Car Parking In St Ives, Cornwall – It’s Not As Bad As You Think (Honest!)
***UPDATED FOR 2023***
Everyone worries about parking in St Ives. Yes, it can be tricky in the height of the Summer, but there are plenty of places to try – even if it does mean a walk or a short hop on a bus.
Hopefully my guide to car parking in St Ives will help you a little bit!
Map Showing All Of The Car Parks In St Ives
The Island – Long Stay Car Park
The Island Car Park is right across town, through some pretty narrow streets. To get there you need to drive along the harbour and up across Back Road East/West. I hate driving there, but plenty of people do it as it is always pretty full!
The Island Car Park has 129 car parking spaces. Coaches, caravans and motorhomes cannot park here. There are free motorcycle spaces.
Sat Nav Postcode: TR26 1SY
Toilets: YES – there are public toilets at the top of the slope down to Porthgwidden Beach
Nearest Beach: Porthgwidden
Click here to see current Cornwall Council ticket prices
The Sloop – Short Stay Car Park
The Sloop Car Park requires a drive though down, along Wharf Road. Pretty but often requires patience! To get into the car park you need to turn left up the slope by Moomaids Ice Cream Shop and The Balancing Eel.
The Sloop Car Park has 42 car parking spaces. Coaches, caravans and motorhomes cannot park here. There are free motorcycle spaces.
Sat Nav Postcode: TR26 1LT
Toilets: YES – there are public toilets in the car park. If these are closed the nearest ones are on Smeatons Pier.
Nearest Beach: St Ives Harbour Beach
Click here to see current Cornwall Council ticket prices
Smeatons Pier – Long Stay Car Park
Smeatons Pier Car Park is another one where you have to do a (slightly hair-raising) drive though town. You need to drive along Wharf Road, turn right, keeping the sea on your left hand side. You need to go past the tea shops and art galleries, through the narrow bit by R&J supplies. Turn right at the top onto Smeatons Pier.
Smeatons Pier Car Park has 31 car parking spaces. Coaches, caravans and motorhomes cannot park here. There are free motorcycle spaces.
Sat Nav Postcode: TR26 1PS
Toilets: YES, there are public toilets on the pier.
Nearest Beach: St Ives Harbour Beach, plus Breakwater and Bamaluz Beaches for dog walking at low tide.
Click here to see current Cornwall Council ticket prices
Porthmeor – Short Stay Car Park
Porthmeor Car Park has to have one of the best views of any car park in the world! Overlooking Porthmeor Beach, it is a wonderful place to stop and stare – providing you are lucky enough to get a space!
Porthmeor Car Park has 30 spaces. Coaches, caravans and motorhomes cannot park here. There are free motorcycle spaces.
Sat Nav Postcode: TR26 1JU
Toilets: YES, there are public toilets in the car park. Out of season the main ones are closed but they usually leave the disabled one open.
Nearest Beach: Porthmeor
Click here to see current Cornwall Council ticket prices
Barnoon – Long Stay Car Park
Barnoon Car Park sits on top of the hill overlooking The Tate St Ives and Porthmeor Beach. You get to it by either driving all the way through town, up Porthmeor Hill and turn left. Or, by turning up Bullans Lane (by the doctors surgery on The Stennack), turning right at the top and driving along Clodgy View.
Barnoon Long Stay Car Park has 124 spaces. Coaches, caravans and motorhomes cannot park here. There are free motorcycle spaces.
Sat Nav Postcode: TR26 1JF
Toilets: NO – the public toilets have been turned into Barnoon Workshop! The nearest toilets are either down the hill at Porthmeor Car Park, or down the steps behind The Sloop.
Nearest Beach: Porthmeor
Click here to see current Cornwall Council ticket prices
The Launderette Car Park
The Launderette Car Park is a privately run car park on the Stennack, just before you get into St Ives town centre. To get to it, drive down the Stennack, past the doctors surgery. The turning into the car park is straight after the laundrette. There are big murals on the walls into the car park.
At the time of writing, The Stennack Car Park charges £1.50 per hour.
Sat Nav Postcode: TR26 1QX
Park Avenue – Long Stay Car Park
Park Avenue Car Park is tucked away up the hill behind The Stennack. The easiest way to get to it is to come into down from the Halsetown/Consuls end. Drive down The Stennack, past the Co-Op. The road comes to a funny junction, with Bullans Lane on the left, The Stennack straight ahead, and Park Avenue, curving off to the right. Follow the road up (past St Ives Funeral Directors) and Park Avenue Car Park is on your right. Please do take care, the first part of the road is 2 way but it turns into a one way after. This sometimes confuses people!
Park Avenue has 77 car parking spaces. Coaches, caravans and motorhomes cannot park here. There are free motorcycle spaces.
Sat Nav post code: TR26 1QE
Toilets: NO – the nearest toilets are behind Nat West on Tregenna Hill.
Nearest Beach: St Ives Harbour Beach
Click here to see current Cornwall Council ticket prices
The Station – Long Stay Car Park
St Ives Station Car Park is by the train station, above Porthminster Beach. It is the best car park to park in to get down to Porthminster Beach. It does get very busy during the Easter and Summer holidays, but you usually can get a space out of season.
The Station Car Park has 106 car parking spaces. Coaches, caravans and motorhomes cannot park here. There are free motorcycle spaces.
Sat Nav Postcode: TR26 2BH
Toilets: YES – there are toilets behind Porthminster Beach.
Nearest Beach: Porthminster
Click here to see current Cornwall Council ticket prices
Rugby Club – Long Stay Car Park
The Rugby Club is a privately owned car park. It is a pretty big car park that rarely gets completely full.
The car park charges a flat fee of £7 for 24 hours parking. You can book in advance online, and you can book weekly tickets too.
It is about a 15 minute walk to the town centre, but there is a regular (in-season) bus service that transports passengers to The Tate Gallery at Porthmeor Beach, which is less than 5 minutes from the harbour. The buses are run by St Ives Bus Company and run from approx. 10am every 10-15 mins. The charge for this is £1.50 one way or £2.50 return.
Sat Nav Postcode: TR26 1ER
For more information on the St Ives Rugby Club car park, please click here
Trenwith – Long Stay Car Park
Trenwith Car Park is the really big car park on top of the hill by St Ives Leisure Center. It is a fair walk down into town (takes about 10 minutes) but there are plenty of buses that will drop you at Royal Square (right in the center of St Ives).
Trenwith Car Park has 311 car park spaces in Winter, and 759 in the Summer (they open up the back fields). It is suitable for coaches, caravans and vans. There are free motorcycle spaces.
Sat Nav Postcode: TR26 1DD
Toilets: YES, there are toilets by the cafe (NOT in the Leisure Center)
Nearest Beach: St Ives Harbour Beach
Click here for current Cornwall Council ticket prices
The Stennack Surgery Car Park
This is the car park of the doctors surgery, which turns into a pay and display out of surgery hours. You can park there after 6pm and before 8am during the week, and all day on weekends and bank holidays - basically, any time the surgery is closed.
Sat Nav Postcode: TR26 1RU
Toilets: The nearest toilets are in Dove Street.
Nearest Beach: St Ives Harbour Beach
Click here to find out more info >>
St Ives School Car Parking
During the school holidays you can park up at the St Ives high school. I've not heard if this is happening this year, but I will update here when I hear more information.
St Erth Park and Ride
If you want to avoid driving into St Ives completely, you can use the park and ride at St Erth. Park your car at the big car park by St Erth train station and get the train into St Ives. It is a beautiful train ride in, not too expensive, and the St Ives train station is a short walk away from St Ives Harbour.
Click here for information about the St Erth Park and Ride.
Reserved Car Parking
Porthgwidden Reserved Permit Car Park
This car park sits above Porthgwidden Beach. It has 107 spaces but all of these are for reserved permits only.
For more information please click here – Cornwall Council website info
Wheal Dream Reserved Permit Car Park
This car park is tucked away near the St Ives Museum. It has 22 spaces but all of these are for reserved permits only.
For more information please click here – Cornwall Council website info
Westcott Quay Reserved Permit Car Park
This car park is right by the start of The Warren, just after Lambeth Walk. It has 7 spaces but all of these are for reserved permits only.
For more information please click here – Cornwall Council website info
St Ives Secure Car Park
There is a private car park on the Penbeagle estate. Call up and reserve your space before you arrive. You get unlimited access to your car, when ever you need it. They will also take you, your passengers and your luggage to your accomodation.
Please click here for more information – St Ives Car Park website
