St Ives
WHEN TO STAY AT THE SALTINGS
There’s something quietly magnetic about St Ives.
It isn’t just the sea - though the sweep of Porthmeor Beach, with its turquoise light and rolling Atlantic surf, is irresistible.
What draws people back, year after year, is the alchemy of art, landscape and atmosphere: modernism meets maritime grit; a fishing village turned creative outpost.
Its creative scene has always felt inclusive, open and alive, never elitist or gated. That democratic spirit - where surfers, poets, families, artists and visitors all share the same small streets - is one of its most defining qualities.
Staying at Saltings on Porthmeor, you’re not just near this world - you’re in the heart of it. From your door, it’s three minutes to the Tate, a stone’s throw to fringe theatre at St Ives Arts Club, and a short stroll to the galleries, cafés and shops.
And it helps to be a little greedy. St Ives has an astonishing range of restaurants, from laid-back beach cafés to elegant dining rooms. All of it is within easy walking distance.
In September, the town transforms into a cultural festival; in December, the St Ives Carol Choir sings by lantern light. Even in the depths of winter, the light here has a kind of painterly insistence - the same light that lured Barbara Hepworth, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham and so many others to stay.
This is St Ives for those who love places with soul - where art, sea and community all collide.
Here are some of our family’s favourite things to do in St Ives through the seasons:
Winter
When the crowds fade, the town breathes deeply. This is the season of quiet beauty - wild seas, long walks and warm galleries.
- Take wild and windswept coastal walks.
- Follow the cliff path to Zennor - a breathtaking 3–4 hour walk hugging the Atlantic, with waves crashing below - and reward yourselves with a fireside lunch at the Tinner’s Arms.
- Watch Atlantic storms roll in from the cosy cafés lining Porthmeor.
- Enjoy winter curator talks at Tate St Ives and visit exhibitions at Penwith Gallery and St Ives Society of Artists.
- Take part in life drawing classes at St Ives School of Painting.
- Stretch into a peaceful yoga class or surf with locals - no crowds, just sea and sky.
CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR
Lights on water, carols by lantern, and a legendary street party.
- St Ives glows beneath a canopy of Christmas lights, their reflections rippling across the harbour.
- Don’t miss the Mousehole Harbour Lights, a short drive away.
- On Christmas Eve, the St Ives Carol Choir sings Cornish carols by lantern light — a century-old tradition, hauntingly beautiful.
- New Year’s Eve brings costumes, fireworks and sea swims in a town-wide celebration.
Spring
Longer days return, wildflowers bloom and the town stirs into colour.
- Walk the coastal paths carpeted in spring wildflowers.
- Step inside early Open Studios and artists’ workspaces.
- Perfect for renewal breaks and creative retreats.
- In May the St Ives Food and Drink Festival transforms Porthminster Beach into a culinary celebration.
- Aleksandra Kasuba opens at Tate (2 May – 4 October 2026).
- Evenings stretch out — perfect for a late swim and music by the harbour.
Easter
Festivals and family, art and surf - everything starts to open up.
- Galleries host Easter pop-ups and early festival teasers.
- Family-friendly puppet shows return to The St Ives Guildhall Puppet Theatre.
- St Ives Theatre stages lively productions.
- Surf schools on Porthmeor Beach reopen for the season, just two minutes from your door.
- Porthminster Beach’s kayak and paddleboard centre welcomes spring adventurers.
Summer
The town bursts into life - music at the harbour, swims at dawn, art everywhere you turn.
- Celebrate Midsummer with swims at dawn, noon and dusk.
- Enjoy harbour concerts, fringe theatre and open studios across town.
- Spend mornings surfing or paddle boarding, and long evenings walking the coast.
- Walk across the beach to unbeatable seafood at the Fish Shed.
- In July, Folk Nights bring music, street food and dancing to the harbour.
- An hour’s drive away, catch a magical outdoor play at the Minack Theatre - a spectacular open-air amphitheatre overlooking the sea.
- Daily life drawing at the St Ives School of Painting.
- St Ives Lifeboat Day fills the harbour with bunting, music and sea rescues.
- Puppet shows, fringe performances and street musicians animate every corner.
AUTUMN
The golden season - crisp surf days, glowing sunsets and a slower rhythm.
- St Ives September Festival transforms the town for two glorious weeks with poetry, live music, open studios, street theatre, talks and exhibitions. Discover everything from modernism to the history of pilchard fishing.
- Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: Retrospective opens at Tate (24 Oct 2026 – 11 Apr 2027).
- Crisp surf days and warm, golden evenings.
- A quieter, slower rhythm - perfect for long stays.
