Cheap Hotels in Newquay

Newquay is a popular seaside destination in Cornwall on the north coast, famous for its great nightlife and fantastic surfing. Hotels in Newquay are popular with families, couples and groups of friends after a cheap holiday, all looking to enjoy the beaches. It's perhaps best known for the surf at Fistral Beach and for being the destination of Run to the Sun, one of the UK's largest VW festivals, with camper van and beetle owners flocking to the town.

The town centre is nothing special in Newquay, although it does offer a range of shops, pubs, restaurants and nightlife - certainly plenty to keep you entertained! It's the beaches that are the real draw, so as you can imagine, cheap hotels in Newquay tend to be set back from the best beaches. They still get snapped up fast in the summer months though, so get booking if you want a Newquay break in 2013 or 2014!

Choosing a hotel in Newquay

When it comes to picking a hotel in Newquay you will be able to find a whole range throughout the town. Expect surf lodges, backpackers hostels and guesthouses to be the best options if you're after a cheap Newquay hotel deal, whilst there are some pretty luxurious five-star hotels in Newquay if you're out to spoil yourself. Perhaps the best known and well-located is the Headland Hotel, which because famous thanks to its starring role in the film version of Roald Dahl's The Witches starring Anjelica Huston.

Wherever you decide to stay you will find that all of the central beaches will be within walking distance, although it's perhaps best to look at which beach you would prefer to have as your 'local' to inform you on where to choose for your hotel in Newquay.

Fistral Beach - the most popular beach for surfing, you'll find that when the swell hits it's a bit of a dogfight for the waves at times. Definitely make sure that you respect the locals, or try away from the best breaks. A must if you're mainly interested in getting to know the ins and outs of a surfboard.

Crantock Beach - a quiet beach just south of Fistral, it's been voted Best British Beach by Coast in 2013! Good for family holidays or a more relaxing stay.

Great Western Beach - heavily tide-dependent as it's just a small patch of sand at high tide, but a long series of bays at low tide. Nice if you're not planning on spending all day lazing about.

Harbour Beach - poor for swimming but great for paddling, this sheltered bay is popular with families who have small children, although it's only accessible at low tide. Plus, it's a great place to spot seals!

Towan Beach - the most central beach and the most sheltered, great for swimming and beginner surfing. There is not much beach at high tide though, so people tend to get pretty crammed in in the peak of the holidays.

Tolcarne Beach - most popular with body boarders, this beach offers a bit of everything, with swimming, surfing and a fair bit of sand too, as well as rock pools to explore as the tide goes out.

Watergate Bay - quieter thanks to being a little way north of Newquay and because it's a bit of a walk from the car park, it's got miles of sand, good surf and a choice of restaurants. A great choice for any hotel in Newquay if you don't mind being away from the action.

When to go to Newquay

The summer holidays are the most popular time for booking a cheap Newquay hotel, so you will need to be organised early to get a good deal! Try July or September if you're child-free, and you will benefit from much quieter beaches. All the spring and summer bank holidays are also very popular and you will need to book way in advance if you want to be anywhere near a central location.

Surfers flock to Newquay all year round, because the surf doesn't stop even if the water gets pretty cold! You just have to be brave and go for it! It's also popular with stag and hen parties so expect most weekends to be pretty busy, especially in the town centre.

What to do in Newquay

Aside from enjoying the beaches and the sea, you can get out and about by heading off on a coastal path walk, which will let you explore the different bays as well as affording you plenty of spectacular views. Taking a walk out to the end of the headland to the right of Fistral Beach often gets you a great look at one of the best surf spots in the UK, hidden out here and only working some of the time - although it's strictly for experienced surfers!

Other family-friendly attractions include the Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay Zoo and Tunnels Through Time, showcasing the myths and legends of Cornwall. The late night clubs, bars and pubs in the town centre are more than enough to keep most groups of young visitors happy!

Click here to read our Newquay guide.