Airbnb Occupancy Rates in St. Ives, Cornwall(September 2026)
Tate St Ives, Porthminster Beach, and the harbour’s tight cobbled lanes define one of Cornwall’s most recognisable short-stay brands. Gallery weekends, summer family weeks, and telework mid-stays all compete for the same cliff-side cottages and parking-scarce terraces.
As of September 2026, St. Ives averages £39,369 in annual revenue per listing with 57% occupancy and £188 ADR across 1,385 active listings. Walkability and sea views move nightly rates more than bedroom count in this dense Mount’s Bay market.
Compare parish yield against Cornwall county averages and surf-town volume in Newquay before you underwrite a harbour purchase.
St. Ives Airbnb Market Map (September 2026)
St. Ives Market Performance
Period: September 2025 - August 2026
Is Airbnb a Good Investment in St. Ives?
YES. St. Ives rewards hosts who can compete on guest experience in a high-inventory arts-and-coast town, provided you confirm planning with Cornwall Council and buy walkable to the harbour or a guaranteed parking slot.
Versus Newquay. Newquay lists 1,283 properties at £38,979 with 60% occupancy and county-leading surf-and-festival volume. St. Ives trades some July intensity for premium gallery-weekend nightly rates and couples traffic outside school holidays.
Versus Cornwall. The county posts £36,238 average revenue at 60% occupancy across 17,966 listings. St. Ives is one parish inside that spread. County figures blend Padstow, Falmouth, and inland Cornwall wards that behave differently from Mount’s Bay.
Versus Padstow. Padstow earns £49,982 at 65% occupancy on 435 listings with a food-tourism calendar. St. Ives wins on Tate-driven arts positioning. Padstow wins on restaurant-week prestige with less parking friction in harbour lanes.
Why St. Ives wins
- Harbour-walkable terraces and sea glimpses command premium nightly rates on gallery weekends.
- Couples and art tourists book shoulder seasons when surf towns slow.
- Mount’s Bay brand recognition pulls international city-break guests.
Headwinds
- 1,385 listings in one parish means peak-week competition is real.
- Properties without parking or with long hill climbs from the beach underperform on reviews.
- Cornwall Council planning scrutiny is rising in concentrated holiday-let streets.
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How Often Will Your Airbnb Be Booked in St. Ives?
View Demand Patterns →Occupancy rates directly impact your revenue potential. Understanding demand patterns helps you set realistic expectations and optimize your availability strategy.
The current average occupancy rate in St. Ives is 57%, meaning properties are booked for about 209 nights per year. However, occupancy varies significantly based on property quality and management. Here's what you can expect:
Airbnb Occupancy Tiers in St. Ives
Premium(Top 10%) | High-performing(Top 25%) | Average(Median) | Low-performing(Bottom 25%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90% | 68% | 39% | 6% |
*High desirability & optimized availability | *Good market fit & guest satisfaction | *Standard market performance | *Higher vacancy, optimization needed |
Seasonal Occupancy Patterns in St. Ives
September, July
Highest demand and occupancy rates. Perfect for premium pricing strategies and maximizing revenue. Consider longer minimum stays and higher rates.
February, March
Moderate demand with balanced pricing opportunities. Good for attracting budget-conscious travelers while maintaining reasonable occupancy rates.
January, December
Lower demand requires competitive pricing and creative marketing. Focus on local events, extended stay discounts, and targeting specific traveler segments.
How Much Can You Earn with Airbnb in St. Ives?
Calculate Earnings →One of the most common questions for potential Airbnb hosts in St. Ives is about earning potential. Let's break down the revenue patterns and what you can realistically expect to earn.
Monthly Revenue Trends in St. Ives
Best-in-class Airbnb properties (top 10%) in St. Ives achieve around £50,641 annually, while strong performers (top 25%) earn at least £32,349. Typical properties generate about £16,697 per year, and entry-level listings (bottom 25%) see earnings near £3,680, often with room for optimization. Keep in mind, these are market averages—your actual earnings can be even higher depending on your property's location, bedrooms, guest capacity, and unique amenities.
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What Can You Learn from Top-Performing Airbnbs in St. Ives?
View Top Performers →Studying successful properties provides valuable insights for your own Airbnb strategy. Here are the top-performing listings in St. Ives and what makes them successful.
St. Ives Market Analysis
Gallery weekends and couples traffic
Tate St Ives, Barbara Hepworth’s garden, and harbour-front restaurants fill shoulder-season weekends when surf towns have already slowed. One- and two-bedroom terraces with sea glimpses command premium nightly rates. Large inland cottages need strong photography and a clear walk-time to Porthminster or the harbour to justify nightly rates.
School-holiday families and parking reality
July and August drive seven-night family stays. Guests expect beach kit storage, outdoor rinse space, and honest parking instructions. On-street permits and narrow lanes punish hosts who oversell “walk to beach” without mentioning the hill.
Telework mid-stays and Mount’s Bay spillover
Shoulder months bring remote workers extending long weekends into four- and five-night stays when Wi-Fi and desk space are marketed clearly. St. Merryn and Carbis Bay wards capture spillover from hosts priced out of harbour-centre stock while staying on the rail link toward St Erth.
What Are the Airbnb Regulations in St. Ives?
Understanding local regulations is crucial for operating a successful Airbnb. Let's examine the compliance landscape and what you need to know about licensing requirements in St. Ives.
Current Regulatory Status
No properties have proper licensing in this market, indicating minimal regulatory enforcement.
Planning risk: Cornwall Council has flagged high concentrations of holiday lets in Mount’s Bay parishes and is awaiting a national short-term let use class and mandatory register. Article 4 directions could require full planning permission in affected streets. Verify before exchange, not after your first booking.
Confirm planning status. Use Cornwall Council’s Do I need planning permission? service or apply for a Lawful Development Certificate. Read their short-term lets guidance for the 90-night main-home rule and pending use class.
Register when the national STR scheme goes live. Track GOV.UK registration guidance.
Fire safety for paying guests. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to holiday lets. Cornwall Council’s building control pages link to compliance steps.
Business rates versus council tax. If available 140+ days/year and let 70+ days in 12 months, the Valuation Office Agency may assess the property as self-catering. See GOV.UK self-catering rules.
Commercial waste. Holiday lets must use commercial bin collections. Check Cornwall Council waste rules for St Ives parish.
Tax baseline. Declare rental income to HMRC. Meet gas, electrical, and EPC standards regardless of planning outcome.
What Should You Charge for Your Airbnb in St. Ives?
Smart Pricing Tools →Pricing is one of the most critical decisions for Airbnb success. Let's analyze the current pricing landscape and help you understand what rates you can realistically charge.
The current average daily rate in St. Ives is £188 per night. However, pricing varies significantly based on property quality and location. Here's what different property tiers typically charge:
Airbnb Pricing Tiers in St. Ives
Premium(Top 10%) | High-performing(Top 25%) | Average(Median) | Budget(Bottom 25%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| £266per night | £181per night | £113per night | £38per night |
*Top locations, big properties, premium amenities | *Good property management, highly rated | *Standard market performance | *Basic properties, less desirable locations |
Is It Profitable to Start an Airbnb in St. Ives?
Investment Analysis →Understanding the profitability potential is crucial for any Airbnb investment decision. Let's analyze the revenue performance and profit margins in the St. Ives market to help you make informed financial decisions.
Revenue Performance
Profitability Factors
Which Areas in St. Ives Are Most Profitable for Airbnb?
Explore All Areas →St. Ives parish sits inside Mount’s Bay. Nearby towns show how Cornwall splits demand between arts coast, surf north coast, and gateway ports.
Mount’s Bay and St Ives corridor
St. Ives: 1,385 listings at £39,369 and 57% occupancy. The reference market for this page.
Penzance: 534 listings averaging £33,327 at 63% occupancy. Gateway town with steadier mid-week demand and easier parking than the harbour core.
St. Merryn: 354 listings at £46,785. Family beach access near Padstow with lower entry prices than St Ives centre.
North coast volume
Newquay: 1,283 listings earning £38,979. Cornwall’s surf-and-festival inventory leader. Compare before you assume St Ives nightly rates translate county-wide.
Padstow: 435 listings at £49,982. Food-tourism premium with harbour parking constraints similar to St Ives.
County context
- Cornwall: 17,966 listings county-wide at £36,238. Use the county hub when you need full-scale comparisons across Fal, Lizard, and north-coast parishes.
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