A Weekend Escape to Newquay
Discover why this surfers' paradise makes for a fantastic family-friendly getaway
Newquay is all about the seaside. With five beaches within walking distance of the town, it attracts an enormous variety of visitors, from families to groups of friends as well as all standards of surfer from novice to pro.
Fistral is the best known of Newquay’s beaches, with its international reputation for surfing. The town’s other golden strands, with their surf of varying degrees of exuberance, are a draw for many seeking to escape the crowds – particularly experienced surfers looking for novice-free waves. Planning a getaway? Here are our rated recommendations for things to do, places to stay, and eateries to enjoy on your Weekend Escape.
Things to do
Surfers and beach-lovers are spoilt for choice on this stretch of Atlantic coast. Numerous watersports centres cater to those wishing to learn to surf, while residential surf schools will help the more experienced to improve their technique on less busy beaches.
Families can enjoy the sunshine and sand alongside the would-be surfers, but there are also plenty of child-friendly attractions to visit such as Newquay Zoo with its 13 acres of tropical gardens and opportunities to see its residents, including lions, zebra, lemurs and sloths. Blue Reef Aquarium is another good wet-weather day option, with underwater tunnels from which to view a fascinating cross-section of aquatic life, no matter what the weather outside.
Dairy Land Farm World is an unusual attraction, with a merry-go-round milking machine where cows are milked to music, but it also gives a glimpse into the life of a Victorian dairy farmer and a chance to meet the animals of the farm. A peaceful antidote to the bustle of the beach.
Not far away is the National Trust Elizabethan manor house at Trerice, while Carnewas at Bedruthan National Trust gives access to dramatic coastal vistas and walking trails for those looking to enjoy the sea air on dry land.
We recommend
Places to stay
Newquay has plenty of choices for places to stay to suit all budgets, from affordable coastal caravan parks and seaside self-catering to chic modern hotels and comfortable B&Bs.
We recommend
Where to eat
Whether you’re looking for a relaxed pub meal or something more refined, in Newquay it’s very likely to be offered up with a side dish of sea view.
