St Ives is a charming fishing village known for its picturesque turquoise waters, golden sandy beaches, quaint cobbled streets and vibrant art and food scene. It’s no wonder this Cornish gem is a favourite of holidaymakers all year round.
With plenty of holiday letting companies in St Ives, Cornwall, it’s a fantastic base if you want to explore the surrounding areas of West Cornwall or simply want a mini break to get some vitamin sea!
But when is the best time to visit St Ives? We’ve put together a guide to St Ives through the seasons so you can plan your trip.
For good deals and quieter beaches – Spring: March to May
Spring is the perfect time to visit St Ives if you want to avoid the summer crowds and enjoy the first of the spring blooms. April is great as the weather can be sunny with a cool breeze. May is probably the best all-around month to visit, as Cornwall can be blessed with fantastic weather. If you want to explore more of the west coast, you can expect the tourist hotspots to be a lot quieter and often accommodation is cheaper before Easter.
Weather: 10-12 degrees – mild with some showers expected.
Things to do:
- Walk parts of the South West Coastal Path and you’ll feel like you’ve got the coast path to yourself.
- If the weather is rainy, it’s the perfect time to gallery hop. Head to the Tate St Ives to see some of Cornwall’s best contemporary artists without the usual queues.
- Enjoy the beaches being quiet, and perhaps take a surf lesson.
Events: The St Ives Food Festival normally takes place in May, so it’s a great time for food lovers to visit.
For sunshine and beach days – summer: June to August
Summer is the best time to visit St Ives if you have children. Cornwall comes alive during peak season with an array of things to do. You can expect the beaches to be bustling with stunning turquoise waters.
Weather: The average temperature during the height of summer is around 18 degrees, but it can get higher or lower.
Things to do:
- Beach hopping! St Ives has some of the best beaches in Cornwall, so you’ll be spoilt for choice.
- Explore the coast path from Porthcurno to Land’s End, a beautiful stretch of turquoise waters.
- Watch a show at the Minack Theatre with the ocean as your backdrop.
- Hire A SUP board.
- Visit one of the many botanical gardens.
- Explore the Barbara Hepworth museum and stroll around the beautiful sculpture gardens.
- Take a trip to Seal Island.
Events:
- St Ives Biathlon – a 2km run race from St Ives to Carbis Bay, followed by a 1.5km open-sea swim back.
- St Ives Lifeboat Day – celebrating the RNLI and the work they do.
- In Falmouth, the Sea Shanty festival takes place in June.
There are many summer properties in St Ives, so you can always find something to suit your budget.
For gallery hopping or a romantic break – Autumn: September to November
Cornwall can sometimes see very mild Autumns with sunny days still reaching into October. October is arguably the best time to take a dip in the sea as the water temperature is at its warmest, having been heated by the sun all summer.
Autumn time sees St Ives and the surrounding areas a lot quieter, with some wonderful restaurants offering some fantastic seasonal dishes.
You may have better luck finding your perfect St Ives beach house to rent, as there are fewer families visiting at this time of year.
Weather: Average Autumn weather ranges between 9-13 degrees. The sea temperature is around 15 degrees.
Things to do:
- Go for a swim! The water is at its warmest, so it’s the perfect time to take a dip.
- Head to the St Ives September festival.
- Take a trip to Penzance and visit the Jubilee Pool.
- Visit St Michael’s Mount (open until the 12th September).
- Watch the sunsets at the beach.
- Gallery hop.
- Visit Tremenheere sculpture gardens.
- Seal watch at Godrevy.
Events:
- St Ives September festival – 15 days of music and arts, including live music, poetry, art exhibitions, film screenings and much more.
- Take a trip to Falmouth for the Oyster Festival.
- Feast nights at Nancarrow Farm.
For a cosy and tranquil break – Winter: December to February
If you’re looking for a tranquil stay in Cornwall, winter is the best time to visit St Ives for no crowds and cosy afternoons spent in the pub by the fire.
One thing to note is that some attractions will have limited hours in the winter, particularly in January and February. Winter is the perfect time to find a St Ives beach house to rent, get cosy and nestle down with a good book.
Why not spend a cosy Christmas break in St Ives in December?
Weather: The average temperature is around 10 degrees, but it can go lower in January and February. Cornwall is renowned for winter rain, so be sure to take this into consideration.
Things to do:
- Visit many of the cosy pubs.
- Take a beach stroll.
- Visit the Seal Sanctuary.
- Watch the Christmas lights at Mousehole.
- Visit Leach Pottery.
- Visit the Christmas markets.
- Visit a National Trust Property.
Events:
- New Year’s Eve celebrations. St Ives is famous for its New Year’s celebrations, with many of the town’s residents and visitors wearing fancy dress.
- Christmas Day swim. Everyone descends onto the beach for a Christmas Day swim.
- Mousehole Christmas lights switch on.
So there you have a guide to St Ives, Cornwall, through the seasons.
But when really is the best time to visit St Ives? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for from your holiday. Whenever you decide to visit, with its stunning beaches, art scene and great restaurants, St Ives really is a fantastic place to stay.
Cornish Riviera is one of the largest holiday letting companies in St Ives Cornwall.
We have an array of St Ives holiday rental properties to choose from. Fully self-catering, our cottages have all the amenities you could possibly need for your stay in St Ives, no matter what month you visit.
