Much-loved seaside town that feels like it’s stuck in time after 100 years but has one annoying downside
- UK Hidden Gems
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
It is often said that one seaside town has barely changed in a century, holding onto its old-fashioned charm and traditional appearance.
Sitting on the wild Cornish coastline, it is a beautiful spot famous for its lovely beaches, busy arts scene and long maritime history.
Last year, The Telegraph even named its High Street as one of the best in the UK, praising its cobbled lanes and independent shops.
Alongside the shopping streets, it also offers a lively cultural world, with the Tate and the Barbara Hepworth Museum drawing visitors from across the globe.
St Ives becomes incredibly busy in the summer months, but it still has plenty of appeal in quieter seasons.
The views across the Atlantic Ocean from its purple-tinted cliffs are breathtaking, and the golden sand below mixes with bright blue waters.
But it’s during the summer rush that many locals begin to struggle with life in the town, especially when it comes to the soaring cost of living.
Under a CornwallLive article, many readers agreed that St Ives is now battling overtourism, pushing local people out.
One person said: “It has changed because no local people live in the town anymore. It’s all holiday lets, Airbnbs, and beige cushion shops.”
A Reddit user commented: “It’s a theme park now. A lot of the restaurants pay together for a campsite outside the town so they can bring in staff for the summer.
Without family money there’s no way people can move into these lovely places, and my partner’s family wants to leave St Ives because the tourists make life really hard.”
Another person wrote that St Ives, which used to be a strong fishing village with a close Cornish community, now feels overwhelmed by second homes and short-term holiday rentals.
Locals often can’t afford to stay, and businesses can’t always hire staff who live nearby. On Rightmove, a house in St Ives usually starts at around £300,000 or more.
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As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!
Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.
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