Where is it? 

This beautiful Cornish coast town is located in South West Cornwall.

Where should I be heading for?

For amazing views and unbelievably blue Mediterranean like sea, make sure you head straight for one of the three superb beaches right on your doorstep.

How do I get there?

Take a train from London Paddington. It’s about a five hour journey with one change at St Erth but well worth it.

Health:

If you’re a beach bum headed there in the summer months then plenty of sunscreen is recommended.

Top 5 things to do:

1. The Tate museum has a branch in St Ives in an interestingly built building overlooking the beach.  If you’re a fan of modern art then there’s plenty to take in, but beware of tourists, it’s one of the local hotspots!

2. You cannot leave Cornwall without having gorged yourself on the local delicacy – pasties!  Hot or cold there are shops a plenty serving up these filling pastry encrusted treats, with choices for vegetarians too.

3. Put on your walking shoes and take off into the hills. There are amazing coastal walks to be had and you can trek for miles and miles and still be mesmerised by the blue sea.

4. I can’t remember its name unfortunately but there’s an amazing seafood restaurant on the main shopping street with a blue facade that serves real tiger prawns.  When I say real, I mean none of the usual British crappy prawns that end up about 1cm long after you discover the whole bag was actually filled with water!  Their menu is affordable and comprehensive and it’s well worth indulging.

5. Avoid being crapped on by the killer seagulls! I had the misfortune of sitting in some on a park bench, but it’s good luck, right?  Notice how sly my feathered friend looks here…was it him?

Is it expensive?

Depends what you choose to do when you’re there. Just chilling? Well you need no more than your accommodation and some spending money. With lots of lovely nick-knack shops though it’s impossible not to be tempted.

What's the food like?

Did I mention the pasties were good? There are also lots of seafood restaurants and a mix of general pubs serving good food and the usual smattering of junk food providers.

What are the toilets like?

Not bad on the whole. Easy to find and quite clean.

What to wear:

The summer months there are warm so shorts and t-shirts are fine. Evenings can get a little chilly so have some back up layers for when you’re strolling along the beach in the moonlight.

Best time to visit:

Summer attracts a lot of visitors and who can blame them. St Ives is breathtakingly beautiful and with surfers milling around everywhere who would want to miss such a sight.

Don't miss:

The beaches are unmissable – clean and tropical they’re out of this world.

Most overrated thing:

The harbour was probably the most disappointing thing. In guidebooks it looks like a stunning place to visit, but in reality it’s crawling with chavs hanging around the arcades and seagulls dive-bombing everywhere.
(5/5)

Photos: Mojo

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