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St Ives
Image by Matt Jessop - supplied by Visit Cornwall
St Ives, the most famous of Cornish holiday towns, loved for generations, is easy to reach by road or by air and easy by train, too, along one of the most spectacular railway journeys in Britain to crystal blue waters, golden sands and a warm welcome.
Life here is cradled around the harbour where boats still land good catches of freshest fish for the local restaurants to nourish you with. Brought ashore on the ancient granite quays, the catch is of the highest quality for your dinner plate or for the tables of some of Britain's finest restaurants.
A maze of tiny cobbled streets to wander through, lined by fishermen's cottages, with a breathtaking seaside vista to greet you at the end of each one.
Tate st ives, part of the Tate Gallery in London, is a stunning building with a varying exhibition of local and national works, well worth a visit.
Upcoming Events
May Day - Monday 06 May 2024
St Ives May Day is held on May bank holiday every year and is a celebration of the traditions once common in St Ives.
The event starts at midday, when the Mayor of St Ives and the Grand Bard of Gorseth Kernow choose the May queen, king, princes and princesses. This ceremony is known as the pee-whip. The name is also used to describe whistles made from sycamore that were once blown across Cornwall on May Day to signal the coming of summer. At this time, traditional “May Horns” are also blown.
During the day, the St Ives Guisers dress in mock formal clothing and perform Cornish dances. At 1pm the Mayor and Grand Bard lead a procession to the harbour area of the town. Following them are a number of people wearing flower head dresses and carrying sticks with flower decorations attached, known as “May Sticks”. Following the procession, local children dressed in red perform a maypole dance.
Like many traditions in Cornwall at this time of year, St Ives May Day celebrates the coming of summer and the end of the cold, harsh months of winter that have come before it.
Cornwall Pride 2024 - Saturday 05 October 2024
Celebrate Pride in Cornwall
Free to attend - Live entertainment - Family friendly - Foof and drink vendors - Quiet space provided
St Ives Pride - October 05
Island Centre 11am - 4pm
