A salt-kissed boho hub with a hippy heart and some manicured areas, Newquay is a soulful surfer’s paradise with eye-popping natural scenery. This flourishing seaside town has bags of charm and lots to offer. It truly has a bit of everything, moulding itself with the tide to become exactly what you want it to be. A little bit quiet; a little bit bustling. A little bit urban; a little bit earthy. A little bit sassy; and ‘a lot a bit’ charming.
Needless to say, from its hazy summers to its atmospheric winters, Newquay has a year-round appeal that, combined with its handy location on the beach-blessed North Coast, makes it one of the best places to hang out in Cornwall. A place to eat, surf, snooze, cruise, walk, talk, relax, create, luxuriate and more, it’s a blissful Kernowfornia with something for everyone. And, most importantly, it knows how to get under your skin and steal your heart for good.
In short, it’s a pretty cool place to be.
Let’s be honest, for a long time Newquay was branded the party town of the UK, renowned for its thriving night scene that attracted party-goers from far and wide. But hear us out, Newquay isn’t like that anymore. We’ve grown up, Mum. Of course, there are still plenty of opportunities to let your hair down and sink a few margaritas to a spectacular Newquay sunset (we’re not judging), but there’s so much more to this fishing village turned thriving coastal town.
Surfing remains a dominant draw for locals and tourists, with an exciting mix of other activities and attractions making the most of the stunning natural landscape. Then there’s a choice of wholesome enlightenment for body and mind, beach yoga sessions, clifftop saunas, dreamy spas and holistic retreats are all on offer in Newquay. Meanwhile, award-winning eateries and Michelin-recommended restaurants invite you to savour the very best of Cornish cuisine. And we’re just getting started…
Vibey and laidback, Newquay presents a gorgeous string of beaches all connected by shopping streets that tumble down towards its working harbour. Lined with cool cafés, salt-weathered surf shops (a lot of surf shops), art-packed galleries, and restaurants serving the local catch of the day, its network of seafront proms, sun-bleached avenues and quiet corners are crammed with hidden gems and not-so-secret secrets. Thrumming to the heartbeat of a buzzing local community, it beckons for easy hours of exploration and provides an extraordinary wealth of things to see and do – if you know where to look.
Newquay is the birthplace of British surfing and is drenched in surf culture. To begin your introduction, a trip to Custard Point Surf Shop on Alma Place is a good place to start. Home to specialist surfboard makers and shapers who have been honing their craft in Newquay since 1983, it is a particular magnet for surfers and the place to go for custom shapes. For surfboard hire and top local insights, the coconut-scented Mustard Surf Co on Station Parade, Boardwalk on Cliff Road and Surf and Glide on Fore Street are also well worth a visit.
To pick up some new threads, MMW at Revolver on Fore Street and Married to the Sea on Bank Street are ready to kit you up in effortlessly stylish garb. Meanwhile, for sustainable and boho-chic homeware and trinkets, Bon Bon Fistral above Fistral beach and The Good Lyf on Fore Street present beautifully curated collections.
Save some energy to browse the boutique stores in ocean-view cabins on the Killacourt, where you’ll find hand-made jewellery, glassware, crafts, flowers and bodyboard equipment. The Killacourt is also one of Newquay’s prime open spaces and stages a regular programme of gigs and performances throughout the summer.
Spend a few hours exploring the labyrinth of shops and stores, before heading up to the iconic Huers Hut for the best views in town. Set atop a hulking cliff above Newquay’s harbour, this weather-washed hut dates to the 14th century and was used as a lookout post to spy everything from pilchards to pirates. Today, it affords one of the best seats on the North Coast for views that stretch for miles.
Other Newquay hot spots, besides the beautiful beaches, which we’ll get on to in a minute, include the rugged Pentire headland and the Gannel estuary which is a popular high tide waterway for boats, kayaks, paddleboards and wild swimmers. Not forgetting Trenance Gardens and Boating Lake, which offer a tranquil getaway from busy beaches and bustling boutiques.
What would Newquay be without its beaches? No matter what your idea of beach heaven is, this idyllic town sits face-to-face with the Atlantic and is etched with all sorts of gorgeous beaches that beckon for relaxation and exploration alike. So, whether you want to dive headfirst into the surf or spread-eagle contentedly on the beach, we’ve got you covered.
Within Newquay itself, there are four central beaches including Tolcarne, Harbour, Towan, and Great Western. All benefitting from superb access to local facilities and summer lifeguard service (on all except Harbour beach), they are ideal for beach days close to the beating heart of Newquay and the wide array of shops, bars and restaurants providing refreshments and supplies.
Perhaps the most iconic of all, the stunning Fistral is just a short walk away from the town centre and is known not only as one of the most famous surfing beaches in the UK, but the world. Backed by rolling dunes and met with almost year-round surf, this is the place for all ye surf dudes. And, if you haven’t quite mastered your pop up, or even just getting up, there are some great surf schools on the beach, including the aptly named Fistral Beach Surf School.
Of course, it’s not just us pink-toed humans that appreciate days on the beach though, and Newquay comes up trumps for our four-pawed pals. In fact, most of Newquay’s beaches welcome dogs year-round, although a handful do have seasonal restrictions. Some of the best for exhilarating struts with mutts include Fistral, Watergate Bay and Holywell Bay.
If the imagined aromas of food wafting on a soft sea breeze are something that govern most of your agendas, fear not – you’re not alone. Exploring is hungry work, and it’s only right that you should have a few top restaurants earmarked to make a determined beeline for. Should you like your meals with a side of jaw-dropping views (a challenging, yet sought-after combination), you’re particularly in luck.
Starting at Fistral, the Michelin-recommended Fish House, Sea Spray, Fistral Beach Bar and Rick Stein (the restaurant, not the man) are all on the list of eats to beat, showcasing an eclectic array of menus and affording glorious views over the sea. Taking pride of place above the water, Lusty Glaze beach bar and restaurant is also a brilliant option with daily specials, ocean vistas and sundowner music sessions. Meanwhile, Sushea and Box and Barber serve up delicious poke bowls and flavour-packed plates, specialising in fresh cuisine served with an exotic twist.
You’re going to need to fuel up for a day in Newquay, so for breakfast on the go we can recommend Milk, in the heart of Newquay, for great coffee, superfood smoothies, bagels and finger-licking pastries. Or, grab a healthy breakfast bowl from the Canggu-style Nalu Coffee House on Cliff Road – a pebble’s throw from the surf. If you’re looking for a pit-stop between the town the Fistral, great local food comes with a round of mini-golf at Rosa, the new locals’ hotspot on a sunny afternoon.
With a fab location and irresistibly inviting atmosphere, Newquay Harbour is a mecca for foodies, serving “global eats from local peeps”. Centred around The Boathouse restaurant, this relaxed street food market and bar serves everything from local crab tacos to heavenly chocolate-drizzled waffles. Basically, make sure you arrive hungry. For a real taste of Newquay, the seafood is a particularly tempting proposition here. As fresh as it comes, daily catches are landed each day for The Boathouse’s menus by local fishermen, including Buck Buckett and his fishing boat, Frellie. Naturellement, if you’re a fan of fruits de mer, this is the place for you.
To sample some of the best pizzas with panoramas in town, head to the Secret Garden near Tolcarne Beach. Admittedly, the sea view patio is not much of a secret or a garden, but there are lots of dough-based offerings, a stacked wine and cocktail bar, and an ocean aspect that is sure to capture your attention. From the legendary Great Western Surf Cafe to the swanky setting of The Colonial on Tolcarne beach, there’s no shortage of places to tuck into great food with a side order of sea views.
While Newquay has shed its all-night party reputation, there are still plenty of spots for sundowners and music – so don’t ditch your dancing shoes altogether. Stride out along Pentire Headland for a pint with dazzling views at Lewinnick Lodge – you might even spot dolphins on the horizon here. For cocktails let the expert mixologists at Tom Thumb shake up something to tickle your tastebuds, and if you’re keen to party on, Whiskers and Dead Famous are at the heart of the town’s live music and nightlife scene.
Be it for solo getaways, romantic escapes or family breaks, Newquay’s attractions ensure everyone has something to look forward to. From deep-sea aquariums to colourful arts scenes to rejuvenating spa experiences along the coast, you can pick from an irresistible catalogue of things to see and do in and around Newquay’s vibrant reaches.
Especially popular for entertaining the youngsters (and the youngsters-at-heart), Blue Reef Aquarium on Towan Promenade delivers a fascinating insight into life below the waves, with all kinds of incredible aquatic residents and exhibits. Elsewhere, Newquay Zoo in Trenance Leisure Park and DairyLand Farm World in Tresillian Barton promise incredible animal encounters and family-friendly games, rides and activities.
Surrounded by natural inspiration and filled with atmosphere, it’s no wonder that Newquay attracts artists from near and far, rivalling its West Coast cousin of St Ives for its galleries and artistic talent. Whether you’re a seasoned artist, a keen-eyed admirer, or are simply more pollock than Jackson, you are free to peruse the town’s incredible art spaces and galleries to fuel your creativity – and maybe even find a masterpiece to take home with you.
North Coast Asylum on Beachfield Avenue is particularly hot on the lips of all those in the know, a cultural hub supporting emerging Cornish talent. For art of the literary kind, make sure you keep an eye on the whereabouts of Clemo Books too – a pop-up bookshop springing up around the streets of Newquay with gripping page-turners and unmissable reads.
For something altogether more relaxing, you are spoilt for choice with spa days in Newquay, with Fistral Spa, Headland Hotel Spa, and The Scarlet at Mawgan Porth all offering unique treatments and experiences from their luxurious seaside situs. In summer, you can also look forward to pop-ups including Olla Hiki Sauna and Water and Stone Wild Spa which spring up around the coast and provide alfresco spa treatments and sauna sittings for hearty doses of R&R the wild way.
Whether your idea of a fun activity is action-packed or more relaxed, you won’t have to stray far from the town centre to find things to do. Especially renowned for its watersports, Newquay is perfectly geared to water babies of all ages looking to enjoy the town’s stunning coast.
For the adrenaline-seekers amongst you, coasteering tours are high on the list. After all, what could be more fun than catapulting yourself off a sea-ledge? (With a coasteering guide, of course – please don’t do any catapulting on your own). Running brilliant coasteering sessions from Newquay is the award-winning Bare Feet Coasteer, encouraging you to jump, swim and climb around the coast for an incredible experience. Meanwhile, to channel your inner Kelly Slater and propel your skills from nosedive to hang five, hire a surfboard or opt for surf lessons from local experts including Quiksilver Surf School and Fistral Surf School.
If you’d like a more sedate introduction to the coast, swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking and snorkelling are all unmissable activities in Newquay. Check out the town’s lifeguarded beaches in summer and ask for insights into beach safety, before enjoying the crystalline waters of the sea here. You can also take part in guided boat trips from Newquay’s harbour, with experienced operators running daily outings in summer and the shoulder seasons. Newquay Sea Safaris and Cornwall Waverunners are two well-known outfits, promising incredible coastal panoramas and, if you’re lucky, the chance to see seals, dolphins and even whales from the safety, comfort and (relative) dryness of the boat.
That said, you don’t just have to head seaward, and there are plenty of things to do if you’d rather keep your feet firmly on dry land. For long walks, the South West Coast Path is always a wonderful choice, while for bike rides, the 18-mile Camel Trail (running from Padstow to Bodmin) is home to some of the South West’s best cycle routes. An 18-hole links course, Holywell Bay Pitch and Putt is just four miles from the town centre and is a brilliant place to practise your swing with an incredible backdrop of Holywell Bay.
No matter the time of year in Newquay, there are always brilliant events to look forward to. With a jam-packed social calendar filled with gigs, festivals, fayres, regattas and more, it ticks every box. Among its star-studded lineup, Newquay’s surf competitions draw salt-tousled competitors and fans from across the world.
Perhaps the most famous of Newquay’s festivals, Boardmasters is considered a veritable rite of passage for young Cornish folk. Held across five days in August, it features a combination of live music and surf and skateboarding competitions at Fistral Beach and the main festival site overlooking Watergate Bay. Yeww.
Beckoning foodies, Newquay’s Street Food Festival in May, Newquay Beer Festival in September and Newquay Fish Festival in October tempt with all sorts of deliciousness. Meanwhile, a brand-new festival in June at Lusty Glaze, FatFace’s Rock Up & Sea Festival, promises fantastic live music, guest speakers, workshops, activities and more.
For superb views and live music, Lusty Glaze Beach stars regular gig nights at its popular Sundowner Sessions. There are also various live DJ nights and silent discos at Fistral and Great Western beaches. Just a few miles outside of Newquay, Bedruthan Live sets a dreamy scene for music, hosting the best local and national talent in front of the iconic Bedruthan Steps. You heard it here first.
The thing about Newquay, is that it’s hard to summarise Newquay. The beaches are incredible, the coast path is endless (alright, almost), the scenery is to die for, and the attractions are manifold. Fortunately, you don’t have to pack it all into one trip (we’ll be so bold as to presume you’ll want another one), so you can fill up carefree agendas at your own pace. Stroll through town, wander along the beaches, meander along the Gannel or head up to the Huer’s Hut or Pentire to soak up the views. With empty days and Newquay ready to be exactly what you want it to be, you are sure to savour magical moments and make memories to be cherished long after your visit is over.
Now, where are those margaritas…
