Welcome to St. Ives, The Guardian’s Seaside Town of the Year, 2007 and a premier holiday resort known internationally as a place of great beauty and a centre for the arts. The "jewel in the crown of Cornwall", there is something indefinable, even magical, about St. Ives.

The Tate gallery here in St. Ives has succeeded in a way that could not have been foreseen; with the opening of the national maritime museum in Falmouth and before that the Eden Project, St. Ives is now part of what has become known as the golden triangle of top attractions in Cornwall.

Increasingly accessible air access to Cornwall since the opening of the routes into Newquay airport means that short breaks to our unique and lovely town are even more attractive. St. Ives can also be reached by rail with a branch line that has fantastic views along the coast.

Richard Hext became the first Mayor of St. Ives in 1639 and the old tradition of Mayor Choosing continues each year in May with little change. In the afternoon of that same day, the children of the town are invited to receive a customary saffron bun, a local delicacy, and take a sip from the loving cup. This solid silver cup is gilded with gold and stands nearly two feet high; Sir Francis Bassett of Tehidy, the Recorder of St. Ives, presented it to the town in 1640.

The charming inscription on the base reads:

"iff any discord twixt my friends arise within the burrough of beloved st. Ives itt is desired that this my cupp of loue to eurie one a peace maker may proue then am i blessed to have giuen a legacie si loke my hart unto posteritie"

There are many other traditional customs that are still upheld by the local community including the Hurling of the Silver Ball on Feast Monday in February, the sailing of model yachts at Consols Pool on Good Friday morning and, on spring bank holiday, Sunday Schools have a March of Witness, with their banners, around the town ending with tea and games on The Island. One of our most charming ceremonies also involves the children of our town. This takes place once every 5 years on St. James's Day, July 25th, when ten small girls wearing white dresses, and two widows, dance to the tune of the fiddle around JOHN Knill's steeple. The next ceremony will be in the year 2011.

We have a wealth of art galleries and studios, a school of painting, an excellent local museum and varied shops. There are many venues that provide live music, a cinema, an operatic society and a first-rate children's theatre that presents high quality shows throughout the year. One of our latest additions to the town is the leisure and fitness centre with its competition standard swimming pool. There is also an extensive selection of excellent restaurants where local produce, especially our wonderful varieties of fresh seafood, is expertly presented.

St. Ives has to be one of the most beautiful coastal towns in Europe. We hope that you will be able to visit St. Ives soon and see it for yourself. If you do we wish you a happy, rewarding and relaxing holiday.