Why go?
Watergate Bay is the perfect location for a family seaside break. Rolling waves and a two-mile beach create ideal surfing conditions and the sand is the go-to place for sandcastle building, lazing in the sun, kite surfing and beach polo. Perched above it is Watergate Bay Hotel which underwent a £3million revamp last year with families very much at its heart.
A new boardwalk links the hotel to the beach and has a board store, outdoor changing room, shower, and a room to hang your wetsuits – perfect design for that messy beach-hotel transition.
Activities
If the UK weather holds up, spend your time outdoors surfing, paddle boarding and body boarding with lessons at the Extreme Academy. Should the weather turn dreary, children are kept amused indoors with a soft play area for babies and toddlers, a room of games and toys for 3-7 year-olds, and table tennis, football, and Wii consoles for older children.
The 25m indoor infinity pool has a shallow area for young children as well as friendly treatment rooms and a cedar hot tub. The Living Space has also been spruced up and makes a comfortable place to lounge with a drink, a crab sandwich and an ocean view.
This family-friendly hotel also provides evening supervision, and parents are well equipped with a microwave, washing-up facilities and a fridge.
Food: The hotel’s restaurants provide delicious meals for parents as well as children’s menus in the Beach Hut and Living Space. Plus, Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant with a child-friendly menu is just a short stroll away.
The lowdown
Watergate Bay family suites start at £200 per night for six people sharing. If you’re a small family, interconnecting rooms are available or extra occupancy in a double room is charged at 25 percent extra per night. Children under three years old and sleeping in a cot stay free of charge.
How to get there
Road: If you’re packing up the kids in the car and driving to Watergate Bay, you can get driving directions at watergatebay.co.uk/location. For Sat Nav guidance, the post code is TR8 4AA.
Rail: If you’re arriving by train, Newquay station is just a short eight minutes taxi ride away.
Air: There are daily flights to Newquay Airport from London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Cardiff and Dublin. FlyBE flies London Gatwick to Newquay; from £75 return.
Travel time: A flight from London takes 1 hour and 10 minutes. Driving from London takes around 4 hours and 30 minutes.