Local area

St. Ives is one of the best holiday destinations in Europe and the Hotel St. Eia is ideally placed close to both rail and bus stations and only a five minute walk from the town, harbour and beaches. The area is unbeatable for all sorts of outdoor activities on land or sea.

Steeped in history and tradition with a long and rich fishing background, St. Ives' picturesque harbour is the lively focus of the town. Regular winners of the top awards for 'Britain in Bloom', St. Ives is loved by all who visit, for its colourful quaint winding streets.

A visit to St. Ives is also an artistic experience and the town has, over the centuries, gained an international reputation as one of the great centres for art. As a result, the new Tate Gallery was built here in St. Ives with its stunning architecture overlooking the surfing beach of Porthmeor -

The Tate is a must for all lovers of art.

St.Ives Town

Despite its development over the centuries, St. Ives still resembles the small fishing village it once was. With a beautiful harbour designed to protect the fishermen from the rage of the Atlantic ocean, and the narrow winding streets which were the homes to countless fishing families. St. Ives has retained its olde world feel and charm. The centre of town is a shopper's treat, with art galleries, gift shops, surf shops, bars and restaurants whilst the focus of the town is the promenade with pubs and amusements that guarantee a good time for all.

The Tate Gallery, St.Ives.

Opened in 1993 by Prince Charles, the fantastic architecture of the Tate Galley is the pride of the Town. Overlooking the popular surfing beach of Porthmeor, the Gallery is only a few minutes' stroll from the town centre. Open all year round, The Tate offers the opportunity to view world class exhibitions from artists of all genres, here in St. Ives. The Gallery is a must for all who love art.

Seasons in St.Ives

The changing seasons bring with them a unique and contrasting beauty of their own. The wild winter weather brings mountainous seas, eerie sea-mist and howling gales to our shores whilst the summer can produce the finest sunshine and an almost 'tropical' feel to the area.

To contradict this, temperate dry days can also be found within the winter months whilst the summer showers clear the air. Whatever the time of year, the contrasting and changeable weather that is unique to Cornwall is an experience of its own!

Archaeological Sites

For those with an interest in history, the St. Ives area has many places of interest. Prehistoric ruins, hill forts, monolithic structures and standing stones; Cornwall's pagan celtic ancestors left behind a wealth of artefacts which intrigue, amaze and astound onlookers.

Local Landmarks from a bygone era

Alongside the prehistoric monuments around West Cornwall stand countless landmarks from the Industrial Revolution. The tin mining industry was once the largest industry in Cornwall, and the miners of the area were once renowned as the best and most technologically advanced in the world. With the closure of South Crofty tin mine a few years ago, came the end of an era for Cornwall, but thankfully the restored engine houses, which stand proudly scattered throughout the land are a constant reminder of our proud heritage.

Spectacular coastal scenery

With some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe, the Cornish coastline is an outdoor treat for all to enjoy. For ramblers, cyclists, climbers, anglers, birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts the region has a wealth of scenery and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (S.S.S.I.). Well trodden footpaths are often sign-posted with recommended coastal walks, although there are still very many well kept secret places for the more adventurous to explore.

Amoung the places not to be missed are: Godrevy Head, Gwithian Towans, Hayle Estuary and Porth Kidney, Zennor, Pendeen, Cape Cornwall, Sennen, Lands End, Logan Rock, Porthcurno (and The Minack Theatre), not to mention the nearby abundance of coastal scenery throughout the Lizard Peninsula.

The Eden Project

Located within a huge disused china clay pit at Bodelva, near St.Austell, the Eden Project is simply awesome!. This exciting new development has already drawn many thousands of visitors to the area purely to view the construction of these futuristic biospheres.

Eden opened its gates to the general public on the 17th March 2001 and is now home to countless varieties of plantlife from the Earth's different temperate zones. This increasingly popular and constantly evolving attraction is an educational treat that should not be missed.