Lifeboat Inn

United Kingdom , Norfolk
Norfolk, Ship Lane Thornham
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50 reviews shown

8/10

Excellent

06 Mar 2026

Anna

Great view, comfy beds , large clean bathroom

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

18 Feb 2026

Melanie

Spotless room, good breakfast and amazing location!

Self

6/10

Pleasant

17 Feb 2026

Dee

The room was good but difficult to navigate up the stairs. However staff all very friendly and our dog was made very welcome which is why we chose to stay at the Lifeboat Inn again. We stayed with our dog two years ago. Altogether a very pleasant stay.

Pet

10/10

Exceptional

17 Feb 2026

Joyce

Cozy and lovely apartment. Great sea view. No parking but easy to find long stay parking with few minutes walk. Many restaurants nearby.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

18 Jan 2026

Simon

Great view of the harbour from the room. Nice big bath and a great strong, hot shower. Nice quality toiletries in the room. Decent food. St Ives was bustling which was nice for a January stay.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Nov 2025

Helen

We had a great stay at the Lifeboat Inn. The room had an amazing view over the harbour. It was very clean, the bed was comfortable and the bathroom was spotless. The staff were very welcoming and friendly

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Oct 2025

Robert L

Great value in St Ives. Quaint. Lovely staff. Walk to Tate St Ives.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

15 Oct 2025

Vivian

Nice view from our room.

8/10

Excellent

15 Sep 2025

Irene

Room 6 - Lifeboat Inn St Ives

Up the side alley and very steep stairs to top floor. Room nice with seperate shower room which we really liked. Shower pressure good. No view, but we knew this and its a lower price to other rooms on same sight. Central location with everything we needed. We will be booking again.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Sep 2025

Maura

Beautiful stay

Beautiful room, very pleasant staff, view was beautiful looking out at the sea (room 4)
Great breakfast, staff were very friendly and helpful

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

31 Aug 2025

Ross D

We loved our stay, and will be back one day!

Leisure

8/10

Excellent

27 Aug 2025

Verified traveler

Nice place to stay in heart of St Ives

The Lifeboat Inn is a nice setting and the family room overlooking the Harbour is great. Great breakfast and nice staff. No fault to the hotel but being next to the road is noisy, especially when the bin collectors are out in the morning.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

19 Aug 2025

PETER

The stair access both within our unit and accessing the unit was unacceptable and extremely unsafe

6/10

Pleasant

14 Aug 2025

Kim

The property is very conveniently located along the St. Ives waterfront. Check-in is at the pub below the Inn and there was no dedicated staff to assist with luggage There is no air conditioning in the rooms and therefore, windows have to be open in warm weather in order to get some “air”. This results in all outside noice from the extremely busy waterfront (including the screaming seagulls) to echo into the room. Rooms are also only accessible by VERY narrow and steep stairs. Breakfast was included with the room and it was served in the pub below the rooms - very good selection.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jul 2025

Lindsey

Amazing location in the heart of St Ives, close to 4 beautiful beaches, restaurants & bars.
Accommodation was perfect. Very spacious & comfortable.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

30 Jun 2025

Beo

The room was amazing with a great view the stairs to the room were very steep and shear the breakfast was a good choice of foods I ordered the full English with a poached egg it arrived without the egg i asked and eventually a bowl with a split egg was put on the table was not impressed all or rest was lovely and local produce the egg just let it down and the experience.

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jun 2025

katy

Fantastic , room very clean and comfortable .
Outstanding view from the room. Luxury😊

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

29 May 2025

Catherine

Great location, very friendly staff, good food.
This is on the wharf, so know there will be night noise. But accommodations were comfortable and clean.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

10 May 2025

Hashema

Perfect weekend getaway

Great location, very friendly staff, beautiful view across the bay. Close to station. Delightful stay. Thank you team x

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

28 Mar 2025

Anne

We loved where this place was with a lovely spacious room looking out across the harbour. The car park was a little way and the stairs up to the room were steep but worth it for a very well furnished and decorated room. Staff always friendly and helpful

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Mar 2025

Delightful place to stay. Friendly helpful staff. Room spotless and very comfortable. Excellent breakfast in restaurant with lovely view.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jan 2025

Aimi

A gem!

Fabulous room with gorgeous view of the Harbour. Will definitely stay there again.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jan 2025

Christopher

Great hotel with excellent views. Staff very good along with the food.
Will definitely come again

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

04 Jan 2025

John

Room above a pub that was cosy and well appointed. Breakfast served in the pub was satisfying and served with a smile.

Standard pub chain food in the evening was ok but won’t delight any gastro hunters.

Lifeboat Inn is on the quay and behind it is the main shopping street with lots of restaurants to choose from within 5 minutes walk.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Nov 2024

shaun

We booked this break on a whim, as it was my wife's birthday. I have to say it is an absolute gem of a place. We had booked a long weekend and from start to finish was sublime. The room was beautiful with amazing views of the bay. It was warm and comfortable, with a large bed and great facilities. The staff were always helpful and courteous regardless how busy they were. Breakfast was filling, tasty and l have to say the tea was the best l have drunk in this country.
Evening meals were outstanding and l can recommend the beer battered tiger prawns in sweet chilli sauce as a starter. St Ives is beautiful and has some wonderful beaches and walks, and the Lifeboat Inn is a perfect base.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

03 Nov 2024

emma

Perfect location with views over st Ives. Lots of space. No pub noise. Breakfast (not included) in pub was good. No parking and 3 flights of stairs (to bathroom, to bedrooms and to apartment) were exceptionally steep.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

31 Oct 2024

Lynda

Fantastic location
Our room Was huge and very tastefully decorated
Lovely breakfast and nice touch with lagers in fridge !
Staff friendly and helpful

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Oct 2024

Michelle

Lovely place to stay

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Sep 2024

Steven

Amazing location

Leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

07 Sep 2024

M D

Quite the worst experience we have ever had with Hotels. com, probably 15 years now.
Room, no 3 , can not possibly be legal in terms of accessibility. Basin permanently blocked. Vastly overpriced at over £200 per night.

8/10

Excellent

29 Aug 2024

Alex

Great location, stairs up to/inside a problem

Location excellent but the stairs up to and inside the apartment are very steep and narrow. Nowhere on the listing does it say there are stairs inside the apartment and you have to go upstairs to the bedrooms and downstairs then up again to the bathroom which is very difficult and a little dangerous at night in particular. Old building so I understand and the headroom in the bathroom is restricted. I banged my head a few times. If I knew about the stairs into and inside the apartment I would not have booked it. Listing says free bottled water, there was none, 2 toilet rolls on arrival and had to supply after that even though I asked for more.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

27 Aug 2024

Alex

Great location, stairs up to/inside a nightmare

Location excellent but the stairs up to and inside the apartment are very steep and narrow. No where on the listing does it say there are stairs inside the apartment and you have to go upstairs to the bedrooms and downstairs then up again to the bathroom which is very difficult and a little dangerous at night in particular. Old building so I understand and the headroom in the bathroom is restricted..banged my head a few times. If I knew about the stairs into and inside the apartment I would not have booked it. Listing says free bottled water, there was none, 2 toilet rolls on arrival and had to supply after that even though I asked for more.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Aug 2024

Gaetano

Was our first time in Cornwall, and for sure not the last!
Position 10/10

Leisure Friends

6/10

Pleasant

03 Aug 2024

David

Parking, v limited breakfast time, no early option.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

22 Jul 2024

Elaine

Lifeboat Inn stay

The apartment was well equipped and a good size. The view was amazing. I cannot put into words how awkward we found the layout with so many stairs. There are stairs that lead from the ground to the front door of the apartment. Once you are in the apartment there are stairs that lead from the kitchen and lounge up to two bedrooms. There are seperate stairs that lead from the kitchen and lounge up to the bathroom. So if you are in bed and need the loo you have to go down a set of very steep stairs and then up another set of very steep stairs. Also the windows are locked and cannot be unlocked as there is no key (this needs to be addressed urgently). Due to the stairs we did not feel that this was a particularly relaxing stay.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

21 Jul 2024

Elaine

Lifeboat Inn stay

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jul 2024

pamela

Really old but sensitively maintained with the most beautiful sea views, food and service good, lovely stay and highly recommended, st Ives is very busy and often congested with people and traffic, and no parking at the hotel, finding space in any of the car parks was a nightmare, also public car parks up steep hills so be aware if you suffer any physical disabilities, however st Ives is definitely worth a visit,

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jul 2024

Lucy

Great

Leisure Self

2/10

Poor

22 May 2024

Joy

Literally right on a noisy crowded boardwalk. When the tide comes in there is some water to look at. The rest of the time there are some small boats sitting there. Room was missing a phone and other basic amenities. It was not a pleasant experience and I left a day early, losing the money I had spent rather than staying.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

04 May 2024

Adam

Lovely stay in quirky old building, steep steps up to room which were tricky with a suitcase, but amazing location.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

25 Apr 2024

Graeme

On the waterfront is this amazing property. The rooms are pleasant, the place is full of history. Parking is a little difficult and the streets very narrow but it is an ancient town

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

21 Apr 2024

Tyrone

Nice reasonably priced apartment with some awful stairs. May have thought twice about booking if I'd known about them. Not ideal if you have mobility issues.
2 night stay so minimal contact with staff but was always courteous with a smile.
The skylights were covered in cobwebs & could do with a dusting. I think some had been there as long as the building ;)

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

16 Apr 2024

PHILIPPA

Lovely stay thanks

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

12 Apr 2024

Sebastian

Excellent staff, property, pub, location, vibe, and personal touches. Loved it. The one difficulty is the parking.

Business_and_leisure Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

03 Apr 2024

Peter

Great location, lovely views.

Perfect location, with awesome harbour views from the lounge area. Clean, & well-maintained.
We were missing a towel, hairdryer & the remote for our bedroom TV. Towel & hairdryer were requested a few times, but never materialised. No chopping board or bread knife, so if you're planning a long stay, & enjoy a freshly baked loaf like we do, make sure you pack one. Master bed is not the most comfortable, fine for a few nights - not sure we'd have coped a full week, mattress needs replacing.
That said, the location is perfect - there are steep stairs to contend with, so not suitable for those who struggle to walk or have a buggy. Perfect for us with our 3-year-old & 11-year-old. Tea, coffee & sugar included, which is a nice touch for self-catering. We would stay again.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 Mar 2024

Farr

The staff were so lovely. We had an amazing time there.

Leisure Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

13 Feb 2024

Lyndon

Great location

Great location with lovely people. Overall happy with stay, water pressure very low and shower floor could do with a clean but enjoyed. Great breakfast.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

10 Dec 2023

C A

St Ives

Fab view over St Ives Harbour.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

31 Oct 2023

Scott