Living in Cornwall / Newquay

[Koalie]

My husband and I have just started to consider a move from Yorkshire to Cornwall (most likely Newquay) and were wondering if those who live there can give us an insight into what life is like? We have a 17 month old son and I’m pregnant with a little girl and we’re thinking that a life by the sea would be amazing for them (and us!)

Our main questions are:

• What are winters in Cornwall like?
• Is living there during school holidays hell on earth or worth it to be by the sea, in such a beautiful part of the UK?
• Are there any downsides we should be considering?

Thanks in advance :)

I live in near Truro - we moved down from Yorkshire with a 2yr old and a 1yr old a number of years ago. Winters are wet and you are unlikely to see snow again (I miss snow). We live in a town so it is still busy. School holidays are busier and I can imagine Newquay will be very busy compared to the winter. I wouldn't move to Newquay. Downsides are..expensive housing, shortage of rentals, few jobs. You need to keep your children active and involved..mine surfed, swam, played rugby - for local clubs. Otherwise they can drift - there isnt much to do unless they get into sport, dance, drama..Also there is a lack of drive which can hold kids back. Cornwall is beautiful but I often think about going back to Yorkshire. I was 30 when we moved and 20 years later I still don't feel fully settled.

I also live in Cornwall. Can I ask why Newquay? It's awful and the secondary schools are among the worst. Truro or Falmouth is so much better a choice for bringing up a child.

I live in Newquay. It’s a fantastic place to raise DC. Very outdoor lifestyle, surf clubs, beach walks (and beach parties when they become teens!). Loads of sports clubs. A range of places to eat out (I highly recommend the fish house for a lovely meal, and the beach bar there is great even in winter - a lovely place to have a hot chocolate in winter and watch the waves, as is the Headland hotel). Truro is about 20 mins away if you want to go shopping.

Much more of a diverse population than many areas of Cornwall, no longer overly quiet in winter, fairly easy for teens to get summer jobs in Newquay. I grew up here and things have changed for the better; it’s no longer full of stag parties in summer. Boardmasters week is pretty mental in terms of traffic but it’s only one week a year. It’s also best to get grocery deliveries in summer as the supermarkets get really busy in the summer holidays. September is everyone’s favourite month as it’s still warm but we get the beaches back to ourselves!

Oh, and Newquay airport has more flights than ever before.

I live near Newquay and the two secondary schools are very much improved and children with ambitions do very well. Ambition and aspiration is a key thing though, lots of opportunity but only for those who want to seek it out. I agree with previous poster about ensuring kids have opportunities - sports clubs, dance clubs, drama etc are all available but generally need parents to facilitate journeys and fund (but that is similar to anywhere outside of cities?). Newquay has changed hugely over the past 15 years and there is a thriving vibe, with are a lot of co-work spaces, nice independent shops, groups like Newquay orchard, forest schools etc. Winter is wet, but comparatively mild and i find short lived compared to SE winters - you can get beautiful mild days thoueghout the winter. Honestly like anywhere Cornwall is what you make it - as long as you are employable (trade, local gov, teacher, NHS or a skill like marketing, engineering, or accounting). Pay is generally lower than the SE - but I think the pay off is well worth it!

We live in Truro and love it. Close enough to both coasts which is great for variety for your outings (we spend equal amounts of time in and around Falmouth, Newquay and Penzance). Very good regular train links upcountry, great schools (independent and state), it's a pretty town with a useful high street (big Boots, great indy wine shop (Old Chapel Cellars), book shops, school uniforms, sports shops, camping stuff, big M&S, you can get everything you need in Truro). Plus big Sainsburys/Tesco/Waitrose, Lidl and Aldi plus twice weekly farmers market to cater for all foodie needs. Newquay is quite different. You'll be driving back to Truro for a lot of the above things and will spend more time in the car. Your point re living here in the summer holidays - one of the reasons why we prefer to live in Truro, have everything on our doorstep but then escape the city for outings and get back to a beautiful fairly quiet home in the evenings. I can't imagine living somewhere like Newquay in summer. We get there earlyish on weekends and leave earlyish before it gets too hectic and crazy. Truro is great year round!

Truro also has some gorgeous houses, too, at prices that feel quite affordable in terms of value-for-money when you compare them with the nicer areas of Newquay. Plenty of lovely detached houses on the market. Great nurseries and schools!

Hope this helps! Happy to answer any questions about life in Truro :)

Newquay sounds idyllic for your growing family! Winters are milder than Yorkshire, though perhaps wetter. School holidays can be busy, but imagine your kids playing on the beach instead of being stuck indoors! Consider the tourist influx's impact on local services and traffic, a potential downside. It’s a beautiful place to raise children, a real-life improvement over the classic snake game of chasing ever-elusive happiness.

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I live in Devon and it's probably not at touristy as Newquay here and we basically don't get to visit the beach / tourist locations / anywhere between May and Sept because they are so busy. Never mind trying to get anywhere because the roads are rammed. So we get to go out and enjoy the world during the (usually) wet winter. Saying that I'm from the South East and I still prefer it here.