A staycation specialist has crowned what they believe to be the best spots for a summer holiday in the UK, and this beautiful seaside town is a consistent front-runner. With flight cancellations and skyrocketing prices making travel unpredictable, the idea of staying in the UK is increasingly appealing. Happily, there are plenty of slices of paradise right here in the UK.
St Ives: A Top Destination
This seaside town is hailed as one of the country's most treasured tourist destinations. With high temperatures set for the summer ahead, there are very few reasons not to give it a go. Sykes Holiday Cottages has named the top 10 best seaside destinations for a short break, and St Ives in Cornwall is the first town to make the list. Sykes has a whole list of recommended properties in each location, including serene cottages and cosy retreats by the Cornwall coast.
Famous for its rugged coastline, golden beaches, picture-perfect villages, and rich maritime heritage, Cornwall is one of the most-visited corners of the UK. Sykes Cottages offers a large number of holiday homes to choose from, with prices starting from £36 per night.
The Town
St Ives is famous for looking straight out of a postcard, with its picturesque cobbled streets and Mediterranean blue waters. What was once a modest fishing port has been transformed over the years into a must-see destination for artists, photographers, and tourists alike. This transformation was thanks to the construction of the famed St Erth to St Ives railway line, which offers visitors one of Britain's most beautiful journeys. The train ride takes you past the golden beaches of the town, and its views have been compared to those of the Caribbean.
Putting the coastal town on the map is its incredible thriving hub of artists and galleries. The area is renowned for its beautiful quality of bright light, which has attracted many artists to the area. As a result, despite its small size, the town has become an epicentre of world-class art galleries, including Tate St Ives, which showcases work from across Britain. Visit Cornwall notes that "inspiring art and breath-taking scenery meet at Tate St Ives". The gallery overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and showcases beloved British artwork alongside numerous exhibitions from global artists.
The Beaches
St Ives has quite the reputation for its breathtaking beaches made up of soft white sands and turquoise waters, which don't look like they belong in the UK. There is something for everyone with surfing spots, sheltered bays ideal for families, and popular picturesque stretches of sand, all pretty much within walking distance from the heart of the town. The two larger and most popular beaches are Porthmeor Beach, a surfers' dream, and Porthminster Beach, a big family-friendly spot. Porthminster also happens to have beautiful palm trees, making it seem even more like you're sunbathing abroad.
Last summer, one visitor shared on Tripadvisor: "Porthminster is a beautiful beach, lovely surroundings and views, soft sand, good facilities. The water is warm enough to swim without a wetsuit. When the tide is out, there is a lot of beach, and when it is in there is enough. The sea is great for swimming, kayaking, and paddle boarding, but the waves are rarely strong enough for bodyboards." Another person described it as "a little touch of paradise", adding: "All the beaches around St Ives are of high standard with golden sands and good surfing. Wide stretches of sand to walk on with good quality food and drinking establishments nearby." Right by the harbour in the town's centre is another beach, known simply as Harbour Beach. It is a tranquil spot for watching the boats roll in and exploring rock pools. Ultimately, it seems in this beautiful town, wherever you look, there is sand and sea, straight out of a tropical destination, except it's here on English land.
