Does St Ives have the best New Year’s Eve party in Britain?

Thousands of people gather every year in the popular Cornish holiday destination for a street party, complete with fancy dress and fireworks.

Everyone knows that Cornwall is a popular destination for Brits in the summer. It’s where you go to get away from the city and catch some rays. It’s the destination for gorging on seafood and ice-cream and for building sandcastles.

But did you know that Cornwall also does a great turn in awesome New Year’s Eve parties? Looe, Newquay, Truro and Falmouth all offer up great public celebrations, but it’s St Ives that has come to be known as the place to bring in the New Year.

Party atmosphere

The main party is centred around the harbour area, with food stalls and live entertainment, but the roads in central St Ives are closed from 6pm, which means revellers can wander the town unhindered by traffic, which really adds to the party atmosphere. There are loads of bars offering entertainment, so have a look around (and consider booking ahead if you want to attend a specific event or restaurant).

Fireworks

This year, St Ives’ fireworks display looks to be bigger and better than ever before. Head down to the harbour for the bells, where you’ll find the best spot for watching the show. What better way to enjoy fireworks than seeing them reflected in the sea?

Fancy dress

Wearing fancy dress is by no means an obligation on New Year’s Eve in St Ives, but it’s become a local tradition (Newquay and Looe also encourage dressing up). Get yourself a superhero costume and tough the cold while you celebrate the dawn of a new year.

New Year’s Day

Recover from the party antics of the night before with a refreshing walk along the shore. There’s nothing like the cold sea air to knock you back into shape. The Garrack Hotel & Restaurant offers a New Year’s Day lunch menu, perfect for restoring you to your former self.