There’s a well-known riddle about a man going to Saint Ives. Well, he had good reason. This artists’ hub on sea has been drawing visitors for generations – with and without their wives. With beautiful sandy beaches, quaint local architecture and a vibrant cosmopolitan community of creative types, it’s easy to see why. There’s really something here for all-comers, from surfers to local history buffs.
The hotels are great too. Bursting with Cornish charm and hospitality, they’re still very much in the full flush of popularity (not something that can be said for the hotels of all British seaside resorts), and sparkle with the efficiency that comes from dealing with a constant stream of visitors year-round. They fill up fast, and high demand, alas, also leads to high prices – this may be our budget selection, but the hotels are far from cheap compared to those elsewhere in the UK. That said, few other parts of the UK are quite as nice!
From £80/ night
Boasting a spectacular panoramic view out across St Ives, the Garrack is a great value hotel just outside the main hustle and bustle of town. Offering light filled rooms characterized by plush British style, as well as the modern conveniences of TVs and WiFi, there’s also an onsite indoor swimming pool and sauna. It’s also great place to relax in at the end of the day, boasting a lovely leafy garden and a restaurant specializing in fresh seafood and local cuisine. St Ives centre is just a 15-minute walk away!
From £98/ night
A traditional British pub hotel, but banish any thoughts of the classic dingy boozer with a few hokey rooms in the attic, The Queens Hotel sparkles with retro chic, complete with rough-hewn wood furniture, bright, lightly painted rooms, and cheery idiosyncratic decoration, often as not referencing the sea. Expect WiFi throughout and TVs in all the rooms, while the onsite dining is award winning gastropub fare. And it’s right in the midst of town, too.
From £99/ night
With some splendid views across the rooftops of St Ives, and its own quaint English seaside charm, the Palma Guest House is the kind of place people imagine they’re going to be staying when they come on a Cornish holiday. There are tea and coffee making facilities in every room, as well as more up to date luxuries like TVs and WiFi. And to cap it all off, there’s a sun deck: a great place for catching the rays away from the crowds. Inevitably rooms are snapped up fast, so book ahead!
From £119/ night
Standing alone slightly outside of town, Halwell Lodge really gives the experience of entering an intensely welcoming Cornish home. From its home-cooked breakfasts to marshmallow beds a stay here is like being embraced in a soft hug – and one that includes WiFi, flat screen TVs, and tea & coffee-making equipment, naturally. The icing on the cake are the hosts, who are positively bursting with hospitality and full of suggestions for things to see and do. St Ives itself is a ten-minute drive away, and there’s space onsite to park your car.
From £99/ night
An historic pub with plenty of rooms and character right in the centre of St Ives itself. The rooms here aren’t flashy, but they are clean and comfy, and win points simply for not trying to be something they’re not! They also come in plenty of different configurations, including ones with space for five people – ideal if you’re traveling as a family or a group. The downstairs bar serves hearty English food and is lively most nights, with frequent live bands performing (don’t worry about being kept up, mind, the rooms are well away from the action). WiFi is free throughout and the breakfasts are top notch!
