A guide to living in St. Ives, Cornwall

Voted the most popular family holiday destination in the UK by Coast magazine - the bustling, charming and beautiful seaside harbour town of St Ives has a huge amount to offer for those looking to relocate. Listed in the top 10 of TripAdvisor’s ‘best beaches in Europe’, what St Ives might lack in transport links and job opportunities, it certainly makes up for in beautiful surroundings and its laid-back lifestyle. Perfect for freelancers and those able to work remotely, the quirky maze of cobbled streets peppered with independent shops, fisherman’s cottages and award-winning eateries are set against the backdrop of incredible coastal views, brilliant surfing and a thriving arts scene. What more could you want?

Sites of Interest

St Ives is the perfect location for families looking to enhance their outdoor living. Lush vegetation, beautiful golden beaches and stunning coastal walks could encourage even the most stubborn of hermits in to the great outdoors. Surf at blue flag-rated Porthmeor beach, take an inspiring walk along the coastal path towards Land’s End or watch the fishing boats bobbing along St Ives harbour as the sun sets.

If keeping the kids busy is high on your agenda, St Ives has plenty to offer on that score. The surf school is world renowned and teaches children from as young as 9 how to ride the waves, take a gallop along the beach in Penzance on the swimming horses or simply wile away the day splashing in the surf and making sand castles on the stunning beaches.

For the creative types, St Ives has an incredible art scene. Tate, St Ives has a striking presence on Porthmeor Beach and celebrates the ‘St Ives School’ of artists from their heyday in the 1950s and 60s. The gallery also showcases new and emerging Cornish artists and offers guided tours for kids as well as activity packs to encourage little ones to follow the ‘art trail’ around the gallery. The St Ives School of Painting offers lessons for all levels of ability and there are numerous other creative opportunities including The Hepworth Family Activity Trail and Sculpture Quest and Clay Days at Leach Pottery.

And for foodies, St Ives has plenty to offer. Indulge in delicious local seafood at The Mermaid, take in the incredible panoramic views from Porthgwidden Beach Café, or visit the Rum and Crab shack for live music, good rum and some of the best crab you’ve ever tasted. Whatever your budget, dining style or taste – St Ives is sure to have an eatery to suit.

Schooling

Schooling options in St Ives are limited. Thankfully, if you are looking in the state sector, both the primary and secondary schools in St Ives are Ofsted rated ‘good’ however there is limited choice, so you’ll need to be comfortable with the school before you move.

In the independent sector there are options; St Pirans is reachable by bus in under 30 minutes, or Humphry Davy school near Penzance is reachable in under 15 minutes. There is also a strong home-education community in Cornwall, if that’s your thing. There are numerous Forest Schools available including Heart of the Woods in Carbis Bay and many of the local tourist attractions offer great opportunities for home schoolers.

Transport

For those used to the hustle and bustle of city life – St Ives might feel fairly far from civilisation. However, the area has all the practical amenities you might need, road links are good and it’s only a 40 minute drive to the nearest city, Truro. Locally, the scenic coastal railway links St Ives to Carbis bay and Lelant and there are regular buses between the 3 towns. The bus service is also pretty reliable if you need to travel further afield with regular links to Penzance, Marazion, Truro and Helston. For those who enjoy long, picturesque train journeys Great Western Railway can get you to London in 6 hours or you could opt for the night train which leaves Penzance at 10pm and arrives in Paddington by 5am, with the option to stay on board until 7am to ensure you get a full night’s kip. Finally, if you wish to fly, Newquay Airport is 50 minutes from St Ives and offers links to a variety of UK destinations including Edinburgh, Belfast and Manchester as well as further afield to Faro, Alicante and Dusseldorf. There are daily flights to London over the summer but this service does not run year-round.

Property

One of the most pressing issues in Cornwall currently is a shortage of available property. The exodus of families spilling out from the cities in to rural England during the pandemic hit Cornwall hard and second home owners are still a bone of contention amongst locals. Long term rentals are hard to come by as owners can generate a very good income via holiday lets and in the summer of 2021, only 60 properties were available for long term rent in Cornwall according to Rightmove.

However, if you’re looking to purchase a property you might have better luck. The market is very competitive but more affordable than London, so if you’re used to a major city budget St Ives should still feel reasonable. A 3-bedroom semi-detached property will set you back around £500,000. However, if you’re looking for a big country pile, a 5-bedroom detached property is likely to cost in the region of £2,500,000.

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St Ives has a huge amount to offer if you can work remotely, and are looking for a slower pace of living. It might not be commutable to London or have easy access to a large metropolitan city but what it might lack in modern convenience it more than makes up for in beautiful landscapes, fabulous food, creative inspiration and a high quality of living. If it sounds like St Ives might be the place for you, get in contact with us today and let the Whereshome team of experts support you with your move.