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This site was produced by: LOCAL
AUTHORITY PUBLISHING
Publishers for local authorities throughout Great Britain. View
more Official Guides at www.officialguides.co.uk |
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St Ives has something for everyone. The town has a long history,
but its present-day facilities are second to none.
Visitors come here to enjoy the markets, the old buildings and the
river. The town's assets include the St Ivo Leisure Centre and the
Norris Museum, while the 15th-century bridge with its midstream
chapel is a unique ancient monument. The town’s connection
with Oliver Cromwell, who once lived here, is still remembered by
a statue of him in the market place.
St Ives has superb communications. It lies close to the dual-carriageway
A14, which links with the M11, A1(M) and M6 for fast direct routes
to London, the Midlands and the North. Stansted airport and Harwich
International ferry port are both within a 90 minute drive. Frequent
bus services connect with Cambridge and Huntingdon, both of which
have main-line railway stations.
For something more leisurely you can travel to St Ives by boat,
along the well-serviced waterways of the Fens and the Great Ouse.
The importance of the area for boat users will be recognised in
2007, when the Inland Waterways Association’s annual Festival
is to be held at St Ives – this prestigious event will take
place over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
The town’s history and the attractive countryside that surrounds
it bring thousands of visitors here every year. The local area is
widely accessible for walking and cycling, with a network of footpaths
and several nearby nature reserves. Within twenty miles you will
find the university city of Cambridge, Ely Cathedral and Peterborough
– where you can combine seeing the cathedral with a visit
to the Queensgate Shopping Centre, one of the biggest in East Anglia.
St Ives is a forward-looking place to live and work. Its industrial
and business estates benefit from the proximity of Cambridge - it's
only a few years ago that the world's first pocket calculator was
made here in St Ives by Sir Clive Sinclair. Tourism and leisure
provide many employment opportunities and the area's historic links
with the Royal Air Force are maintained by the presence just outside
the town of the headquarters of Logistics Command. Shops range from
outlets of national chains to small, specialist businesses that
attract shoppers from long distances. There is a range of pubs,
clubs and ethnic restaurants that few towns of this size can match,
drawing people from all over the area to enjoy the night life.
St Ives people may work hard but they play hard as well. The town's
year is punctuated by regular events, including the Carnival and
the Music and Arts Festival in the summer, the Beer Festival and
the Heritage Open Days in September, and the centuries-old Michaelmas
Fair in October. The Monday Market is a weekly treat, with especially
big markets on Bank Holiday Mondays, when people come from miles
around to look for bargains. On the first and third Saturday of
each month a Farmers’ Market gives you the chance to buy fresh
local produce. A wide range of sports clubs and special interest
societies cater for all tastes and the community spirit of St Ives
is reflected in the town's churches, voluntary organisations and
youth groups.
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Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication
and the statements contained herein are believed to be correct,
the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibility for any
inaccuracies. Reproduction of any part of this publication in any
format, without permission, is strictly forbidden. Text and photographs
by Bob Burn-Murdoch, Curator of the Norris Museum.
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