Holidays to Newquay

Situated on the Atlantic coast of North Cornwall, Newquay is the quintessential British seaside town, famous for its glorious beaches and some of the best surfing in South West England. A Newquay weekend offers rest, relaxation, stunning scenery and a bit of history. The town has several beaches close by: Fistral Beach is the town's main surfing beach, whereas Watergate Bay and Great Western Beach are perfect for swimming and sandcastle building. If you're not planning on spending all your time at the beach, Newquay package holidays are also ideal for exploring the North Cornish coast.

Driving to Newquay is a popular option, and the route along the M4 and M5 from London will take you around five hours. A more relaxing option is to book a Newquay flight and hotel break. Flights to Newquay arrive at the town's small airport, Cornwall Airport Newquay (NQY), just 5km from town. Flights to Newquay from London Gatwick take just over an hour. Connecting through Gatwick makes flights to Newquay from Manchester or other regional airports a much more attractive prospect than driving. While car hire is available at the airport, you can also take a taxi for the short trip to Newquay.

July and August bring the best weather and are the peak months for Newquay package holidays. In the height of summer, you can expect average temperatures around 20°C. Surfers often prefer to wait until later in the year for their Newquay city breaks; in October, the weather is windier, the waves are higher and the sea temperature higher than in May or June. Winters in Newquay are mild compared with other parts of the UK, with December seeing the most rainfall on average.

Newquay is a relatively small town, perfect for exploring on foot or by bike. Head out of town to see a bit more of the countryside – there's a well-signposted path along the Cornish coast. All types of watersports are available along this stretch of coast, so if you've ever fancied learning to sail, surf or kayak, here's your chance to learn. There's a lot of history to explore as well, from mines that are relics of the Cornish tin mining industry, to clifftop Tintagel Castle, said to have been home to legendary King Arthur.

Newquay city breaks have so much to offer that you'll struggle to fit everything in. However, there are some top attractions that mustn't be missed.

• Beaches - Fistral, Watergate Bay and Porth Beach are the best in the area, offering swimming, miles of sand and lifeguard supervision in peak season.
• The picture postcard village of Padstow is just 25 minutes out of Newquay and has lots of interesting shops and restaurants bordering its fishing harbour.
• Find your inner zen at the Japanese Garden in St Mawgan, with traditional plants, water features and a very calming atmosphere.
• Kids will love Pirates Quest, an interactive experience transporting you back to the 18th century and the time of pirates in Cornish waters.
• In the very unlikely event of poor weather, check out the fun pool at Waterworld, offering splashy, watery fun for kids of all ages.

If you also have time to explore the surrounding area, you can also rent a car in Newquay.

Eating out in Newquay

There are some food items so iconic that a trip to Cornwall wouldn't be complete without them. The Cornish pasty is one of them, so follow the locals to Morris Pasties in Gover Lane to sample their award-winning products. Cornish cream tea is another Newquay essential, and both Pauline's Creamery and Martha's Tearoom sell it in the traditional way, with lots of strawberry jam and clotted cream. Not much beats fish and chips in the open air, and the Harbour Fish and Grill offers stunning sea views as you dine. If you're into fine dining, then head over to Padstow, where you'll find Paul Ainsworth at No6, one of the UK's best dining experiences.

Perfect souvenirs to bring home from Newquay

There are lots of shops in Newquay where you can pick up the perfect memento of your Cornish trip. Anything surf related, from hoodies to surfboard-shaped fridge magnets, is popular. Cornwall has many small creative businesses, so look for local pottery, glass or jewellery for a unique memento. Local produce is also widely sold, so why not pick up some clotted cream and try to replicate the joys of a cream tea when you get home?