St Ives Cornwall Wins TOP UK Beaches Award

Take a look at a recent article from Holiday Lettings Cornwall about UK tourism and our involvement through uktourism.co.uk


Glorious beaches around the Westcountry have topped the British charts to find the country’s best seaside destinations – with one West bay named among the finest in Europe.


St Ives, in West Cornwall, whose craggy headland boasts an array of stunning and safe beaches, was voted the top UK beach resort according to contributors to the TripAdvisor website.


The town’s sandy delights were also named sixth best in Europe, beating competition from the likes of Majorca, Sicily and Sardinia.


Malcolm Bell, head of tourism at VisitCornwall, said St Ives was a worthy winner. He said: “This award is an amazing testament to the popularity of St Ives which is truly one of the jewels in Cornwall’s crown.”


“As well as stunning beaches it has a range of quality accommodation and fantastic attractions making it appeal to visitors of all ages and interests.”


TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel site, and as well as accolades for St Ives, the company’s first-ever Travellers’ Choice Beach Awards provided good news for destinations across the Westcountry.


The surfers’ paradise offered by Newquay’s stunning beaches gave it second place in the British list, with Bournemouth third and Weymouth fourth.


Woolacombe in North Devon came in at seventh, while Padstow was voted eighth.


Mr Bell added: “For Newquay and Padstow to also be recognised puts Cornwall head and shoulders above other destinations.


“It is fantastic and, most importantly, these awards are voted for by visitors themselves.”


TripAdvisor spokeswoman Emma O’Boyle said it was no surprise that St Ives had triumphed as it is also home to one of the UK’s top-ranked hotels on TripAdvisor, the Boskerris Hotel.


The St Ives beaches of Porthmeor and Porthminster were particularly highly rated by TripAdvisor travellers, while other popular, non-beach attractions such as the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, Brooks Smith Gallery and Wills Lane Gallery, were also well-rated.


Miss O’Boyle said the awards prove what fantastic holidays we have on our doorsteps.


She said: “These awards recognise the best beach destinations in Britain and Europe as decided by millions of travellers. A British beach resort has out-classed all European counterparts.”