Mariners Cottage, St Ives

Mariners Cottage is a three-bedroom apartment in St Ives, sleeping six across three bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. The price starts at £539 per night, and the property holds a 4.5/5 rating from six guest reviews. At this price point it sits firmly in the premium tier for St Ives town-centre apartments - what it delivers is proximity: Porthgwidden Beach is 200 metres from the door, a sheltered cove on the eastern side of town that is calm enough for children on most summer days.

The apartment includes Wi-Fi, parking, a dishwasher, and a washing machine. Dogs are welcome. With three bathrooms spread across three bedrooms, two families or a group of six adults can manage the morning routine without queuing. The layout works well for groups who want a base rather than a rural retreat.

St Ives Harbour Beach is 300 metres away and Porthmeor - the main surf beach on the north-facing side of the headland - is 400 metres. The Tate St Ives gallery sits directly above Porthmeor, with a rooftop terrace overlooking the water. The Barbara Hepworth Museum is a 10-minute walk through the lanes. Porthminster Beach Cafe, widely rated as one of the better seafood restaurants in Cornwall, is 15 minutes on foot along the waterfront.

Best for groups or two families who want a central base with three beaches within 400 metres and dogs in tow. Less good for couples or solo travellers - at £539 per night the nightly cost assumes a full group of six, and parking in St Ives remains constrained even with one space included.