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AIBU?

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Original poster

St Ives in August - yes or no?

88 replies

Trumpsgoneloco · 09/04/2025 18:47

Cant go abroad this summer so I'm thinking of a family break in Cornwall in Aug. I like the look of St Ives. How busy does it get? Is the weather very unreliable? Is there loads for a wide variety of ages?

OP posts:
UndermyShoeJoe · 09/04/2025 18:49

Don’t do it. Cornwall gets rammed

Original poster
Trumpsgoneloco · 09/04/2025 18:50

I am a Londoner so very used to lots of people.

OP posts:
UndermyShoeJoe · 09/04/2025 18:51

It’s the roads to go places if you plan on driving places as well not just it being peopley.

Idontjetwashthefucker · 09/04/2025 18:52

Nope

Original poster
Trumpsgoneloco · 09/04/2025 18:52

The plan would be to stay very local & not really use the car.

OP posts:
ItsNearlyEaster · 09/04/2025 18:53

We love it. It's busy, but it's fine for a visit if you stay outside of St Ives itself. It wouldn't be a week of tranquility if you stayed in actual St Ives though, because of the hoards of people! Beautiful part of the UK.

Tekknonan · 09/04/2025 18:53

You'll never see London as rammed as St Ives. London has the roads to cope with the traffic. St Ives doesn't. It's beautiful, but it's hell in high season.

NameWithChange · 09/04/2025 18:53

You will probs need to book every meal out now. The parking is a problem - you would need to hope for accommodation with parking. It is absolutely beautiful, but if self catering and not got a parking space this brings it’s own problems as main supermarket just outside - you can get a delivery though.

there are St Ives Facebook groups - ask on there for tips

steelseries · 09/04/2025 18:53

I’ve only been a couple of times but both were in Aug. In good weather it’s heaving. Imagine Regent St on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Weather is unlikely to be cold but otherwise is pretty unreliable. It can rain very heavily (like anywhere in the UK) and then it’s not particularly pleasant being outside.

Original poster
Trumpsgoneloco · 09/04/2025 18:53

@ItsNearlyEaster what do you love about it?

OP posts:
Original poster
Trumpsgoneloco · 09/04/2025 18:55

@NameWithChange I don't use facebook anymore. I am looking at places with parking, I wouldn't consider it otherwise.

OP posts:
Original poster
Trumpsgoneloco · 09/04/2025 18:55

@steelseries the weather is what worries me.

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByABare · 09/04/2025 18:57

Weather can be anything you can think of. Will be rammed. I’m getting stressy just thinking about it. Lots of fabulous quieter places. But no guarantee of good weather.

MarxAndSparx · 09/04/2025 18:58

It will be super busy in August. It’s a different kind of busy compared to London. It’s very slow moving , less room on pavements/roads as the streets are narrow. All the coffee shops and food places were full. Couldn’t just go somewhere on a whim. It’s a beautiful place, no doubt, I just prefer it in the quieter months.

nomas · 09/04/2025 18:58

We have done it in Aug. Not in St Ives though. It’s fine for a day trip but I wouldn’t want to stay there.

Original poster
Trumpsgoneloco · 09/04/2025 19:00

It is busy like Santorini, Positano in the Summer or busier?

OP posts:
crumblingschools · 09/04/2025 19:00

Have you checked availability?

Original poster
Trumpsgoneloco · 09/04/2025 19:01

@crumblingschools yes, I'm pretty flexible as have the whole month & a bit of September to play with which helps.

OP posts:
Lilyhatesjaz · 09/04/2025 19:02

In August it will feel like a Christmas market in terms of business the streets are very narrow it's lovely just too many people

Cynic17 · 09/04/2025 19:02

It's lovely, but will be heaving. I would expect most of the accommodation to be already booked. Try somewhere a bit less popular in either Cornwall or Devon
.

Original poster
Trumpsgoneloco · 09/04/2025 19:03

Maybe we should go there for a few days & then somewhere else in Cornwall?

OP posts:
Middleofnowhere8 · 09/04/2025 19:03

We love St Ives! We get an airbnb in the tiny cottages and love it. Parking and driving are an issue but if you plan well, it’ll be fine.
Weather is never guaranteed given we live in the UK. That isn’t unique to St Ives.

ItsNearlyEaster · 09/04/2025 19:03

Trumpsgoneloco · 09/04/2025 18:53

@ItsNearlyEaster what do you love about it?

The beach close to the train station is like Spain... Beautiful golden sands and clear water. There are lots of gorgeous art shops and independent places to eat/shop, which are nice to browse. We typically stay outside of St Ives and just visit for a day or two (either via the little coastal train from further North, or via car). There's a lovely walk up a mount and it's just so picturesque and quaint. Busy, but in a lovely way... It'd be too busy for a week for us, as we prefer a rural cottage. Perhaps split your accommodation and stay a couple of nights in St Ives and the rest elsewhere?

St Ives in August - yes or no?
Original poster
Trumpsgoneloco · 09/04/2025 19:03

@Cynic17 I was surprised but I found a fair bit of availability.

OP posts:
WTF99 · 09/04/2025 19:03

If you're staying in the town and not planning on driving anywhere, the rugby club is good for parking. It's cheap and theres lots of space. Walk or get the bus there and back at the start/end of your stay. The bus leaves from directly outside and drops at the Tate. You will have more options for places to stay as you won't need parking space