St Ives is one of the most famous towns in Cornwall. It's fame is due to a number of different reasons, but all focused on the one place.

It is quintessentially the Cornish Riviera as developed by the Great Western Railway in the earlier half of the twentieth century. But before the railway came it was a small fishing port, with a tiny harbour, much like the other fishing villages further north, like Padstow, Port Isaac and Boscastle. But St Ives had the beaches--Carbis Bay (strictly not part of St Ives) Porthminster, Porthmeor and Porthgwidden.

Then, in the latter part of the nineteenth century, it became fashionable for artists, drawn by the light, the ever changing colour of the sea and the town and harbour. One of the most famous artists to make St Ives home was Barbara Hepworth and today you can find some of her sculptures in a museum in the town. London's Tate Gallery has opened an `extension' in the Town.

The town is a typical Cornish fishing village--a collection of tightly-packed cottages with narrow streets. Visitor cars are not permitted into the town and must park high up on the outskirts. This makes moving around more pleasant. Down by the harbour you will find the lifeboat station which has been here since 1840 and has saved over 650 lives.