Book the Best Places to Stay Near Newquay Zoo

The African lions are just one of many animals that draw visitors to Newquay Zoo | © Robin Weaver / Alamy Stock Photo

3 September 2021

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Surfer cottage near Fistral Beach? Farmhouse B&B for easy mornings? How about a Scandi-style retreat on the cliffs? These are the best places to stay near Newquay Zoo, Cornwall, all bookable on Culture Trip.

With around 130 animal species spread across 13 acres (5ha), Newquay Zoo is just the beginning of your perfect family holiday. There’s also the incredible coastline and lush countryside to explore, while the hotels here are also geared towards experiencing the great outdoors. You can enjoy surfing classes at the Newquay Hostel, wildlife hikes at Degembris Farmhouse and Cottages or creative workshops for children at the Bedruthan Hotel and Spa. Or for more inspiration, read on.

Bambu Cottage

Courtesy of Bambu Cottage / Expedia

As a surfer you don’t get many better spots to lay down your board than Bambu Cottage. It’s around a 15-minute walk from Fistral Beach – one of the world’s top surfing destinations, backed by high cliffs and dunes – so you can just about spot your set coming in from the window. For a more sedate seaside experience, Towan Beach is even closer. A wide-open, dog-friendly bay teeming with wildlife, it’s perfect for family days out.

Tregoose Old Mill

Courtesy of Tregoose Old Mill / Expedia

When you stay at Tregoose Old Mill you become part of a story that stretches back to the 1400s. There has been a mill in this spot as far back as that, and the current structure dates to 1750. The three cottages available here have charming names to match their surroundings. The Wriggly Tin comes with its own flock of sheep, the Hideaway is on the upper two floors of the water mill, while the Duchy Barn is a former grain store on a quiet country lane.

Storm Barn

Courtesy of Storm Barn / Expedia

Not nearly as overrun as Newquay, Watergate Bay on the north Cornwall coast has lured generations of families over the years. And Storm Barn, about a half mile from the bay’s golden sands, is a great bolthole. The modern, open-plan barn conversion is set up to welcome the most active of clans, with a secure storage area for bikes or surfboards. You can argue over who caught the biggest wave around a bistro-style table outside.

Great Western Hotel

Courtesy of Great Western Hotel / Expedia

With some of the best-value accommodation minutes from Porth Beach – a large stretch of sand offering safe bathing – the Great Western Hotel is a family favourite. Thanks to a clifftop terrace and garden, the meals served at restaurant Steam have Atlantic Ocean views as a backdrop. This is also a hotel with great transport links, Newquay Railway Station is just a few minutes away on foot and Cornwall Airport Newquay is reachable in 15 minutes by car.

Degembris Farmhouse and Cottages

Courtesy of Degembris Farmhouse and Cottages / Expedia

This former manor and estate, now divided into a farmhouse B&B and three self-catering cottages, is the sort of place you’ll want to drop your bags and head straight into the countryside. Take the Degembris country trail and try to spot the local wildlife, which includes red deer, heron and barn owls. A lake has also been added to the grounds for those who travel with their fishing poles.

St Christopher's Inns, the Newquay Hostel

Budget Hotel, Chain Hotel, Hostel

Courtesy of St Christopher's Inns The Newquay Hostel / Expedia

Just minutes from Towan Beach, the Newquay Hostel is part cheap accommodation, part surf school. A Surf and Stay package puts wannabe wave-riders in the hands of Escape Surf School’s pro instructors. A comfy bed awaits after a day on the water, but not before socialising at Belushi’s, the hostel bar that has sweeping beach views from a huge outdoor terrace.

Kilbirnie Hotel

Courtesy of Kilbirnie Hotel / Expedia

The Atlantic Ocean may be right on the doorstep, but Kilbirnie Hotel still gives you a couple more options for a dip – namely an indoor swimming pool and an outdoor splash pool. For surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing, Tolcarne, Fistral and Watergate beaches are nearby – or, if you fancy a bit of a drive, head 30 minutes down the road to the Eden Project. It’s home to the largest indoor rainforest in the world.

Bedruthan Hotel and Spa

Courtesy of Bedruthan Hotel / Expedia

A Scandi-inspired retreat that’s been sat atop the Cornish cliffs since 1959, Bedruthan has everything to help you destress, including a Roman-style caldarium (hot room) and a sensory spa garden. Simply opening the window of your coastal room and letting the sea breeze blow through also works well. Kids are kept busy while you chill, with baby and toddler breaks and a programme of creative workshops during school holidays.

Explore the rest of the county with the best things to see and do in Cornwall, and make sure your accommodation is up to scratch with some great places to stay – all bookable with Culture Trip.

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