The Mud Maid at the Lost Gardens of Heligan — a sleeping figure sculpted from earth and living plants in a woodland glade.

Cornwall · Family · St Ives

Things to do with kids in St Ives.

Four beaches within fifteen minutes' walk of each other, a world-class art gallery, and streets so beautiful they have spent decades making children want to draw — St Ives is the Cornish family destination with the most to say for itself.

Photograph — Daderot / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

St Ives · West Cornwall

St Ives operates at a slightly higher register than most Cornish resorts — the galleries, the quality of the restaurants, the seriousness with which it takes the arts — but none of this makes it less suitable for families with children. The beaches are the equal of anything on the peninsula and the town's compact layout means you genuinely can walk from Porthminster to Porthmeor in under ten minutes, passing galleries, independent shops and a harbour full of fishing boats en route.

Tate St Ives runs regular family workshops and the building itself — curved white concrete above Porthmeor — is worth seeing for the architecture alone. The Leach Pottery, where Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada established their studio in 1920, runs hands-on clay sessions for children that are reliably popular. For families who want nothing more complicated than beach, rock pool and ice cream, that provision is also excellent. St Ives is one of the few places in Cornwall that genuinely works as both a cultural and a pure-beach destination simultaneously.

Porthminster Beach

The largest and most sheltered of St Ives's beaches, Porthminster faces south-east and is calmer than the Atlantic-facing Porthmeor. Its fine golden sand, shallow entry and reliable lifeguard cover make it the first choice for families with young children. The Porthminster Beach Café above is one of the best beach restaurants in the country — pricey, but worth it for a special lunch. The station sits directly above, making Porthminster uniquely convenient for train arrivals. Rock pools appear at the southern end at low tide.

Best for

Ages 2–10, toddler-friendly

Tate St Ives family workshops

Tate St Ives runs a programme of family art workshops throughout the year, particularly active in school holidays. Sessions are genuinely engaging — children make work in response to current exhibitions using proper materials with guided instruction. The gallery building is worth visiting regardless: the upstairs viewing gallery over Porthmeor Beach is among the best views from any public building in Cornwall. Check the Tate website for current workshop dates. Entry to the permanent collection is free.

Best for

Ages 5–12, rainy days, creative children

Leach Pottery clay workshop

The Leach Pottery on Higher Stennack runs hands-on clay sessions for families and children, bookable through their website. The pottery is a living working studio rather than a museum — potters work in the historic kilns daily — and the combination of watching professionals at work and making something yourself produces the right level of engagement for children aged 6 and up. The museum exhibition covering Bernard Leach's life and influence is excellent context for adults; children skip it in favour of the clay.

Best for

Ages 6–12, rainy days, creative children

Carbis Bay Beach

A mile east of St Ives, Carbis Bay is a sheltered south-facing beach with fine white sand, shallow entry and calm water that makes it the best swimming beach in the St Ives Bay area. It has its own station on the St Ives Branch Line — remarkably easy to reach without a car. The public beach is generous. In summer the water clarity here is exceptional — snorkelling is worthwhile for older children with masks. Combine a morning at Carbis Bay with an afternoon exploring St Ives harbour.

Best for

Ages 2–12, best swimming in the area

Porthmeor Beach surfing

St Ives's north-facing surf beach catches Atlantic swell with some consistency and is the town's primary surfing spot. The St Ives Surf School operates here with lessons for children from age 5. The beach is wide and sandy with good lifeguard coverage. Being north-facing it can be cooler than Porthminster — wetsuits advisable even in August. The combination of surf, Tate gallery behind, and the harbour view to the east makes Porthmeor one of the most atmospheric beaches in Cornwall regardless of conditions.

Best for

Ages 5–16, surf enthusiasts

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