Family stays in St Ives

September 11th, 2020

Cohort has always been family-friendly and 2020 has taken this to a whole new level. The very nature of how our accommodation is currently organised (private rooms only) has meant that we have become a really viable, very affordable alternative for families wanting to visit St Ives.

Family friendly St Ives

St Ives is a very family friendly resort with plenty to do for everyone. If you’re staying at Cohort we are right in the centre of town so it’s a short walk to anywhere or anything you’d like to do.

There are many reasons why families might choose St Ives over a week abroad – easy access, great food, no currency exchange and no airport terminals to battle through (having struggled through airport terminals with two kids under 5 we understand how traumatic it can be!).

OK we don’t have guaranteed 30 degree heat but think how much time you save on applying sunscreen and our beaches are way better than any you’d find in Spain.

From experience we know how important it is to TIRE THOSE KIDS OUT; if nothing else it means you can get some downtime at the end of the day when they’re passed out in the room.

To that end here are our Mumsnet entries for family friendly things to do in St Ives.

10 Free family friendly activities

[Please email / ask reception for more details of any of these activities, we are happy to help].

1. CRABBING – Hayle Harbour is great for catching crabs; they’re quite big too so it’s not for the faint-hearted.
2. HEARTLANDS – Home to the largest adventure playground in Europe and completely free.
3. BBQ – On Hayle dunes, or even on a local beach in St Ives.
4. WALKING – Download the iWalk Cornwall app for a phenomenal selection of family friendly walks to suit all ages and walking abilities.
5. HAYLE PARK – Great climbing frames, slides, roundabouts and a bike / scooter / skate bowl.
6. PIRATE BOAT – Penzance (you have to see it to believe it!)
7. GEO-CACHING – Download the geo-caching app as there are loads of spots around St Ives and Carbis Bay. It definitely gets reluctant kids excited about walking.
8. THE BEACHES – Obviously!
9. BREAKFAST AT KNILLS MONUMENT – Sit with a flask of coffee / hot chocolate and croissant and watch the town wake up from a great view point high above St Ives.
10. BODY BOARD DOWN THE SAND DUNES – Hayle Towans is the best place to body board without getting wet!

10 Wallet opening family activities

1. WATER SPORTS – Coasteering, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Kayaking, Surfing – take your pick. All available either from St Ives Surf School, Ocean Sports in Carbis Bay or Shore Surf in Hayle.
2. BOAT TRIP TO SEAL ISLAND – 1 hour boat trips from St Ives Harbour.
3. GO TO THE THEATRE – Cohort is right next door to the phenomenal St Ives Theatre, home of the famous Kidz R Us theatre group. There’s also the amazing Boathouse Puppet Theatre on St Ives Harbour and of course The Minack theatre in Porthcurno.
4. VISIT A NATIONAL TRUST PROPERTY – There are so many nearby and if you’re a member of the National Trust it’s of course free entry. St Michael’s Mount would be our top tip and you can either walk across the causeway or take a boat, depending on tide times.
5. JUBILEE POOL – The UK’s first geo-thermally heated lido in Penzance.
6. ST IVES eBIKES – Get help on the Cornish hills with an eBike tour. Discounts available for Cohort guests.
7. ST IVES ESCAPE ROOM – Family brain power required.
8. ST IVES CINEMA – Opposite the hostel and great for a post-dinner family film.
9. STORY TELLING WALK (Ghost or Pirate) – Shanty Baba’s storytelling walks are famous in St Ives and great for ALL ages (including your teenagers who think that nothing is interesting enough for them).
10. PARADISE PARK – Home of the World Parrot Organisation and a fabulous bird park full of penguins, flamingos and birds of prey. Includes a large soft play and two cafes.

Family friendly accommodation

While things are a little different at the moment in a COVID-19 world we do provide great, family friendly accommodation. The large, communal lounge has plenty of space for families to chill and while all our board games are in storage you are welcome to bring your own.

There is free tea and coffee served all day and even though our self-catering kitchen is currently shut (government guidelines) you are welcome to bring food back to the hostel and eat in our lounge or courtyard.

To make things easier for your fussy eaters there is a Co-Op supermarket next door (open 7am – 11pm 7 days a week) and a great little independent, general store over the road (Osbornes) which is open Monday – Saturday.

We have free, superfast WiFi throughout the building so bring your tablets, smart phones and laptops to entertain the kids or work during your downtime. Our WiFi can cope with everyone in the hostel all streaming at once!

See a full list of facilities at Cohort here.

October half term

We have availability over October half term and are still operating on a private room only basis so check our availability here: www.stayatcohort.co.uk/book-now and see if you can’t convince your family to take a trip to St Ives this Autumn.

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