The Esplanade Hotel review: a family-friendly beachfront retreat all year round

Our verdict

With a prime beachfront location just steps from surfing hotspot Fistral Beach, The Esplanade Hotel in Newquay makes an excellent base for a family holiday in Cornwall. There are rooms to suit couples and families of all sizes and you can bring the dog along.

The Esplanade has loads of family-friendly amenities including a cinema, an indoor swimming pool, a games room and an outdoor play area as well as a jam–packed entertainment programme during the school holidays. Although we stayed over the summer, this is one of those evergreen destinations with plenty of facilities, activities and amenities that make it the perfect base for families no matter the season or the weather.

The location is hard to beat, the spacious rooms are well laid out and the facilities are excellent for kids of all ages. But its the thoughtful, family-friendly touches which makes this one of the best family hotels I've ever stayed in: from the build-a-bead teddies given to kids on arrival to the mini dressing gowns in our room and the borrow box for the beach.

How we tested

This review combines notes from two Mumsnet family stays at The Esplanade Hotel in Newquay.

The original review by Mumsnet writer Lucy, was based on a four-night family holiday last year, staying in a sea-view family room with two children aged eight and 11. Lucy and her daughters had stayed at the hotel over two consecutive summers with plans to return again.

The second review was written by me, Jenny, following a more recent two-night stay tagged onto the end of a two-week family summer holiday in Cornwall. I stayed with my husband and three children (aged 12, nine and seven) in a family room overlooking the beach. During our stay we made full use of the pool, cinema, games room, soft play, playground and lounge as well as enjoying dinner, breakfast and afternoon tea in the restaurant. All first person accounts will be referring to this second review stay.

What are the rooms like

The Esplanade has spacious family rooms that can accommodate up to six guests, with the setup varying depending on the age of your children. On Lucy's first visit, she had a family room with a double bed and two singles, while on her second, the family had a double and a single bunk bed – the latter was a huge hit with her girls.

During my stay, my family and I were accommodated in a family room comprising of a double bed and two sets of bunk beds. The room was an L shape with the bunk beds set slightly apart from the main area. Although we were only staying two nights, we appreciated the small amount of privacy this gave us.

While you pay a little extra for the benefit, some of the family rooms have balconies with views over the outdoor playground, while those situated at the front of the hotel boast impressive sea views. Waking up to the sun rising over Fistral Beach and the crashing of the waves is, in a word, magical. And getting to watch world-class surfing from the comfort of our bed felt pretty incredible, too.

The rooms have lots of useful features for families, from the full range of toiletries including Child’s Farm children's shampoo and shower gel to the mini dressing gowns in the wardrobe, ideal for visits to the pool or simply snuggling into after a day at the beach.

Our family room included a mini fridge, table and chairs, TV and beanbags, which was a lovely touch. There are also hot drinks, a kettle and some lovely mini shortbread biscuits.

It's worth noting that not all rooms have baths. If you're travelling with young children you may want to double-check this when booking.

Upon check-in, each child gets their own build-a-bear-style teddy in a bag which was a huge hit with both both my kids and Lucy's, and a brilliant way to keep kids entertained while adults settle in and unpack. It also made for a lovely souvenir.

What activities are on offer for kids at The Esplanade?

Simply put, this hotel is the most family-friendly one we've ever stayed in. Every feature has families at the forefront, from the in-house cinema and pool to the range of staff-run activities and events from crafting to silent discos, games and magic shows.

One of the main reasons we return to The Esplanade year after year is that this hotel is so child-friendly (and dog-friendly too!). Whatever the weather, there's always something to do so you can make the most of your holiday and create cherished memories with your kids.

-Lucy Cotterill, Mumsnet writer and mum-of-two

Here are just a few of the family-friendly facilities:

Indoor pool

While it’s not huge, The Esplanade is lucky enough to have its own indoor pool with a shallow section that's perfect for younger children. While it was quite busy during our stay, our kids absolutely adored the pool and wanted to be in it pretty much the whole time.  

The pool is open daily from 8am to 9pm numbers are restricted so it never feels too busy or crowded. 

Parents can also take a dip in the hot tub or sauna. There are lockers to keep your belongings safe as you swim.

Indoor play/games area 

The jungle gym/soft play area features a large slide and soft matting and is a big hit with younger children. Located just off the main restaurant and close enough for parents to supervise, it allows children to play while waiting for dinner. For older kids, there's a pool table, a giant Connect-4 game and table football.

Cinema 

For rainy days or even cosy evenings before bed, The Esplanade has its very own little cinema which screens family-friendly films throughout the day and evening. You can see what films are on offer on posters and in reception.

Outdoor pirate play area

On sunny days, the pirate-themed play area is a great place for kids to burn off some steam before bed. Tucked away at the back of the hotel, it features agility ropes, bridges and slides, as well as grass areas for kids to run around or role-play walking the plank.

The play area was relatively quiet during our stay, making it a peaceful space to relax. We loved grabbing a drink from the bar and chilling in the sunshine while the kids made new friends. 

Free activity schedule

During the school holidays, The Esplanade has its own family-friendly entertainment programme which is completely free of charge and offers a huge variety, so there's something to suit everyone.

During our visit, the girls took part in biscuit decorating and cocktail making but other activities including craft and pizza making too - great fun for all ages.

-Lucy Cotterill, Mumsnet writer and mum-of-two

Fistral Beach

It goes without saying that having Fistral Beach on the doorstep is a great source of entertainment – even if the weather isn't playing ball. While the Quicksilver Surf School attached to the hotel is perfect for those wishing to ride some waves, the beach is also perfect for sandcastles, walks, paddling and has some epic rockpools. We were more than happy to spend hours exploring the rockpools, jumping over waves in the shallows and watching the incredible surfers.

The hotel’s borrow box means you don’t need to pack (or spend a fortune buying) regular beach items like buckets, spades and windbreaks. Guests often leave items behind and the girls loved raiding the large treasure chest in reception before heading down to the sand.

Babysitting services

If you’re travelling with younger children and fancy a bit of a break, the hotel offers a babysitting service with registered babysitters available between 6pm and 12pm each night. While you do have to stay on site, this is a great opportunity to head to the adults-only Elements bar for a cheeky cocktail before bed. 

What’s the food like? 

We had some amazing food at The Esplanade; the on-site restaurant (The Cove) offers a brilliant choice of dishes to suit most palates, including some great options for kids. We enjoyed dinner and breakfast as part of our stay, and we also had a lovely afternoon tea on our second day. While the food itself was top notch, with speedy service and excellent attention to detail, I think having the play area right next to the restaurant was one of the best bits about the dining experience.

It meant our youngest two children were able to go off and play before and after food came, and the vibe was super relaxed, with no one blinking an eye when my son came back without his Crocs and ate his dinner in bare feet. We also loved how inclusive and friendly the staff were, accommodating little changes to the children's menu as required by the pickier eaters and all meals were relaxing, with no pressure to feel like we needed to clear out quickly. It was brilliant - and the panoramic views of Fistral Beach while we ate were just the icing on the cake.

Ask my youngest daughter her favourite part of our holidays at The Esplanade and ‘breakfast’ would be pretty high up on the list.

-Lucy Cotterill, Mumsnet writer and mum-of-two

Breakfast is the usual continental buffet followed by a choice of either a hot food buffet or off-the-menu cooked breakfasts. We tended to stick with the buffets for ease, and the kids absolutely loved serving themselves pancakes and chocolate sauce from the kids' breakfast area.

The hotel also offers traditional afternoon tea, which we thoroughly enjoyed during our second day. The kids had their own child-friendly version with hot chocolate and simpler ingredients and flavours - it felt like a real treat and was the perfect way to round off our Cornwall holiday.

What is there to do nearby?

With Fistral Beach on your doorstep, you could easily spend your whole time within the immediate surroundings of the hotel.

There are two main ways to access the beach – either down some steep steps or via the slightly longer but more gentle promenade. If you’re unsteady on your feet or have little legs in tow, you’re probably better off taking the longer, flatter route as coming back up the steps can certainly get your heart racing.

At the far end of the beach, you’ll find a busy Fistral Beach hub with a selection of shops and restaurants including Rick Stein’s fish restaurant and The Stable for stonebaked pizzas. We really enjoyed the latter and booked in several times for evening meals during our stay - you can also grab a takeaway and tuck in on the beach if you prefer. 

-Lucy Cotterill, Mumsnet writer and mum-of-two

If the huge range of activities at the hotel and available on the beach are not quite enough or if you're planning a longer stay, there are plenty of family-friendly attractions within easy reach:

• Blue Reef Aquarium - Around a 20-minute walk or short drive from the hotel, Blue Reef Aquarium sits on Towan Beach in central Newquay. It has more than 40 themed displays, including an underwater tunnel, tropical sharks, seahorses, turtles and reef fish, making it an easy rainy-day win for families.

• Newquay Zoo - About 10 minutes by car, Newquay Zoo is set in Trenance Gardens and has red pandas, penguins, capybaras, tapirs, lemurs and play areas. It's compact enough not to feel overwhelming with children, but still big enough to fill a good chunk of the day.

• Pirate’s Quest - Roughly a five-minute drive or 20-minute walk into town, Pirate’s Quest is a pirate-themed family attraction on St Michael’s Road. It's a good option for mixed weather, with an immersive, story-led setup that should appeal to children who like a bit of theatre with their treasure hunting.

• Quiksilver Surf School - Right beside the hotel at the south end of Fistral Beach, Quiksilver Surf School offers lessons, hire and family surf sessions. It's ideal for confident swimmers or older children who want to make the most of Newquay’s surf scene without needing to travel anywhere.

• Lappa Valley - Around 15-20 minutes by car, Lappa Valley is a 35-acre family attraction built around miniature railways. There are train rides, indoor soft play, adventure golf, woodland walks and boating, so it works well for younger children and for days when you want one easy, contained outing.

• Trerice - Around 15 minutes by car, Trerice is a National Trust Elizabethan manor house with gardens, a cafe and family-friendly activities such as Cornish kayles, Tudor costumes and house trails. It is a gentler option than the big-ticket attractions, good for a slower morning when everyone needs a reset.

• Oasis Fun Pools - Around 10-15 minutes by car at Hendra Holiday Park, Oasis Fun Pools has indoor pools, flumes, river rapids, splash zones and fountains. It is a strong backup if the weather turns and children still have energy to burn.

About the authors

Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and roundups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help people make confident purchases.   

Loving nothing more than UK family holidays, city breaks and days out with the kids, Lucy has written several travel guides for Mumsnet, including the Best family hotels in Cornwall.

Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, where she writes, edits and optimises family-focused content designed to make everyday parenting that bit easier.

As a mum of three, Jenny brings first-hand parenting experience to everything she writes, with plenty of trial-and-error along the way. Her family travels have ranged from UK camping trips to more adventurous long-haul breaks, giving her a clear understanding of what really matters when travelling with children - from location and layout to those small but crucial details that can turn an average family trip into the best holiday ever.

She regularly researches and reviews family travel options, combining expert insight with real parent feedback from the Mumsnet community to help other families plan holidays with confidence.

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