’s primary source of income. There is something for everyone here, yet the resort remains largely unspoilt, its narrow cobbled streets and charming architecture still much as they were 100 years ago.
Since the 19th century St Ives has been a haven for artists, drawn by the unique quality of light in this part of the world - due to increased levels of ozone from the Atlantic Ocean. Nuam Gabo, Barbara Hepworth, Christopher Wood and Ben Nicholson all lived and worked in St Ives at some stage and their work is often displayed at either the Tate St Ives or the superb Penlee House in nearby Newlyn.
And the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Gardens, located in St Ives town centre, houses a permanent exhibition of the world renowned ceramicist’s work in beautiful surroundings.
A dizzying array of art is sold in the town's many galleries. If you're really lucky, you might get your hands on an original by Anthony Frost or Kurt Jackson - two of the leading lights of the contemporary St Ives art scene.
St Ives is also a mecca for surfers, with its undulating coastline offering both exposure and shelter from the Atlantic, which means there’s usually good waves within easy reach. Local 'rippers' Jayce Robinson and Tom Lowe are at the forefront of the town's re-emergence as a hot-bed of surfing talent.
St Ives offers a huge range of restaurants, with many, of course, specialising in seafood. The Ocean Grill and the Seafood Café are two of the best.
Nightlife is lively without being raucous, with the Hub and the Isobar being two of the most popular venues.
Also highly recommended is a trip on the coastal railway, which winds its way along the cliff tops of St Ives, Carbis Bay and Lelant.