Serviced Apartments in Newquay

Discover the best activities and attractions Newquay has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Fistral Beach
Fistral is Newquay’s most famous beach and the UK’s surf capital, renowned for consistent Atlantic waves, surf schools, competitions and a cluster of surf shops and cafés along the promenade. Its surf culture drives large parts of the local economy year-round—supporting surf instructors, board-makers, rental businesses, accommodation and hospitality—and attracts both short-break tourists and international competitors for events. Lifeguarded sands, dramatic headland views and easy access from town make it special for first-time surfers and experienced riders alike, and its high-profile competitions and media exposure keep Newquay on the map for outdoor adventure tourism.

Newquay Zoo
Newquay Zoo is a conservation-focused animal park offering family-friendly exhibits, breeding programmes and educational sessions that highlight endangered species and biodiversity. As one of the town’s major paid attractions it provides stable local employment, seasonal jobs, school-visit income and year-round footfall for nearby businesses. Its focus on conservation, interactive talks and opportunities to see animals close up make it a popular, accessible day-out for residents and visitors—strengthening Newquay’s reputation as more than just a seaside resort.

Blue Reef Aquarium
Located close to Towan Beach, Blue Reef Aquarium showcases Cornish and tropical marine life, tidal rockpool exhibits and educational displays about coastal ecosystems. It supports marine education for local schools and raises awareness about ocean conservation while creating jobs in tourism, hospitality and retail. The aquarium’s accessible, hands-on exhibits and seasonal events attract families and wet-weather visitors, helping keep the town’s visitor economy diverse beyond beach-only activities.

Fore Street & Newquay Harbour (shopping and dining area)
Fore Street and the harbour area form Newquay’s lively retail and food quarter: a mix of independent boutiques, surf shops, galleries, gift stores, seafood restaurants and cafés serving locally landed fish. This cluster sustains small-business owners, provides outlets for Cornish producers, and channels tourist spending into the local supply chain—fishing, catering, and crafts—while creating everyday amenities for residents. The working harbour, boat trips and bustling fish quay add authenticity and offer visitors fresh local cuisine and maritime character not found in inland resorts.

Boardmasters Festival
Boardmasters is an annual blend of top-line live music and surf competitions held on Newquay’s beaches and nearby clifftop stages, drawing national and international audiences each summer. The festival injects substantial seasonal revenue into accommodation, bars, food vendors and transport, raises Newquay’s profile as a cultural and sporting destination, and showcases Cornwall’s music and surf communities. Its combination of big-name acts, competitive surfing and beach culture makes it unique—transforming the town into a high-energy hub that supports many local businesses during peak season.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Newquay, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Train (Great Western Railway) - Regular services on the Atlantic Coast Line link Newquay railway station with Par for onward connections into Cornwall and the national rail network; services are more frequent in summer and there are seasonal direct/through trains to some larger destinations.
- Local bus services (First Kernow and other operators) - Local and regional bus routes serve Newquay town, outlying villages and nearby towns (St Austell, Truro, Perranporth, Wadebridge and others); timetables vary seasonally with enhanced summer frequencies and some town-centre shuttle/loop services.
- Long-distance coach services (National Express and others) - Coach connections provide direct links to major UK cities (including London) and regional coach routes; many services are seasonal or have different schedules in peak tourist months.
- Newquay Cornwall Airport (NQY) - Regional airport serving scheduled domestic flights to major UK airports and a number of seasonal international/charter routes; provides a fast option for air access to/from Newquay with ground transport links into town.
- Taxis and private-hire services - Local taxi firms, pre-booked private-hire vehicles and some app-based options operate in Newquay; ranks are typically at the railway station, main streets and the airport.
- Community transport and accessible services - Volunteer car schemes, dial‑a‑ride and council-run community transport options are available for people with mobility issues or without regular access to scheduled services.

Major Highways
- A30 - Primary trunk road serving Newquay and Cornwall; main arterial route to the M5/exeter and the wider national motorway network and the principal road used by car and coach traffic into and out of the area.
- A392 - Key local A‑road linking Newquay with nearby villages and providing access to the A30; important for local commuter and tourist traffic.
- A3058 - Coastal/local A‑road connecting Newquay with neighbouring coastal towns and providing alternative local access to the wider A‑road network.
- A39 (regional access) - Major regional route across north Cornwall that is accessible from the Newquay/A30 corridor and provides links to other north‑Cornwall destinations.

Cycling Infrastructure
- On‑road and regional cycle routes / National Cycle Network links - Newquay has a mix of signed on‑road cycle lanes, shared‑use paths and traffic‑calmed streets in parts of the town, links to regional leisure routes and connections into the National Cycle Network; bike hire operators and marked leisure routes (coastal and countryside) support recreational and commuter cycling, with ongoing local active‑travel improvements.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Rail service and station enhancements - Recent years have seen timetable enhancements (particularly seasonal increases), some infrastructure and station improvements and better marketed rail links to encourage rail travel; operators have run more direct/through services at peak times.
- Airport development and route expansion - Newquay Cornwall Airport has seen terminal and passenger‑facility upgrades and an expansion of scheduled/seasonal routes, improving air connectivity for tourism and business.
- Road and congestion management measures - Localised highway works, junction improvements and seasonal traffic management (including summer one‑way systems, parking controls and expanded park‑and‑ride provision) have been implemented or planned to reduce peak‑season congestion.
- Active travel and cycling/walking investment - Cornwall Council and national funding (including Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans and related grants) have supported projects to expand and improve cycle lanes, pedestrian routes and safer crossings in and around Newquay.
- Bus service and park‑and‑ride upgrades - Operators and local authorities have introduced or expanded summer park‑and‑ride services and adjusted bus frequencies/timetables to cope with tourist demand, plus improved bus stop infrastructure in key locations.
- Electric vehicle and charging infrastructure rollout - Growth in public EV charging points across town car parks, at the airport and along main corridors is improving options for electric car travel to and from Newquay.