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Voykit pocket guide · United Kingdom
Newquay
Spend 2 days in Newquay for surf beaches, Blue Reef Aquarium and nearby coastal villages; add a half‑day trip to Padstow or St Ives if time allows.
Newquay is a small coastal town in north‑Cornwall with a compact centre, walkable beaches and a handful of attractions. Two days cover the main surf spots, the aquarium, a garden and a quick day‑trip to a neighbouring village. Longer stays suit surf‑focused holidays or relaxed beach walks.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, limited daylight)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- GBP
- Money
- Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; some places are card-only.
- Daily spend
- Budget £50–£70 excl. bed · Mid £80–£120 excl. bed · High £150–£200 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines, no registration needed.
- Emergency
- Police / Ambulance 999 · Non‑urgent medical (NHS 111) 111
- Plugs
- Types G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Three-pin Type G only; European, US and Australian plugs need an adapter. Bathrooms have two-pin shaver sockets only.
- Tipping
- Restaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.; Pub or bar: Not expected; 'and one for yourself' offers the bartender a drink.; Taxi: Round up or 10%.; Hotel porter: £1–2 per bag.; Tour guide: £5–10 per person for a day tour; free walking tours expect £10–15.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Free refills are common; restaurants will bring tap water if you ask.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 or are card-only. Stations, museums, department stores and pubs (if you buy a drink) are the fallback.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | £2–£3 |
| Fish and chips | £8–£12 |
| Beer (pub) | £4–£5 |
| Blue Reef Aquarium entry | £12–£15 |
| Bus 56 single ticket | £4–£5 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NQY · Cornwall Airport Newquay
- 6 mi NE of town; seasonal flights to EU cities; bus 56 to town (≈20 min).
Typical fares
- Cornwall Airport Newquay → Newquay town (bus 56)
- about £5, 20 min (check)
- Newquay → Padstow (bus 56)
- about £12 each way, 50 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town centre and beaches are walkable; local bus routes (e.g., 25, 56) run every 30‑60 min to Truro, St Ives and Padstow. Car hire at the airport for coastal trips.
See and do
Known for
- Surf beaches (Fistral, Crantock)
- Blue Reef Aquarium
- Cornish film festival (Nov)
- Japanese Garden near the airport
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Padstow | Bus 56 from Newquay Airport (≈50 min) or train via Bodmin Parkway (≈1 h). | ≈1 h total |
| St Ives | Bus 95 from Newquay (≈45 min) or drive via A3071. | ≈45 min |
| Tintagel | Coach from Newquay (≈1 h 30 min) via the Atlantic Highway. | ≈1 h 30 min |
Sleep
- St Christopher’s Inns Newquay
- Hostel on the cliff above Towan Beach, £10.50 with breakfast.
- The Square House
- Self‑catering holiday house, sleeps up to 12, central location.
- Headland Hotel
- B&B double £150, on headland cliffs above Fistral.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Sorisaw‑ree |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it?how much is it? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card?can I pay by card? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the toilet?where is the toilet? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake at first meeting; 'hi' and first names quickly; avoid: Cheek kisses with strangers
- Conversation: Weather is a safe opener; understatement and self-deprecating humour; avoid: Asking about salary or class
- Queues: Join at the back; avoid: Pushing onto buses or trains before others get off
- Apologies: 'Sorry' is said constantly, even when not at fault; avoid: Taking it as an admission of blame
- Pubs: Buy rounds in a group; wait at the bar without waving money; avoid: Clicking fingers at staff
- Nations: Call Scots Scottish and Welsh Welsh; avoid: Calling the whole UK 'England'
Scams and watch-outs
- Seasonal flight schedules at NQY; check airline timetables before travel.
- Beach lifeguard coverage is summer‑only; swim outside supervised hours at your own risk.
- Parking at popular beaches fills quickly in peak summer; arrive early.
Newquay is generally safe; watch for surf currents, crowded beaches and seasonal traffic.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Newquay yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Surf beaches (Fistral, Crantock)
- Blue Reef Aquarium
- Cornish film festival (Nov)
- Japanese Garden near the airport
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Newquay – official tourist information: www.visitnewquay.org/
- Wikivoyage: Newquay, revision 5240345 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5240345
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/newquay). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.