Guides | Newquay
Newquay Tourist Information
Newquay Guide and History
Well, as the name may imply, this seaside town was developed when a new quay was built in the 18th century, replacing the name of Towan Blystra, which is now the name of a road in one of the suburban areas. From that humble beginning came what is now one of Britain’s most popular tourist resorts. Little remains from before the 19th century here, when Newquay became the destination of choice for the Victorians.
There is still some impressive architecture, but sadly it is swamped by less attractive buildings. The town is now far more of a resort than anything else.
Packed with nightlife and entertainment, ranging from bustling fun pubs to those that are far more laid back.
Crantock
Crantock Beach. Photograph by George Hiles.
Just outside Newquay is the beautiful village of Crantock, set beside the River Gannel and a broad sandy beach. The village has a long connection with St Carantoc, a medieval collegiate church and the local legend of Langurroc.
Discover the history of Crantock
In the village itself there are places to eat and drink, nicely placed for those walking back from Crantock Beach’s huge, sheltering sand dunes. It is this beach that has added to the village’s fame, and those dunes are a great place to lose yourself on a sunny afternoon.
Newquay Webcams
See live views from Fistral Beach, South Fistral, Great Western Beach and Porth on our Newquay webcams page.
Newquay Events
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Newquay Accommodation
Accommodation in Newquay is in abundance. Years of catering for tourists has left the town very well geared up to answer anything a holiday here requires. Hotels, backpackers, self catering, camping and holiday parks; everything you would expect and more.
Entertainment and Eating Out Guide
Eating out in Newquay is an experience that is always improving in standard. New restaurants are opening up and making a name for themselves, raising the standard of food immensely.
For active and sporty people, there is plenty of entertainment in Newquay. Watersports are in plentiful supply, in sports centres and on the many beaches. There are also riding stables, paintball and a vast number of surf shops.
Trenance is well worth a visit if relaxing in the sun is what you are seeking. The park has grassy areas to lie on, and play equipment for the children; you could even have a game of tennis.
Newquay Night Life
But what to do at night? Newquay is well known for its nightlife, with bars numbering into the hundreds, clubs that are open until the early hours, pubs with live entertainment and a great atmosphere. Restaurants too are there in plenty, some of which have children’s play areas, all of which have tantalising menus on offer.
With this and much more, Newquay is a first choice holiday destination for all the family.
Crantock Entertainment
In Crantock there is a well-known event during the summer, the Bale Push, where hundreds of teams compete to, unsurprisingly, push hay bales through the village. The event raises thousands for local charities and is a great spectator sport.
Shopping Guide
The town itself is lined with surf shops, gift shops and bakeries, which sell Cornwall’s national food, the pasty. Like a pie, it has meat, vegetables and potato all wrapped in shortcrust pastry. You simply cannot come to Cornwall without having one. Most of the shops in Newquay are open until late, so you can walk around the town enjoying the mild and sunny evenings.
In and around the town there are supermarkets for you to stock up if you are self catering, along with fast food outlets and restaurants if you do not feel like cooking. Shopping in Newquay is made more pleasurable by the large pedestrianised shopping centre, always full of life and colour during the summer.
Newquay Beach and Surf Guide
Firstly, in the summer months, when the town is at its best, are those golden, sandy beaches, all eleven of them. They start at Holywell Bay and stretch as far as Watergate Bay, one of the biggest beaches in the Newquay area. Once there you can learn to surf, kite board, kite buggy and even windsurf. Also included among these beaches is the world-famous Fistral Bay, home to many surf competitions throughout the year. Of course, all the beaches have their own facilities, such as toilets, food and drink bars and the all-important lifeguards.
The western beaches include Fistral Beach, nearly a mile long, but very crowded during the summer months. South-east winds are offshore. The north has a good right-hander, with other waves breaking along its length on various banks. Little Fistral is to the south, and when it is right, it goes off. The Cribber to the north breaks into the headland and is only for the experienced. It needs a big swell and south-east winds.
Beaches West of Newquay
Crantock is much quieter, being less developed, and has a good-quality beach break at its best from low to mid tide. Again, south-east winds are when it is at its peak, as is Holywell Bay, which has a good to average beach break. At low tide there is a good wave off a wreck in the middle of the beach. Porth Joke is good when everywhere else is a little too large. It needs a big swell to work well.
Newquay Town Beaches
There are four town beaches: Great Western, Tolcarne, the harbour and Towan Beach. Towan is very busy as it is the closest to the town and has little swell, but a south-west wind can create some fast hollow waves, likewise with Great Western.
Beaches East of Newquay
To the east is Lusty Glaze, a small beach only working when there is a big ground swell at low tide. South-east to north-east winds are offshore. Before you get to Lusty Glaze is Porth, a large, busy beach with plenty of facilities. Watergate Bay picks up any swell, working from high to low tide, and is often cleaner than Fistral. It holds big swell and is best when the wind is south-easterly.
Travel Information
Newquay has railway and bus stations, both centrally located in the town itself. Outside the town, about a five to ten-minute drive away, is the airport. From here there are flights to locations in the UK and Europe.
Newquay Businesses
Newquay and its surrounding region have been a hub of enterprise for decades, and in recent years many new businesses have set up in the area. One firm that fits perfectly with the holiday focus of the town is Publicity South West, which provides leaflet distribution. Developing as an agency that has promoted tourist attractions and events since the 1980s, they now work throughout Cornwall and Devon.
