Destination guides > Europe > England > Southwest England > Cornwall > Newquay
Newquay
England's surfing Mecca is hugely popular with backpackers and surfers and it has developed a good infrastructure to cater to surfing backpackers with a large selection of hostels, backpacker pubs and surf schools. However Newquay is also a tacky ugly town that is very unlike the rest of Cornwall and it is best avoided if you're not a surfer.
Practical information
Newquay Tourist Information Centre
Marcus Hill, Newquay
Tel (01637) 854 020
Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm, Sat 9.30am-12.30pm
Coming & going
First runs buses to destinations in Cornwall and Devon with services that include 21 and 21B to St Austell, buses X89 and X90 to Falmouth and bus X10 to Exeter.
First Great Western runs trains on the branch line between Par and Newquay with connections from Plymouth and Penzance.
Hostel accommodation
Note that accommodation prices in Newquay are very seasonal. The cheapest period is between October and April (except the Christmas/New Year period) and July and August is the most expensive time to stay here.
Airborne Lodge
98 Fore Street, Newquay
Tel (01637) 875648
Aqua Shack Surf Lodge
30-32 Island Crescent, Newquay
Tel (01637) 879611
AquaSurf B&B
92 Crantock Street, Newquay
Tel (01637) 879634
Base Surf Lodge
20 Tower Road, Newquay
Tel (01637) 874 852
Cribber Green Rooms
30 Headland Road, Newquay
Tel (01637) 875 082
Fistral Backpackers
18 Headland Road, Newquay
Tel (01637) 873 146
Home Surf Lodge
18 Tower Road, Newquay
Tel (01637) 873 387
Matts Surf Lodge
110 Mount Wise, Newquay
Tel (01637) 874 651
Newquay International Backpackers
69-73 Tower Road, Newquay
Tel (01637) 879 366
Newquay Reef Surf Lodge
5-7 Springfield Road, Newquay
Tel (01637) 878088
Offshore Hostel
6 Pentire Avenue, Newquay
Original Backpackers
16 Beachfield Avenue, Newquay
Tel (01637) 874 668
Palace Surf Lodge
3 Cheltenham Place, Newquay
Tel (01637) 830105
Reef Surf Lodge
10-12 Berry Road, Newquay
Tel (01637) 879058
Ricks Backpackers
8 Springfield Street, Newquay
Tel (01637) 851143
SAFI Bunkhouse
Narrowcliff Seafront, Newquay
Tel (01637) 872 8000
St Christophers Inn
35 Fore Street, Newquay
Tel (020) 7407 1856
The Escape
1 Mount Wise, Newquay
Tel (01637) 873 387
The Green House
49 Trenance Road, Newquay
Tel (01637) 871399
The Zone
Headland Road, Newquay
Tel (01637) 872 089
Surfing
Newquay has some of Europe's best surf with a choice of beaches that includes the famous Fistral Beach.
There are several surf schools in Newquay that include:
ESF Surf School
The Esplanade, South Fistral, Newquay
Tel (01637) 851 800
Website www.englishsurfschool.com
Lessons cost £30
King Surf School
King, Surfside stores, Mawgan Porth, Newquay
Tel (01637) 860 091
Website www.kingsurf.co.uk
½ day lesson £30; full day lesson £45
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
Blue Reef Aquarium
This aquarium on Towan Beach features a walk-through aquarium with tropical and Cornish marine life.
Towan Promenade, Newquay
Tel (01637) 878134
Website www.bluereefaquarium.co.uk
Admission £8.95, £7.95 students
Open Jan-Feb 10am-4pm daily; Mar-Oct 10am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-4pm daily
Newquay Zoo
Newquay's zoo features a range of exotic animals including pigmy marmosets, macaques, meerkats, penguins and zebras.
Edgcumbe Avenue, Trenance Gardens, Newquay
Tel (01637) 873342
Website www.newquayzoo.co.uk
Admission £10.95, £8.25 students
Open Jan-Mar 10am-dusk daily; Apr-Oct 9.30am-6pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-dusk daily
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