The gorgeous little UK village that's 'way better' than its famous and crowded neighbour

Tourists have praised a small village situated just minutes from one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK, with many claiming it may even be better. Carbis Bay is located around a mile southeast of St Ives, one of the busiest places in the whole of Cornwall.

St Ives is visited by more than half a million people on day trips every year, with more than 200,000 tourists staying overnight. The coastal town is famous for its picturesque harbour, golden beaches and famous art scene. However, the town can get very busy, with neighbouring Carbis Bay often considered a more peaceful environment.

TripAdvisor user @Vegetarian82 even claimed they think Carbis Bay was "better than St Ives beaches".

They said: "We were lucky enough to have a holiday home above the beach and so it was a (steep) walk down to the beach each day. The beach itself is like something from a med holiday. Clear blue sea and relatively calm waters.

"Sand all the way which was great for the children and little caves and even a little waterfall along the rocky outcrops which is good for the pirate-themed stories we did for the kids."

Meanwhile, @Safari279601 also suggested a trip to Carbis Bay was much better than St Ives" due to a lack of crowds. They posted: "Visited st ives which was very busy. And walked the coastal path over to carbis, marathon walk but wow when i got there! Amazing clear blue water, beautiful sand , less busy. Amazing. A must see!"

Although visitors accepted there was less to do in Carbis Bay than St Ives, this was also seen as a positive by many who wanted to feel closer to nature.

@Flyinghigh1000 posted: "Clean and very nice. Much nicer than St Ives - less touristy things and more of a nature feel than there. Lovely sand and a nice place to relax."

@CornishMorgans also remarked: "Don't miss Carbis Bay on a sunny day, much nicer than the St Ives beaches."

Carbis Bay achieved worldwide notoriety as the host of the G7 summit in 2021 with world leaders such as Boris Johnson, Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron in attendance.

St Ives and Carbis Bay is separated by just an eight-minute car journey, a 14-minute cycle ride or a 43-minute walk, making it easily accessible for those on a holiday to the West Country.