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St Ives Accommodation

Porthmeor beach, St Ives opposite the Tate Gallery, St Ives

Tate Gallery, St Ives - Contemporary Art at it's best

St Ives Tourist Information Tate Gallery Surfing Cornwall UK

The artist works because he must! But he learns by the disciplines of his imagination. Through moments of ecstasy or great despair, when all thoughts of self are lost, a work seems to evolve which has not only the vivid uniqueness of a new creation, but also the seeming effortlessness and unalterable simplicity of a true idea relating to the universe. In our present time, so governed by fear of destruction, the artist senses more and more the energies and impulses which give life and are the affirmation of life. Perhaps by learning more and letting the microcosm reflect the macrocosm, a new way of life can be found which will allow the human spirit to develop and surmount fear"". (Barbara Hepworth, A Pictorial Autobiography, 1970, Moonraker Press).

St Ives is a joyous mixed bag giving it a unique appeal. Cutting edge contemporary art at your fingertips, at both the Tate St Ives right on beautiful Porthmeor Beach, and sister Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden across the harbour, and her home until she died there in a fire in 1975. Alongside these two galleries are a choice of local artist galleries lining the attractive narrow streets of St Ives. It doesn't stop there - the St Ives coast offers a choice of fine white sand beaches offering havens to both families and surfers, a superb social history museum exploring mining, fishing and more and St Ives hosts a renowned annual festival of music and arts every September. New Years Eve too is a top time to be in St Ives when many flock here to participate in general celebrations and fancy dress. Cultural or walking winter short break, or family summer holiday - St Ives is the perfect choice. The only negative is the parking - which is simply a nightmare.

Tate Gallery St Ives

If you're a fan of Modernism - both painting and sculpture - then the St Ives branch of the Tate is probably one of the best galleries to head for. Great things can indeed happen when artists congregate together, and St Ives' history as an artists colony (it's the light you see) dates back to the late 1800s. Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson arrived here at St Ives in 1939 with the outbreak of the Second World War. Other notables here in St Ives at the time included Piet Mondrian, an abstract artist, and Naum Gabo a purist geometric sculpture artist. On the journey of exploring abstraction, other artists gravitated towards St Ives including Terry Frost, Peter Lanyon, Patrick Heron and Bryan Wynter. All emphasised experience in their art as opposed to a topographical view of the West Cornish landscape. The Tate St Ives holds many works by these ground breaking Modernists who were influenced by Gabo particularly and American Expressionism.

Every shadow cast by the sun from an ever-varying angle reveals the harmony of the inside and outside"". (Barbara Hepworth, A Pictorial Biography, 1970). As well as a comprehensive collection of works by the St Ives School of artists, exhibitions are constantly changing and include features on artists such as modernist potter Janet Leach, good friend with her husband Bernard Leach of Barbara Hepworth. For full details on past, present and future exhibitions check the St Ives Tate weblink right. The light in St Ives, once a small fishing village, attracted not just the 1930s modernists, but before them the likes of JMW Turner, whistler and Sickert. Exhibitions on all these artists, which have included their work undertaken in this area of Cornwall, have been on display at the St Ives Tate. Also on-site is the acclaimed St Ives Tate Cafe which offers stunning views across Porthmeor Beach - food and drink here is sourched from Cornish suppliers and absolutely deliciious!

The St Ives Tate building is as much an attraction as the contemporary art inside. Built on the site of the old St Ives gas works (which was painted by Alfred Wallis who lived nearby) and overlooking sublime Porthmeor Beach, this striking stark white structure was designed by architects Eldred Evans and David Shalev - winners in 1990 of a competition to design the building. This three floor rotunda building is ingrained into the cliffs behind to great effect. The restaurant sits on the roof offering superb views of St Ives Bay and Godrevy Lighthouse. Eldred Evans has pointed out that the plan of the building was much influenced by the work of Ben Nicholson. Numerous workshops, (with children well catered for), talks, films and events are held at the Tate St Ives throughout the year. Check the website right for full details of the programme.

Tate St Ives, Porthmeor Beach, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 1TG. Telephone: 01736 796226. Opening times are from March - October: Monday - Sunday 10.00 - 17.20, last admission 17.00, and from November - February: Tuesday - Sunday 10.00 - 16.20, last admission 16.00. St Ives Tate is closed on 24, 25, 26 December. Check the website right for admission prices and confirmation of these opening times. Visitors should also note that parking adjacent to the St Ives Tate is very limited. If you use the Train Park and ride service you receive �1 off your admission price. Parent and Baby rooms, with baby changing facilities are on-site, as is a lift to all floors and ramped access/adapted toilet.

St Ives Beaches, Surfing & Carbis Bay

St Ives Bay belongs in the club of 'The World's Best Bay's, and there it certainly belongs. Carbis Bay and the Lelant area offer beautiful clean, golden sandy beaches - many of which are popular surfer haunts. Porthmeor beach is at the northern end of St Ives town centre and backed on by the Tate Gallery. Expect pretty good and consistent surfing conditions on this beach, with the St Ives Surf School based here (see their website link to the right). Lifeguards are on the beach, and some parking is adjacent and higher up above the beach. All your facilities are here, making Porthmeor Beach an excellent one for families. A restaurant and cafe are on the beach, with toilets and beach huts available.

Other beaches in St Ives and the Bay include Porthgwidden beach - a small sandy cove beach which is a delightful suntrap and popular with families as it's sheltered and close to the town centre for amenities. There are toilets, good disabled access, a cafe and shop and slipways on this beach, plus you can bring your dog from October to March onto Porthgwidden Beach. Porthgwidden also has lifeguards in the summer season. St Ives Harbour also offers a sheltered sandy beach area which again is a good suntrap and ideal for easy access to the town centre. Parking and toilets are just behind Sloop Inn. Finally, Porthminster Beach, also with lifeguards, offers hal a mile of golden sandy beach. Good for families and great safe bathing here, Porthminster is sheltered with a restaurant and cafe on the beach and easy access to beautiful cliff walks along Carbis Bay. There are also beach huts, a putting golf gree and toilets on-site.

Now for the beaches that surround St Ives. Pure paradise beach is to be found on Carbis Bay, a huge sandy beach popular with families and a favourite with the kids. Clean, safe, and great bathing are all here at Carbis Bay, which also has excellent parking (unlike St Ives!). You can also access sublime cliff walks to Porthkidney Sands from Carbis Bay. A cafe and toilets are on-site. The Porthkidney Lelant beach is again sublime - both Carbis and Porthkidney look more like Caribbean Beaches than typical UK ones! Porthkidney beach is three miles of sand offering lots of space. The sea is safe for bathing but visitors should avoid the river estuary which is dangerous for bathing. Porthkidney beach also has scenic sand dunes. Further up the coast towards Hayle there are more superb sandy beaches to choose from. See Hayle Tourist Information.

Shore Surf School, 46 Mount Pleasant, St. Ives Bay, Hayle, Cornwall, TR27 4LE. Telephone / Fax: +44 01736 755556. BSA Accredited Level 4. (see weblink right for details). Also check out St Ives Surf School, Penbeagle House, Penbeagle Way, St Ives. Tel: 07765 571334, also BSA approved, Level 2.

Barbara Hepworth Museum & Garden St Ives

Finding Trewyn Studio was a sort of magic..... Here was a studio, a yard and garden where I could work in open air and space .....Here I was in the middle of St ives with a garden, a yard to work in with sun or moon above, and dreams of large works and freedom of action. Nobody around me has every complained of the sound of my hammer. I only have to walk 100 yards for the tools I need, and I can wander about in working clothes"". (Barbara Hepworth, A Pictorial Autobiography, 1970).

Finding Trewyn Studio in St Ives meant much to Hepworth, giving her space not only for her 'large work', but also for her children, son Paul and triplets Simon, Rachel and Sarah and also space for husband Ben Nicholson. The studio and house are now the Barbara Hepworth Museum open to the public and absolutely unmissible if you're in this part of Cornwall. Most of Hepworth's most famous works were created here. Works such as 'Stone Sculpture (Fugue II), 1956, are on display in the subtropical garden - a marvellous setting for her work. Both the house and garden are now managed by the Tate.

For a full list of Hepworth works on display in the museum and garden check the weblink right. Works includes renowned pieces such as 'Seated Woman with Clasped Hands' (1949) and 'Sphere with Inner Form' (1963). Numerous talks, family trails and performances are also held here throughout the year.

Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden, Barnoon Hill, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 1AD. Telephone: 01736 796226. Opening Times are from March - October: Open every day 10.00 - 17.20, last admission 17.00. From November - February: Tuesday - Sunday 10.00 - 16.20, last admission 16.00. Visitors should note that The Garden closes at 16.20 or dusk, whichever is earlier. Double check the Tate St Ives website for any changes to these opening times, and admission prices.

St Ives Museum, St Ives Town & Fishing

St Ives town has plenty going on, including the superb St Ives Museum near Smeaton's Pier. There's a focus specifically on St Ives social history here, stretching back 200 years. This museum has a fabulous collection of photograph depicting the fishing industry in the area, which was at it's peak in the 1850s, but had significantly receded by 1900 due to declining pilchard stocks. Fishing does still go on in St Ives however. Also explored in the St Ives Museum are the history of Cornish Tin Mining in this area and the famous Lifeboat service - well worth a look, the photography is particularly superb. Open from the end of May until September, from 10am to 5pm from Monday to Friday and from 10am to 4pm on Saturdays. The museum is closed from November to May. Find the St Ives Museum at Wheal Dream near Smeaton's Pier, St Ives. Tel: 01736 796005.

Boating and boat trips, and sailing and fishing are popular leisure pursuits with visitors. It's easy to hook into a boat trip from St Ives Harbour, where pleasure boats leave daily either out to see to watch Atlantic seals, or along the coast past the Tate along the glorious St Ives Bay - if you're on the lookout for sea birds such boat trips are well worth doing, as well as taking in one of the world's most beautiful bays - it's in the world's most beautiful bays list is St Ives Bay along with Mounts Bay.

Check out the Dolly Pentreath weblink right for details on boat trips out to Seal Island, 3 miles west of St Ives, to view Atlantic seals or how about a trip out to Hell's Mouth past magical Godrevy Lighthouse (this is the lighthouse in Virginia Wolf's book 'The Lighthouse') to view a wonderful selection of birds including Kittiwakes, Gulls and Guillemots. You can take fishing trips too, or charter your own boat.

For excellent shopping head for Fore Street, St Ives' main shopping street, situated just behind the harbour or if you're looking for a good club and bar head for ISObar in the heart of St Ives. Great selection of music here from funk to dance to punk and alternative, plus a fab chill out bar. Check ISObar's weblink right for details - half price drinks on Wednesdays.

St Ives Fringe Festival & New Year

St Ives Fringe Festival is held annually in September, and currently in it's second year in 2006. Offering a mix of music, arts, talks, films and 'the usual' celebrity troop aka Germaine Greer and others usually doing a turn.

It's a fine time to be in St Ives, with music events stretching across a range, from Jazz to World music. A number of superb films are usually up for viewing at the Royal Cinema in St Ives. Films shown often have an art link befitting the location. Check out the Royal Cinema, St Ives weblink right too for film details.

The talks held during the festival often too pertain to local notables such as the St Ives School of Artists, or other Cornwall notables such as Daphne du Maurier. Check the St Ives Festival website right for full details on the September programme.

St Ives September Festival, contact: Rainyday Gallery, 116 Market Jew Street, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 2LD. Tel: 01736 366077.

St Ives Galleries & Art School

Fancy a painting holiday in St Ives? Check out the St Ives School of Painting website right for details on 1 to 3 day courses, or weekly courses, educational workshops and art clubs. Could there possibly be a better location than St Ives to learn more about painting! The school is ideally close to both the Tate Gallery and the Barbara Hepworth Museum. Contact St Ives School of Painting, Porthmeor Studios, Back Road West, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 1NG. Tel: 01736 797180.

A choice of St Ives Galleries are waiting to be explored. Here's a few of the best: Belgrave Gallery, 22 Fore Street, St Ives. Tel: 01736 794888. Open 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. (website right). Also, take a look at New Millennium Gallery, Stret-an-pol, St Ives. Tel: 01736 793121. (see weblink right).

St Ives Ceramics, 1 Fish Street, St. Ives, Cornwall, TR26 1LT. Tel: (0)1736 794930. This superb St Ives Ceramic centre is owned by the potter John Bedding, apprentice to Bernard Leach. Artists are in residence - not just captivating pottery here, but jewellery too. Check out their weblink right.

Also see Penwith Galleries, Back Road West, St Ives. Tel: 01736 795579. Open 10am to 1pm, and 2.30pm to 5pm.Wills Lane Gallery, 1 Wills Lane, St Ives. Tel: 01736 794930. Open 10.30am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday. Private contemporary art gallery.

St Ives Tourist Information & Sailing Club

St Ives Tourist Information Centre, The Guildhall, Street an Pol, St Ives, TR26 2DS. Tel: 01736 796297. Opening times from June - September, Mon - Fri 9am - 5:30pm, Sat 9am - 5pm, Sunday 10am - 4pm. From October - May, Mon -Friday 9am - 5pm, Saturday 10am - 1pm. Sunday Closed. Bank Holidays Sun & Mon 10am - 4pm, (Closed Easter Sunday).

St Ives Golf, Leisure & Horse Riding

West Cornwall Golf, Church Lane, Lelant, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 3DZ. Tel: 01736 753401. A testing 18 hole golf course with glorious coastal views. Lessons and equipment hire are offered, and there's an excellent club house on-site with a bar and lunch, afternoon tea and dinner available. Check out the West Cornwall Golf Course website linked right for full details. More golf, and all things leisure are available at the deluxe Tregenna Castle Estate in St Ives. This is also a good venue for wedding celebrations, and one of many luxury castles and estates around the St Ives area which makes a perfect venue for weddings if you're looking for a venue and for a romantic setting St Ives certainly fits the bill!

For horse riding in the area contact Penhalwyn Trekking Centre, Halsetown, St. Ives Tel: 01736 796461.

St Ives Leisure Centre, Trenwith Burrows, St. Ives, TR26 1HB. Tel 01736 797006. There a large swimming pool, children's pool, state of the art gym and Sports Cafe in this well equipped Leisure Centre.

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