ThingsToDoMuseum / ST IVES, CORNWALL
St Ives Museum
Look beyond the art-gallery reputation at the town museum on Wheal Dream. Fishing, mining, the railway and domestic life help explain how St Ives worked before and alongside tourism. Its historic rooms and changing art displays suit visitors who enjoy local objects and stories rather than a large interactive attraction.
Use a toilet before entering: there is no public toilet inside. The museum directs visitors to nearby public conveniences at Smeaton’s Pier and the Sloop car park.
The practical details
- Where to find it
- Wheal Dream, TR26 1PR
Directions and arrival information ↗ - Tickets and booking
- The published season runs April–October, Monday–Saturday, with an earlier Saturday finish. Check opening before travelling, especially outside summer. Confirm arrangements directly for groups or access assistance.
- Access and getting around
- The entrance is up a flight of steps, with a stairlift from ground level and a wheelchair at reception. Contact the museum to check the stairlift arrangements against your needs; this is not an unrestricted step-free building.
Official access information ↗ - Visiting with children
- Under-16s enter free. Select one theme, such as fishing or railways, for a manageable family visit and plan the toilet stop first. The compact historic museum is best approached as a looking-and-talking activity.
Practical information checked 14 September 2026. Confirm anything essential to your visit with the venue.
Make it part of your day
Allow 1–1½ hours for the visit, plus travel and breaks. This is a suggested planning allowance; opening times, access and availability may affect your plans.
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