Places to visit

Porthcurno’s Telegraph Museum is one of the most unexpectedly fascinating days out from St Ives. Housed in the former telegraph station and wartime tunnels above a stunning beach, it tells the story of how this tiny Cornish valley became the hub of global communications, with undersea cables stretching around the world. There are plenty of hands‑on exhibits and tunnels to explore, so it works as well for curious children as it does for adults who like a bit of history with their scenery.

The town’s artistic story is impossible to tell without Barbara Hepworth. Her former home and sculpture garden, now preserved as a museum, give a vivid sense of how she worked – abstract stone and bronze forms tucked among subtropical planting, often with glimpses of the sea beyond. Around her were painters such as Ben Nicholson, Naum Gabo and later the St Ives modernists, all responding to the same clear light and rugged forms of coast and harbour. A visit here makes it easy to see how the landscape has shaped the art, and vice versa.

Perched above Porthmeor Beach, Tate St Ives brings major modern and contemporary exhibitions to the very edge of the Atlantic. Inside, you’ll find changing shows that often highlight the town’s artistic heritage alongside national and international names. It’s an easy walk from Saltings, and the sea-view café makes it as much a place to linger as to look. Families are well catered for, with trails, simple activities and school-holiday events.