St Ives is best visited in May, early June, or September. The light is the same extraordinary quality that drew painters here in the first place, the galleries are open, the beaches are uncrowded, and you can actually walk through the lanes without stopping every few steps. July and August are very busy: the town is tiny and the summer crowds change it considerably. Winter has its own appeal — the surf is bigger, the pubs are quieter, and the quality of the light on grey Atlantic days is remarkable — but some restaurants and cafes close or reduce their hours.
The annual St Ives September Festival brings music, art, and literature events across ten days in mid-September, which is one of the better times to be in the town.