Windsor Lookout

Hotel Description

You know what caught me off guard about Windsor Lookout? The name actually makes perfect sense once you’re there – perched up on Carrack Dhu, you really do get these sweeping views across St Ives that make you understand why someone thought “lookout” was the right word. I mean, I’ve stayed in plenty of places that promise views and deliver a glimpse of a car park, but this one delivers.

The thing about St Ives is that location is everything, and honestly, being tucked away on Carrack Dhu puts you in this sweet spot where you’re close enough to walk down to the harbor and galleries (maybe ten minutes if you don’t mind the hill), but far enough up that you escape the summer crowds that pack the town center. The building itself has that solid Cornish feel – none of that generic hotel chain nonsense. My room had these thick walls that actually kept the sound out, which you’ll appreciate if you’ve ever tried to sleep in St Ives during festival season when the streets below can get pretty lively.

What really sold me on the place was the breakfast room – they’ve got these big windows that frame the bay perfectly, and you can sit there with your coffee watching the fishing boats head out while the light changes on the water. The staff actually knows the area too, which sounds obvious but you’d be surprised how many hotel workers are just seasonal and can’t tell you where to find decent fish and chips that aren’t tourist traps. They pointed me toward a little place off the beaten track that locals use, which saved me from the queue at the harbor-front spots. The rooms are what you’d expect from a proper 4-star – well-maintained, comfortable beds, decent shower pressure (always a gamble in older buildings). I will say the Wi-Fi was solid throughout, which matters if you’re trying to upload photos or actually get some work done between beach walks. Parking can be a bit tight in St Ives generally, but they’ve sorted that out here, which honestly eliminates one of the main headaches of visiting Cornwall in summer. The 8.5 rating feels about right – it’s not trying to be some luxury resort, but it gets the fundamentals right and the location really is the star of the show.

Facilities