Top 10 things to do in Newquay

1. Lappa Valley Steam Railway

2. Newquay Zoo

Let your little ones run wild at one of Cornwall’s most exciting attractions, the Newquay Zoo. Located near the Newquay town centre, this zoo is home to over 130 exotic animal species, including red pandas, black wildebeest, lemurs, penguins, meerkats, lions, lynx and marmosets. Learn more about the zoo’s conservation efforts for endangered species with informative keeper talks and animal feeds scheduled throughout the day. Don’t forget to explore the Oriental Garden and the Village Farm.

3. Tolcarne Beach

Newquay is home to several of Cornwall’s best beaches, including Tolcarne Beach. One of four Newquay town beaches, Tolcarne Beach is a local favourite for its unique crescent-shaped bay set against the cliffs. Activities abound at this family-friendly beach including swimming, surfing, rock pooling and boogie boarding. Learn how to surf at the beach’s surf school which features BSA instructors, suits and equipment. Group and private surf lessons for beginner to intermediate surfers are available.

4. Watergate Bay Beach

The Watergate Bay beach is another local favourite located about three miles from Newquay. Famous for its golden sands and ideal surfing conditions, Watergate Bay offers relaxing waves year-round. You might recognize Watergate Bay, as it’s been used as a filming location in several productions including Echo Beach, Plunge and The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns. Adjacent to Newquay Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Watergate Bay is the perfect destination for kitesurfing, paddleboarding and more.

5. Trerice Manor House

Step back to Elizabethan England with a visit to Trerice Manor House. Little has changed over the centuries at this tranquil Tudor manor steeped in history. Tour room by room to see its impressive collection of 17th-19th century furniture, paintings, embroidered pictures, wood skittles and clocks, including a 300-year-old longcase clock. View colourful flowers and traditional varieties of Cornish apples in Trerice’s knot garden and orchard. Stop by the onsite café, shop and second-hand bookshop.

6. The Japanese Garden

Garner an appreciation for Asian horticulture with a visit to the Zen-like Japanese Garden. Although it only occupies an acre, this lovely garden space features water gardens with Koi carp, a Zen viewing house and gorgeous Japanese maples, bamboo groves, ornamental grasses, azaleas, rhododendrons and more. Meditate and relax during a peaceful stroll among the brilliant blooms. Visitors can also walk away with a starter kit to create their own Japanese garden at home.

7. Surfing

Newquay is synonymous with surfing, and as you can see on any beach in the area there is a huge surfing community. Alongside the experts there are also many surf schools in the town that can take you from a complete novice to "hanging 10" in no time at all. They provide boards, wet suits and all the accessories you need while learning this amazing sport. You just need to be ready to get wet!

8. Blue Reef Aquarium

The Newquay Blue Reef Aquarium is a feast for the senses with 40+ innovative displays bringing visitors the sights, sounds and smells of the sea. Enjoy up-close encounters with seahorses, piranha, sea turtles, reef sharks, stingrays, octopuses and more. Learn more about aquatic life through talks and feeding displays scheduled throughout the day. Blue Reef is proud to be among the UK’s leading aquariums, with diverse creatures and immersive exhibits to inspire a deeper appreciation for the exotic life found in the world’s seas and oceans.

9. Healeys Cornish Cyder Farm

10. Pirate’s Quest Adventure Golf