Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden
The home, studio and garden in St Ives where sculptor Barbara Hepworth worked until 1975, with bronzes standing where she placed them.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Barbara Hepworth moved to Cornwall in 1939, at the start of the Second World War, with her husband Ben Nicholson and their young family. From 1949 she lived and worked at Trewyn Studio in St Ives, a studio with a yard and a garden, until her death in 1975. She described finding the place as a kind of magic, because it let her work outdoors in open space.
Hepworth laid out the garden herself with the help of her friend, the composer Priaulx Rainier. Most of the bronze sculptures still stand in the positions she chose for them, and visitors can also see the studio rooms where she carved and modelled.
Trewyn Studio and much of the work remaining there were given to the nation and placed in the care of the Tate Gallery in 1980, and it is now open to the public as the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. It is now run by Tate together with Tate St Ives, which stands a short walk up Barnoon Hill, although the two have separate tickets.
Highlights
- Hepworth’s former home, studio and workshops
- Bronze sculptures placed by the artist herself
- Garden she designed with the composer Priaulx Rainier
- Visual story and audio story player for planning a visit
Permanent exhibition
- Hepworth’s studio and garden – The studio rooms, workshops and garden where Hepworth worked, with bronzes displayed in the positions she chose.
- Founded
- 1976
- Operated by
- Tate
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £10 |
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| Reduced | £9Concessions |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Entry is free for visitors aged 18 and under. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Group rates are available for groups of ten or more who book in advance. |
| Adult, with donation | £11 |
| Concession, with donation | £10 |
Prices are shown without donation; the donation option adds £1. Entry is free for Tate Members and Locals Pass holders, who do not need to book. A separate ticket is needed for Tate St Ives.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The site has steps and uneven surfaces, so manual wheelchair access is by prior appointment only. Manual wheelchairs can be booked at least 24 hours before a visit by phone or email. Mobility scooters are not allowed. Guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs are welcome, and drinking bowls are available. A visual story and an audio story player help visitors plan or follow their visit.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 18 |
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Visitors aged 18 and under enter free.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Trains run from London Paddington to St Erth, where a local branch line continues to St Ives. National Express coaches and local buses serve St Ives. A park and ride runs from St Erth station (about 10 minutes by train), and a shuttle bus runs all year from the Trenwith car park to the town centre.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The museum has no car park and parking in St Ives is limited. Visitors are advised to use the St Erth Park and Ride or the Trenwith car park with the shuttle bus. Barnoon car park is next to Tate St Ives.
The museum is a short walk from the town centre and Porthmeor beach. There is a covered bicycle rack at the rear of Tate St Ives, a short walk up Barnoon Hill from the museum; the nearest airport is Newquay.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | An audio story player on the Tate website follows the museum and Hepworth’s life and work. |
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