There’s something about May half-term in St Ives that feels just right.
The town begins to properly wake up for the season ahead, the days stretch a little longer, and there’s usually that lovely balance of sunshine, sea air, and a slightly slower pace before the height of summer arrives.
We’ve only visited St Ives during May half-term, it has become one of our favourite times to head down South. It’s warm enough for beach days, relaxed enough to wander without rushing, and ideal for settling into that easy Cornish rhythm we always seem to fall back into when we’re there.
If you’re planning a trip, here are some of our favourite ways to spend time in St Ives during May half-term.
Things to Do in St Ives During May Half Term
Start the day early around the harbour and beaches
One of the best things about St Ives in May is the mornings.
Before the beaches fill and the harbour properly wakes up, everything feels calm and peaceful. We always head out early with Bob, making the most of the beaches before restrictions begin at 10am, and those walks have become one of our favourite parts of every trip.
Coffee in hand, wandering around the harbour while the sea is still calm and quiet, is honestly one of the simplest pleasures in St Ives.
Book a surfing lesson
If there’s one thing that instantly makes you feel part of St Ives life, it’s getting in the sea.
Booking a lesson with St Ives Surf School is such a fun way to experience the town differently, whether you’re a complete beginner or just want to properly embrace the Cornish coast for a few hours.
Porthmeor Beach always has such a brilliant atmosphere watching surfers out on the water too, especially in May when the beaches still feel slightly more relaxed than peak summer.
Rent a paddleboard and wetsuit in the harbour
One of the things we love most about St Ives is how easy it is to slip into outdoor holiday mode.
Hiring a wetsuit and paddleboard around the harbour is such a lovely way to spend a slower afternoon. The water can be beautifully calm on the right day, and seeing the town from the sea gives you a completely different perspective.
Even just watching the paddleboards drifting across the harbour somehow adds to that laid-back St Ives feeling.
Beach hopping for the afternoon
One of the best things about St Ives is how different all the beaches feel despite being so close together.
Porthmeor has that classic surf beach atmosphere, Porthminster feels calmer and more relaxed, and Harbour Beach changes completely depending on the tide.
During May half term, beach hopping works perfectly because you can easily wander between them without the intense summer crowds. Some afternoons we’ll barely settle in one place before deciding to wander off and try another.
Rent deckchairs on the harbour and people watch
Some of the best moments in St Ives involve doing very little at all.
One of our favourite ways to spend an hour or two is renting deckchairs overlooking the harbour, grabbing drinks & tapas from Silco during happy hour, and simply watching everything unfold around us.
Boats drifting in and out, paddleboarders on the water, families on the beach, dogs racing across the sand — there’s always something happening, but the pace somehow still feels relaxed.
Watch the sunset
If the weather plays nicely, sunset in St Ives is always worth slowing down for.
We love wandering down towards Porthmeor in the evening and watching the sky slowly change colour over the sea. Sometimes we’ll sit with an ice cream, other evenings it’s simply a quiet walk after dinner with Bob.
Either way, it’s one of those moments that never really loses its magic.
Final thoughts
If you’re visiting St Ives during May half-term for the first time, my biggest piece of advice would be not to overplan it. We have learnt not to, and this year, felt like we got it just right.
Leave room for the slower moments. The unexpected beach stop, the extra coffee break, the walk that turns into an entire afternoon by the harbour.
Because in St Ives, those are usually the moments that end up becoming your favourites.
Things to Do in St Ives During May Half Term
I’m Kerri-Ann or KA as my friends call me, always found with a cup of coffee in one hand and my camera in the other. I have a huge passion for photography, fitness, fashion and family travel. I started this blog in 2014. It began as my creative outlet after becoming a mummy to our little boy George Archie. I started out blogging about parenting and over the years it has evolved into a blog that covers lifestyle, fashion, family and travel. Today TheKAEdit is ultimately a life and style blog. Thank you for reading x x
