Getting to St Ives
How to reach St Ives by train, bus, taxi, car, or bicycle.
Train
St Ives (Cornwall) station, CRS code SIV, sits at the top of the town a short walk above Porthminster Beach, the terminus of the St Ives Bay Line, a 4.25-mile branch that leaves the Cornish Main Line at St Erth. Great Western Railway runs the branch, with two trains an hour through the day calling at Carbis Bay and Lelant Saltings, and every service connecting with mainline trains at St Erth for Penzance, Truro, Plymouth and beyond. In peak summer, driving into St Ives is genuinely difficult, so the branch line plus the Lelant Saltings park-and-ride is the recommended way in for most visitors.
- Station
- St Ives (Cornwall) station (SIV), a short walk above Porthminster Beach, the terminus of the St Ives Bay Line
- Line
- St Ives Bay Line, a 4.25-mile branch leaving the Cornish Main Line at St Erth, calling at Carbis Bay and Lelant Saltings
- Operator
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
- Frequency
- Two trains an hour through the day, connecting with mainline services at St Erth for Penzance, Truro, Plymouth and beyond
🚆 National Rail from St Ives
Live departures
National Rail service from St Ives. Updates every few minutes.
Bus
First Kernow and other operators run bus services connecting St Ives to Penzance, Hayle and other West Cornwall towns; the bus station is on Station Hill next to the railway station. Local buses also serve Carbis Bay. Confirm current routes and timetables before relying on them, since rural Cornwall bus services change fairly often.
- Operators
- First Kernow and other operators
- Bus Station
- Station Hill, next to the railway station
- Local Coverage
- Also serves Carbis Bay and other West Cornwall towns
Useful Links
Taxi
Local taxi firms serve St Ives, Carbis Bay and Hayle; Harbour Cars (01736 797688) is one confirmed local operator. A taxi rank operates near the railway station forecourt. Booking ahead is advisable on summer evenings.
- Local Operator
- Harbour Cars, 01736 797688 (one confirmed local operator)
- Rank
- Near the railway station forecourt
Driving & Parking
St Ives is reached via the A30 to Hayle, then the A3074 into the town. The old town's streets are narrow, largely pedestrianised or one-way, and not designed for through traffic; visitors driving in should head straight for one of the pay-and-display car parks on the town's edge (Trenwith, Barnoon, Porthmeor, or the Station car park) rather than attempting to drive into Downalong. In peak summer, car parks fill by mid-morning and the Lelant Saltings park-and-ride, connected to St Ives by the branch railway, is a more reliable option than searching for street parking.
- Route
- A30 to Hayle, then the A3074 into St Ives
- Car Parks
- Trenwith, Barnoon, Porthmeor and the Station car park (pay-and-display, on the town's edge)
- Alternative
- Lelant Saltings park-and-ride, connected to St Ives by the branch railway line
Useful Links
Cycling
St Ives' own streets are hilly and narrow, more suited to walking than cycling within the old town, but the surrounding coast and the Coast to Coast Trail linking St Ives with Portreath (via a broadly flat, largely traffic-free route) are popular with cyclists. St Ives station has bicycle storage.
- Within Town
- St Ives' own streets are hilly and narrow, more suited to walking than cycling
- Coast To Coast Trail
- The Coast to Coast Trail links St Ives with Portreath via a broadly flat, largely traffic-free route
- Station Storage
- St Ives station has bicycle storage
From the Airport
Live options for reaching the village from the nearest airports. Times and fares are a guide and can change with traffic or operator schedules.
Cornwall Airport NewquayNQY
45 km away- Duration
- Approx. 45-55 minutes; a reasoned road-distance estimate, not independently confirmed against a live route planner
- Cost
- Variable (fuel/car hire)
The most practical option; there is no direct rail or coach link between the airport and St Ives.
- Duration
- Approx. 45-55 minutes
- Cost
- Variable; pre-book for best rates
Pre-booking a transfer is recommended over hailing on arrival, since the airport is small and taxi availability is limited.
Exeter AirportEXT
175 km away- Duration
- Approx. 2.5-3 hours; a reasoned road-distance estimate, not independently confirmed against a live route planner
- Cost
- Variable (fuel/car hire)
A realistic option mainly for visitors already touring further up the A30 corridor; Newquay is far closer for a St Ives-only trip.
Bristol AirportBRS
280 km away- Duration
- Approx. 4-4.5 hours; a reasoned road-distance estimate, not independently confirmed against a live route planner
- Cost
- Variable (fuel/car hire)
Bristol has a wider flight network than Newquay but is a long drive; most visitors will connect via London or a mainline train to St Erth instead.
EV & Essentials
Practical infrastructure on the ground: charging, water, and accessibility facilities worth knowing about before you arrive.
Accessibility Facilities
RNLI beach wheelchairs
Porthminster Beach (seasonal, lifeguard season)
Available in season via the beach lifeguard station at Porthminster; confirm current availability locally before relying on it.
Accessible toilets
Accessible toilet · Main car parks and beach-front public toilets (Porthminster, Porthmeor, the harbour)
Not independently itemised venue-by-venue; confirm specific facilities locally.
Parking
Parking options in and around St Ives. On busy weekends, arriving early or taking the train is recommended.
Cornwall Council pay-and-display car parks
Approx. £2.50 for the first hour up to around £11.50 for 24 hours at the Station car park (Apr-Oct rates); confirm current tariffs at cornwall.gov.uk before travelling. Main car parks are Trenwith (TR26 1DD), Barnoon Long Stay (TR26 1JF), Porthmeor (TR26 1JU) and the Station car park (TR26 2BH, 106 spaces). St Ives' streets are narrow and largely unsuited to driving into the old town; the Lelant Saltings park-and-ride, connected to St Ives by the branch railway line, is a strong alternative in peak summer when town car parks fill by mid-morning.
Planning the wider trip?
Our country-level primer covers national rail, intercity buses, airports, the Leap Card, and whether you actually need a hire car for your trip around United Kingdom.
Getting Around United Kingdom →Top Tip
The train is the best way to get to St Ives. You arrive right in the heart of St Ives, there’s no parking hassle, and you can enjoy a meal and a drink without worrying about driving home.