Let’s first talk about St Ives and then, we will explore the best parking spots there, both free and paid.
St Ives is a fantastic little seaside town in the extreme south-west of England. St Ives, a 20-minute drive up the peninsula from Penzance, is a well-known tourist destination with bright sandy beaches, classic caravan parks, and cosy little Cornish seaside pubs. St Ives, popular with surfers and inspiring entire generations of artists with its cute cobbled lanes, is one of those places you’ll want to visit again and again.
St Ives was founded as a fishing village in the sixth century by Irish saint Ia, whose mythical appearance is said to have inspired the establishment of a Christian chapel there. Her life was shrouded in mystery, and legend has it that she arrived in the United States on a leaf that magically transformed into a boat. From then on, the small town thrived with a thriving pilchard fishing industry, which was nearly entirely replaced by tourism in the early twentieth century due to overfishing. St Ives now has a population of just under 10,000 people.
The Sloop Inn is one of the oldest pubs in the south-west of England, having been founded in 1312. Originally a fisherman’s inn, it was rebuilt in the 17th century with tough granite walls and a classic Cornish black slate roof, as was typical of most local buildings at the time. It became increasingly popular with artists during the Victorian era, gaining legendary status thanks to names like Australian-born Louis Grier. Nowadays, it is extremely popular with both locals and tourists, and you can sample a wide variety of Cornish ales. Porthmeor Beach is one of only a few ‘blue flag‘ beaches in Cornwall, indicating that it meets high environmental standards and has excellent beach management. As you can see, it lives up to its reputation.
Porthmeor Beach’s crescent-shaped bay is ideal for surfing, but bring a wetsuit as the Atlantic Ocean can be quite chilly even in the summer! The beachfront is teeming with lovely restaurants and cafes, making it ideal for a family day out. As previously stated, St Ives is a haven for artists and thus has an impressive number of art galleries. The Tate Gallery is located just up from Porthmeor Beach and offers a spectacular view of the Atlantic. The structure itself is extremely impressive and serves as a source of pride for the locals. Adult admission is £10, but children under the age of 18 are admitted free as part of a government initiative.
The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, which commemorates the life of the great twentieth-century sculptor, is another source of inspiration for aspiring artists and creative people alike. Her work is fantastically surreal, and it would be a pity not to visit her old house and garden. A combined ticket for both The Tate and The Barbara Hepworth Museum is also available for £14.50.
If you prefer natural beauty, we highly recommend taking one of the boat tours to see the seals on Seal Island. You might be lucky enough to see dolphins, basking sharks, whales, and a wide variety of bird life. It wouldn’t be right to visit Cornwall without getting some glorious salty ocean spray in your lungs. Aside from the abundance of creativity in the air, there is a wonderful little harbour full of great gift shops that is also a major tourist attraction.
The tourist statistics for such a small town are incredible, with half a million-day trippers and 200,000 tourists visiting each year. St Ives is one of the most difficult towns and cities to find a parking spot in, and locals are likely to react negatively if you park in the wrong place. Furthermore, there are a large number of pedestrians during the day, ultra-narrow streets, and the majority of them are one-way. If you still need to find free parking in St Ives, use our comprehensive list of parking options below, but you should also consider the less stressful options, such as the park-and-ride system.
Important Note:
While UKFreeParking.com takes every step to ensure that the parking information provided is accurate at the time of writing, local ordinances, parking availability, parking prices, and parking regulations change with time.
UKFreeParking.com accepts no responsibility for any fines or tickets received as a result of using our website.
Please ensure that you park your vehicle safely and responsibly every time, making sure to adhere to local parking rules, signs, and regulations.
Free Parking in St Ives
Free, unrestricted residential street parking
Times are tough, and some of us must watch our pennies these days. You can save money and park for free by using residential parking options in St Ives, but you should always be cautious of any signs left by locals to avoid potential confrontations.
Check for any newly enforced parking regulations to avoid potential fines, and keep in mind that during the summer months, there will be a high volume of tourists, so you’ll most likely be driving at a walking pace down tiny narrow lanes. If that doesn’t deter you, keep reading for a comprehensive list of free residential street parking addresses in St Ives.
You should be respectful of how you park, as well as how you behave inside and outside your vehicle, as with all residential parking options, but in St Ives you should be extra nice to the locals. Don’t even think about leaving a ‘be back in 5 minutes’ sign with your phone number in the window. Tensions can rise, and no one wants to get into a fight.
The following addresses are measured in distance from Fore St, which is located on the beach just a block away from Wharf Road.
South-West
The B3311 will take you directly up to St Ives from Penzance, Cornwall’s southernmost point. You’ll pass the Hellesveor Holidays campsite and caravan parking area, as well as the St Ives skate park, with its sleek contours and talented local skaters. The countryside around this part of England is breathtaking, and the Trevalgan Touring Park offers more camping and caravan parking options, as well as rocky coves and The Merry Harvesters Stone Circle. As previously stated, parking in St Ives is a nightmare, but we’ve found some good spots. The further you go, the easier it will be to pull it off and find somewhere free to park, not to mention stress-free!
Alexandra Road TR26 1ET – 0.7 miles
Tremar Road TR26 1EX – 0.7 miles
Trelawney Avenue TR26 1BS – 0.7 miles
Carnellis Road TR26 1BN – 0.7 miles
Tregwary Road TR26 1BL – 0.7 miles
Trelawney Road TR26 1AN – 0.4 miles
Penwith Road TR26 2HX – 0.9 miles
Penbeagle Crescent TR26 2JF – 0.9 miles
South-East
If you’re coming from Newquay in the north-east, there’s only one residential street option with very limited residential parking. The walk along the coast towards the center is pure bliss from here. The harbour, with its many restaurants and quirky little shops, is only a half-mile walk away. You’ll walk right past St Ia’s Parish Church, which was built in the 5th or 6th centuries! Visitors are always welcome, and it should be on your list of interesting things to do in St Ives. You can also stop at the Scoff Troff Cafe for a full English breakfast, which has excellent reviews and a welcoming atmosphere.
- Porthminister Terrace TR26 2DQ – 0.5 miles
Overnight/Weekend/Sunday Parking
In the summer, the following parking lots are only available after midnight, but in the winter, they are available after 6 p.m. More information can be found in the cheapest parking section. On Sundays, parking in St Ives is not free.
Park and Ride Services
- St Erth Station Park & Ride TR27 6JW – southeast of St Ives
- Lelant Saltings TR26 3DL – southeast of St Ives
Cheapest Paid Car Parks
Because of the high number of tourists, finding cheap parking in St Ives is extremely difficult. During the winter, between the 1st of November and the 31st of March, you will be able to park at a reduced rate in these council-run car parks. The timings will change, so make sure you check the signs to avoid being caught and fined.
Short Stay
During the winter, all short-stay parks offer free parking between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. In the summer, it is only free from midnight to 8 a.m., so leave before the parking wardens arrive to avoid large fines.
- Porthmeor Beach Car Park TR26 1JZ – £2.30 for 2 hours (Winter) // – £3.40 for 2 hours (Summer)
- Sloop Car Park TR26 1LU (Free after 6pm) – £2.30 for 2 hours (Winter) // – £3.40 for 2 hours (Summer)
Long Stay
These long-term parking lots will allow you to have more free time during the winter. They offer free parking from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., but no later. In the summer, it is only open from midnight to 8 a.m. Please be extremely cautious not to be caught off guard by the various rules in the following long-term parking lots. For more information, see the section below.
- Barnoon Long Stay Car Park TR26 1JF – £2.30 for 2 hours (Winter) // – £3.40 for 2 hours (Summer)
- The Island Car Park TR26 1SY – £2.30 for 2 hours (Winter) // – £3.40 for 2 hours (Summer)
- Park Avenue Car Park TR26 1QE – £2.30 for 2 hours (Winter) // – £3.40 for 2 hours (Summer)
- Porthrepta Long Stay Car Park TR26 2TU – £2.30 for 2 hours (Winter) // – £3.40 for 2 hours (Summer) – Free between 6pm and 8am year-round.
- Station Parking TR26 2BH – £2.30 for 2 hours (Winter) // – £3.40 for 2 hours (Summer)
- Smeatons Pier Car Park TR26 1LP – £2.30 per session (Winter) // – £3.40 per session (Summer) – Free between 00:30am and 8am year-round
- Trenwith Long Car Park TR26 1DD – £2.60 for 2 hours (Winter) // – £3.40 for 2 hours (Summer)
- Stennack Laundrette Private Car Park TR26 1QX – £3.00 for 2 hours