With its listed balcony hanging out over the sea wall walk, this blue-washed waterfront retreat is almost on the beach. Pole position for exploring St Ives’ charms from dawn to dusk and beyond.

On that balcony, there is a schematic map inscribed with directions to the world’s best surfing beaches: Bondi 10,780 miles, Waiki 7,213 miles and Porthmeor a mere half-a-mile away. Point made.

As one of St Ives’ oldest and most characterful cottages, The Balcony Studio underwent a two year damp-course-to-roof renovation, welcoming guests again from the summer of 2022. Rich in history, the studio has been home to artists and seafarers.
The welcome
Guests are encouraged to download the property’s app. Parking at St Ives Rugby Club, high above the town’s higgeldy-piggeldy medieval lanes, is highly recommended. Then taking a taxi to Andrew Street is probably the best option.

Three days before our first night, we receive an e-mail with the code to the key box. On arrival – butter, cheese, milk and wine wait in the SMEG fridge freezer. The welcome pack includes a sleeve of capsules for the Nespresso coffee maker, biscuits, chocolate and two stamped postcards of the Balcony Studio.
The cottage
The front door enters from cobbled St Andrews Street straight into a spacious kitchen.

Across a broad dark wood breakfast bar there are a coffeemaker, hob, oven, dishwasher and a wine fridge large enough to see you through a global wine shortage.

Stairs lead down to a contender for St Ives’ largest bathroom. Picking up on traditional Cornish textures, a William Holland Alvius tin spa bath is big enough…
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