Newquay - rose coloured glasses

[Papergirl1968]

We had many family holidays in Newquay, Cornwall, when I was a child - up to my early teens, then I went with a friend once when I was 18.
I loved it. It was just magical to me as a kid and I have lots of happy memories.
Since then I know it’s had a bit of a reputation, but I’ve heard there have been efforts to clean it up in recent years.
So, anyone who has been in recent years, is it still a nice place or am I going to be hugely disappointed?
And as I’m not sure if my daughters will want to come this year, if I was to go alone would I stick out like a sore thumb among the holidaying families? I haven’t ever been away on my own, but I’m find the idea quite attractive as I’ve had a lot of stress recently and really feel the need to recharge my batteries with some solitude.

There are nicer areas. At Ives is beautiful and an amazing place to chill.

Newquay is naff.

I agree, St Ives is gorgeous. Newquay is ok for one, maybe two nights if you book a nice hotel like Fistral Spa.

It’s dreadful. Really dreadful. Every other single place in Cornwall is better

Last year I had a week around the coast of Cornwall on my own but I did a night in Helston, a night in Penzance a night in Newquay etc. Imo, Newquay is a naff seaside tourist town now, with all the trappings.
By all means visit, it still has its place, but the real gems lie just outside of it.

I hated it last year and would never go again. Especially when you've got somewhere as beautiful as st ives not far away.

It's tacky, messy, full of drunks and stag/hen nights. Basically my teenage daughter called it "Blackpool with a much nicer beach"

I too feel Newquay isn't what it was
St.Ives is nice but we felt expensive
Bude is very nice quiet and away for the hustle and bustle.
We had a fantastic week here kids surfed swam in the sea pool, short walk to the beach slightly longer to the town.
www.shorebreakbude.co.uk
But depends on what you want and budget etc

Dsis and i went 25 years ago (!) and thought it was quite rough at night.

Thanks everyone, maybe not Newquay then!
Lots to think about.

There’s plenty of places around Newquay that are gorgeous.
Watergate Bay, Crantock, or you could stay further in land and have the ability to travel around a bit.

Sure. Saturday nights are a bit trashy but it’s surroundings are beautiful.

As a Cornish resident I tend to avoid it in summer simply as it’s so busy, but all those people must find something to enjoy!

And I personally feel St Ives is too far the other way.

It will probably be a late booking anyway so it will be a case of getting in where I can.
Slightly anxious about the crowds, tbh, because we normally holiday on the welsh coast where it’s relatively uncrowded even in the school holidays.

Luckily dd2 is taking her GCSEs this summer so if she comes - and it’s looking unlikely - we can go late June or early July before the schools break up.

There are some nice beaches around Newquay, but quite frankly the town is a dump.