It’s a place that’s barely changed in 100 years and is a must-visit for anyone wanting to experience the timeless charm of a traditional seaside town
With autumn moving in, it’s an ideal time to visit one of the UK’s best seaside towns away from the crowds. One seaside gem is celebrated for its enchanting appeal and rich artistic legacy set against breath-taking surroundings.
It also sits on a peninsula boasting numerous magnificent beaches, each offering sweeping vistas of its striking sea and shoreline. Celebrated for the “quality of light” that draws countless artists and photographers eager to capture its splendour, St Ives is also renowned for remaining virtually unchanged over a century.
A trip here will undoubtedly make you feel as though you’ve travelled back in time, despite offering everything you could want from a contemporary coastal retreat, reports the Express. Cornwall has long occupied a cherished position in many Britons’ affections due to its landscape, endless golden beaches, hidden coves and jagged cliffs.
And St. Ives is certainly no different. The town sits north of Penzance along the Celtic Sea coastline, brimming with pristine natural splendour alongside plenty of attractions. It boasts a wealth of pursuits including surfing and clifftop rambles, plus one of Britain’s finest high streets.
Magnificent beaches apart, St. Ives is also celebrated for its classic Cornish townscape, featuring winding lanes throughout, making it perfect for a pleasant spring wander. So spectacular in fact, that The Telegraph recently hailed this coastal destination’s high street as amongst Britain’s finest due to its treasure trove of cobbled pathways, its remarkable collection of boutiques and its whitewashed structures.
The publication said: “Fore Street in St Ives, with its slate-hung shops and independent galleries, has changed little over the last century, offering a perfect mix of local and artistic charm.”
A March visit comes particularly recommended as tourist numbers are significantly lower whilst also providing perfect conditions for storm-watching from its numerous clifftops, delivering breathtaking spectacles as waves pound the rocks beneath.
Keeping busy here proves effortless with endless pubs and eateries to explore alongside a thriving arts community boasting studios and galleries aplenty.
The Tate St. Ives gallery showcases rotating contemporary art displays whilst the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden stands as essential viewing during any visit.
“I have never seen such a beautiful place in the UK as St. Ives. Many have said it’s like being abroad and it really is,” said one TripAdvisor reviewer.
Another commented: “Grab a pasty, and an ice-cream and just sit back on one of the benches here and say ‘this is the life…'”.