A UK town that's been dubbed the "happiest place" in Britain is also home to England’s "most beautiful" seven beaches - making it an ideal spot for tourists to visit.
The coastal location of St Ives in Cornwall has seven gorgeous locations for swimming, paddling or building sandcastles, which are all in walking distance of each other. The town's colourful fishing boats can be seen out at sea, set tot he backdrop of breathtaking views of the rugged coastline, attracting visitors from across the UK and beyond.
St Ives has a long history of visiting artists who gain inspiration by the town’s beauty and is also home to the Tate St Ives art gallery on a cliffside overlooking the ocean. It's no wonder St Ives has been named Britain’s "happiest place to live" by Rightmove because of the town’s high community spirit and sense of belonging.
It has also been voted the UK’s top seaside resort in a poll taken by The Independent and been described as having the “most beautiful light in Britain” by The Telegraph. The newspaper wrote: “Jutting out from the coastline, the town, which is surrounded by beaches, is bathed in a soft, romantic glow that makes everything look like Instagram-perfection: no filter necessary."
Each beach near St Ives has a different atmosphere such as Porthminster Beach, a massive stretch of golden sand set under beautiful green cliffs making it a great place to relax. There is also Porthgwidden Beach, a small but lovely place nestled between the headland and harbour. It is known as the town’s quietest beach but is perfect for snorkelling and its colourful beach huts are the perfect backdrop for photographs.
The town’s history with art means there is always something to do in this extraordinary little town as there are many galleries, museums and gardens to explore. One of the most iconic places to visit is the Barbara Hepworth Museum which celebrates the life of the famous sculptor and you can explore the museum’s gardens which feature some of the artist’s incredible sculptures.
There are also daily boat trips on the ‘Dolly P’ where you can go seal watching at Seal Island or enjoy seeing the magnificent Cornish coast. For those who enjoy a ghost story, there are also the pirate, folklore and ghost tours with Shanty Baba that not only takes you to St Ives's spookiest places but tells you the captivating history of the town.
St Ives is also known to host many festivals throughout the year such as its Literature Festival, Food and Drink Festival, Jazz Festival and May Day Celebration. But the biggest cultural event is its September Festival which celebrates the arts where there are concerts, exhibitions and performances by local and international artists.
There is also St Ives’s Feast Day which is an ancient tradition which dates back centuries it includes a procession through the town, dancing and then there is the hurling of The Silver Ball, a historic Cornish game where participants attempt to steal the ball from each other. No matter the time of year you travel to St Ives there is always something fun happening and plenty to do due to the town’s beautiful scenery and artistic atmosphere, making the town the perfect destination for a weekend getaway or staycation.