A Seaside Staycation in St Ives
Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside! And that’s certainly the case for content creator Shell Mills and her three children. The next stop in our Travels with my Family series takes us to Cornwall as we follow in the footsteps of locals @shellandthelittlies on their trip to the picturesque St Ives on the south-west tip of England.
As frequent visitors to this Cornish gem, Shell and her family know the best places to stay, local attractions to visit, beaches to explore, and where to find the yummiest ice cream in flavours you’ve never even heard of! So, who better to show us around than this crew of colour-loving, ice-cream-devouring holidaymakers? Grab your surfboard and let’s go!
All images by @shellandthelittlies
12 May 2025
"The kids are definitely at home with salty hair and sandy toes. Valli and Renzo, being summer babies, both had their first beach day at just two days old!"
My name is Shell, and I’m Mum to Rocco, Valli, and Renzo. As a content creator, I enjoy capturing our family moments and sharing everything from everyday family life and travel to food and, of course, our love of fashion on my Instagram, @shellandthelittlies.
We love playing tourists in our home county of Cornwall. We’re so lucky to have such stunning beaches, quaint harbour towns, rugged coastlines, and rolling countryside to explore — there really is no reason to leave!
To the Beach
"We had such a wonderful time on our recent staycation in St Ives, enjoying lots of fun beach days.”
"Some of our favourite beaches to visit while in St Ives are Carbis Bay and Porthmeor."
Carbis Bay is a mile-long cove of white sand and calm waters, perfect for swimming. There are lots of scenic family walks to enjoy from Carbis Bay too. If you take the well signposted South West Coast Path along the railway line towards St Ives, you’ll come across some truly incredible coastal views, a medieval chapel and a fisherman’s lookout hut along the way. There’s also a train from Carbis Bay to St Ives that takes just three minutes!
Porthmeor is a surfer hotspot, nestled in between the shelter of two headlands and located on the doorstep of the Tate gallery. Be sure to check out Porthmeor's surf school if your little ones want to get into the sport — there's bodyboard hire too. We also took a short drive to Praa Sands. It’s such a beautiful, long stretch of white sand with a very old tree that fell from the garden above and landed bolt upright — it still stands today!
What the Littlies Wore: They were definitely the best-dressed beach kids, wearing the latest Bobo Choses collection styled with accessories from Mini Rodini, Molo, and IZIPIZI. Liewood always has the cutest beach toys, and Valli loved her confetti swim ring.
Things to Do, Places to See
"We always like the kids to experience a little culture when we travel."
"We visited the Tate gallery and the Barbara Hepworth Museum & Garden, which really is a hidden gem tucked behind the cobbled streets of St Ives town."
Most of the bronze sculptures are still in the same positions the artist placed them around Barbara Hepworth's garden, and it was amazing to see her studio brimming with tools and aprons, left practically as it was. Unfinished works remain exactly where she left them, so it truly feels like you’re standing in a captured moment in time. The kids had fun playing their new artist card game in the greenhouse.
While in town, two must-visit places are the St Ives Bookseller, an adorable bookshop, and Palais Provisions, home to the best artisan ice cream you’ll ever have. We highly recommend the Brown Bread flavour! And if you’re lucky, there’s a little bench outside where you can enjoy it safely away from the seagulls.
What the Littlies Wore: At the Tate, the boys wore Mini Rodini, and Valli wore a Bobo Choses dress, and later a strawberry outfit from Stella McCartney with a cute lemon Liewood bag to keep all her bits and bobs in!
Where to Stay in St Ives
"We’ve stayed at Una St Ives many times, the kids are always asking when we can go back."
"If your kids love swimming as much as mine do, the outdoor lido at Una St Ives provides hours of fun."
There’s also an indoor pool, spa, and café, so it’s a great place to visit whatever the weather. Their collection of spacious lodges are in a great location, just a short walk down the lane to Carbis Bay, it’s dog-friendly, has a brilliant restaurant with plenty of options for all the family, and it has the fantastic outdoor lido.
For a little luxury, Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate boasts stunning views across its own 25-acre Blue Flag beach, an award-winning spa, and four restaurants serving local Cornish produce. From casual beach dining at the Beach Club and ‘Walters on The Beach’ to the fairly new ‘Ugly Butterfly’ by renowned chef Adam Handling, which is perfect for a special occasion. There are also many holiday parks offering great facilities for families, such as St Ives Holiday Park.
What the Littlies Wore: Beach and pool days never looked more stylish — the boys wore swimwear from Liewood, and Valli wore a heart-print swimming costume by Molo, styled with comfy Birkenstock sandals and sunglasses.
Shell's Top Tips for Travelling with Kids
- Always, always have plenty of snacks!
- Pack lots of games, books and drawing supplies.
- And don’t be afraid to leave the devices at home. We’ve always done this, as we feel holidays are for embracing and experiencing. It’s amazing how, when devices aren’t available, kids’ imaginations come alive, and they find their own ways to stay entertained!
What three songs are on your summer playlist?
The kids love doing the actions to Beautiful Things by Benson Boone
Higher by The Saturdays
And anything by Little Mix
What are your kids’ favourite things to eat on holiday?
Pasta and pizza are always winners with my three — and luckily, you can find those just about anywhere! Onzo Pizzeria makes the best stone-baked pizzas in St Ives and has lovely views across the harbour.
Which looks did your kids love wearing the most?
They love all their Childrensalon outfits, they’re so fun and comfy, but I think they especially loved their sunglasses. They felt super cool!
If you could only pack one thing in your suitcase, what would it be?
My kids love to swim, so it would have to be swimwear (and SPF!)
Where's your next dream holiday destination?
We’ve got a few more staycations planned in our beautiful county of Cornwall, but our dream is to take the kids to visit their cousins in Australia!
