Best Cornish Hotels by the Sea

We round-up 10 of the best hotels on the Cornish Coast, from adult-only retreats to family-friendly stays

1. ALL-ROUNDER
Bedruthan Steps, Mawgan Porth
This hotel has everything: funky rooms, family-friendly activities (especially during school holidays), lessons in watersports, great food and drink and a fantastic spa. What more could you want? From around £144 per night* (bedruthan.com).

2. SEASIDE SPA
St Michael’s Hotel and Spa, Falmouth
Right next to Gyllyngvase Beach, this spectacular hotel overlooks the sea and its own sub-tropical gardens. It has an onsite spa that offers tailored treatments, an indoor pool and a south-facing sun deck. From around £114 per night (stmichaelshotel.co.uk).

Photo: Mike Searle

3. CONTINENTAL HOTSPOT
The Idle Rocks, St Mawes
Think sea-view rooms, pretty balconette windows with French doors, French furnishings, Italian coffee machines and your name chalked on the door. The décor includes modern artwork and patterned textiles in pretty nautical shades. From around £200 per night (idlerocks.com).

4. STYLE CENTRAL
St Moritz Hotel, Trebetherick
A 21st-century glamour-puss with Art-Deco styling and a laid-back vibe, this hotel has a poolside restaurant, dashes of vintage design and the West Country’s only Cowshed Spa. Book a king room, and you get the keys to your own St Moritz beach hut. From around £120 per night (stmoritzhotel.co.uk).

If you’re searching for fun for the whole family, and you’re not wanting to leave behind your beloved pooch, try out these dog-friendly hotels in Cornwall.

Read next Top 10 Coastal Hotels in Devon

5. ADULTS ONLY
The Scarlet, Mawgan Porth
This child-free eco hotel sits on the edge of the ocean. Unwind in the Scarlet Spa or take a dip in the clifftop hot tub. From around £220 per night (scarlethotel.co.uk).

Photo: Paul Ryan-Goff

6. BOUTIQUE BLISS
Trevose Harbour House, St Ives
Stay at Angela and Olivier’s boutique bed and breakfast Trevose Harbour House for Midcentury furnishings and a coastal palette. Choose the Terrace Deluxe and you’ll enjoy your own sitting area and views over the harbour. From around £140 per night (trevosehouse.co.uk).

Photo: Penny Wincer

7. VICTORIAN LUXURY
Fowey Hall, Fowey
This luxury family hotel has views over Fowey River Estuary and is a short walk from Fowey’s restaurants, bars and shops. Luxurious touches include antique furniture in the bedrooms and tastefully decorated lounge areas. From around £190 per night (luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk).

8. SPORTY STAY
Watergate Bay Hotel, Newquay
Overlooking the surf at Watergate Bay, this is the place to try exhilarating sea sports. Year round, the hotel’s Extreme Academy offers coaching in surfing, kitesurfing, waveski, stand-up paddlesurf and handplaning. Kick back after in the Swim Club spa, with a 25m infinity pool looking out to sea, yoga and pilates, beauty treatments, and – oh joy – a Canadian hot tub beneath the stars. Activity specials such as the Coastal Fitness break, including cliff hikes and sea swimming, from £535pp, and three-night foodie Taste of the Bay stay, from around £345pp (01637 860543, watergatebay.co.uk)

Photo: Kirstin Prisk

9. COASTAL GARDENS
The Nare, Veryan-in-Roseland
A country house hotel on the beach, The Nare is home to a sub-tropical garden that thrives all year round. Take a walk on the beach or through the gardens before joining in with wine tastings and art classes. From around £290 per night (narehotel.co.uk).

10. CHILD-FRIENDLY
Polurrian on the Lizard, Mullion
For little ones, there’s an exciting array of children’s activies, from wood-fired cookery to outdoor arts, and also a playground, tennis court and film room. For adults, hire a babysitter, while you enjoy a delicious dinner in one of the restaurants. From around £120 per night (polurrianhotel.com)

If you’re searching for a staycation hotspot for your Cornish break, try these top Cornwall hotels.

11. LUXURY RETREAT

St Ives Harbour Hotel & Spa

Decorated in boutique style, most of the hotel’s 46 rooms have coastal views over the glorious expanse of St Ives Bay. After chilling at the HarSpa, or visiting Barbara Hepworth’s Sculpture Garden, there’s dining in the Terrace Bar & Restaurant where Cornish produce is the law whether you’re having afternoon tea or a delicious dinner. From around £165 per night, including breakfast (01736 795221, stives-harbour-hotel.co.uk)

12. ADULTS ONLY

Fistral Beach Hotel & Spa

Newquay’s Fistral Beach is one of Britain’s top surfing spots. After some wave-riding, nip to the spa for a swim, gym workout, or a treatment. Then head to the informal Dune Restaurant or sociable Bay Bar for cocktails and comfort food. The Sunday Stay special costs from £405 per night, with breakfast, dinner and a one-hour spa treatment (01637 852221, fistralbeachhotel.co.uk)

13. BOUTIQUE RETREAT

The Beach at Bude

With just 16 rooms, this intimate hotel set in a beautiful Victorian building is the place to rest, reflect and enjoy a delicious beverage at the Beach Bar. Relax out on the terrace sipping on a cocktail or glass of fizz and breathe in the sea air and stunning views across Summerleaze Beach. B&B costs from around £235 per night (01288 389800, thebeachatbude.co.uk)

14. TOTAL RELAXATION

The Old Quay House Hotel

Located on the narrow streets of Fowey, The Old Quay House was once a refuge for seamen. Now restored to a luxury level, it’s become a sanctuary for the time-pressed and the stressed-out, offering 13 bedrooms plus a fabulous waterfront panorama. The hotel’s renowned restaurant is run by head chef Richard Massey and is modern British in style. From around £143 per night (01726 833302; theoldquayhouse.com)