- Discover the home and studio of the artist Barbara Hepworth, and explore the Barbara Hepworth Museum.
- Wander around the Sculpture Garden, complete with over 20 Barbara Hepworth sculptures.
- Take the opportunity to check out some of Hepworth's incomplete plaster works.
- Kids can start to learn all about Modernist art, and the history of Hepworth's life in Cornwall.
Whether you're an art lover or simply love exploring history and nature, Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden is one of the most unique places to check out on your visit to Cornwall.
With fantastic sculptures, as well as access to Hepworth's studio and living space, taking a look around this museum should be on your list of top things to do when you head to St Ives.
Born in Yorkshire in 1903, Barbara Hepworth was a renowned Modernist sculptor, who worked in bronze, plaster, alabaster, wood and stone to create beautiful abstract pieces of work.
She came to live in St Ives, Cornwall at the start of World War II, and lived at Trewyn Studio until she died in 1975.
She is considered by many to be one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century, and the curved forms she used make her work distinctive and recognisable to this day. She would often carve into wood, but also made larger sculptures that stood outdoors and were made from bronze.
These works are what she became famous for, and the sculpture garden in St Ives is a classic example of how her sculptures both complement and contrast with the natural environment.
Following Hepworth's accidental death due to a fire in her studio at the age of 72, her studio was opened as the Barbara Hepworth Museum by her family in the year after her death.
In 1980, the Tate gained ownership of the property, and now it operates as a gallery and museum, containing the largest collection of Barbara Hepworth sculptures anywhere in the world.
Now, you can explore the Trewyn studio building, as well as the gardens, and look at some of Hepworth's unfinished work.
On your visit to the house, you can follow a route around the gallery and museum, as well as the sculpture garden, to check out all the work on display.
The route begins in the museum archive space, where you can see some of the tools Hepworth used to create her famous work, and learn a little more about her life and work. Then, take the stairs to the studio and living space, that Barbara Hepworth called home.
Then, following the main route out to the sculpture garden, you can see Hepworth's workshops where she created work in plaster and stone.
This part of the house is also the place to discover some of Hepworth's most beautiful and personal pieces of art, with twenty sculptures guiding the way.
Here you'll also see the garden created by Barbara Hepworth and her friend Priaulx Rainier, as well as the greenhouse and summer house, that contain a collection of plants owned by the artist herself.
While there is a lot of history and art to see at the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, you don't need to be an expert in art history to enjoy your visit.
As a part of Tate St Ives, the work and displays at the Barbara Hepworth Museum are very accessible, and there are lots of things to do as a family.
Hepworth's sculpture style is the perfect way to introduce children to certain elements of modern art, and there are lots of activities on offer by Tate to help kids understand the work, and enjoy learning all about the life of the artist.
A great way to help kids think about the work is to check out the Tate Kids page about Barbara Hepworth, which helps explain her artistic process in an easy to digest way.
Just a five minute walk from the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden is Tate St Ives, also known as Tate Cornwall.
Here you can continue your art adventure with views over the beach, with work from artists from around the globe, and permanent as well as temporary exhibitions. The gallery is also super family friendly, with regular kids workshops for children of all ages, with family trails and activity packs available from reception.
If you'd like to explore Tate St Ives as well as the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden , your tickets allow access to both locations so you can enjoy a day filled with art.
For something to eat during your visit, there are a number of great options.
There is a cafe on the top floor of Tate St Ives, that looks out over the town and seafront, making it the perfect spot to enjoy some tea, coffee, and the homemade cakes on offer. Alternatively, the town of St Ives is teeming with great places to grab some lunch or dinner.
For a traditional Cornish pasty, there are lots of individual pasty shops along the seafront, with plenty of benches or indoor seating for you to sit and look out over the ocean as you eat.
There are also lots of cafes and places to get fish and chips, depending on your mood. Or, if you'd prefer a sit down meal, The Beach Restaurant on The Wharf is perfect for some local seafood or burgers.
Scoff Troff Cafe on Market Place is another great option for lunch, and the fact that it's dog and child friendly makes it a popular location for families.
As well as the fantastic art on offer at St Ives, there are also lots of great family friendly walks in the area that will give you a free and memorable experience enjoying the local views.
Porthminster Beach is a hugely popular beach during the summer months, and it's also a starting point of lots of trails in the area that are lots of fun all year round.
And, if you feel like venturing further afield and checking out one of the most southernmost points of the UK, head to Land's End in Penzance, just a 40 minute drive from St Ives.
