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Which is the best Cornish holiday for your family?

The south coast of England is blessed with a bevy of beautiful boltholes for parents seeking sun, sand and softplay staycations. With so many options to choose from it can be hard to know where to pick as your home-from-home. Whether you’re looking for the ultimate seaside spa break, a dog friendly destination, or all-singing all-dancing facilities we’ve got the tried & trusted guide to the best Cornish holiday for your family

Words by Frankie Collinson

 

Published: 14th March 2024 | Last updated: 4th June 2026

We’ve spent hours reading the hundreds of reviews you’ve shared with us, to produce a visited & verified mini guide to which Cornish hotel or holiday home is right for your family. We hope you find this really useful, and if you do, we would be most grateful if you could book via the links in the article

Love, Frankie & Becky x

 

A bite sized guide to: Which is the best Cornish holiday for your family?

Our favourite aparthotel for freedom & facilities – SeaSpace
Our favourite for a beautiful budget break – Treworgey Cottages
Our favourite for all inclusive activities – Bosinver Farm
Our favourite for adult indulgences – The Headland Hotel & Spa
Our favourite for FREE childcare – Fowey Hall
Our favourite for a super luxe beach bolthole – Watergate Bay Hotel
Our favourite for a superlatively scenic self-catering stay – Three Mile Beach 

SeaSpace : Our favourite aparthotel for freedom & facilities

Our Insider Intel

Bringing the aparthotel concept to the Cornish coast for the first time, SeaSpace offers families (beautifully decorated!) rooms with ample space to make themselves at home, alongside the perks of a hotel stay. We’re talking a heated indoor pool, padel courts, onsite restaurant and well stocked games room. A stunning beach is mere steps away, with Newquay reachable in under 10 minutes by car. Committed to a no frills, all thrills, approach, guests of all ages are immediately made to feel welcome here – sandy paws included

Best for:

  • Flexibility and facilities
  • Design-led home-from-homes
  • Large families with dogs
  • Community spirit

Bear in mind:

  • Currently the team aren’t able to recommend local babysitters
  • Entertainment here is more DIY than formal childcare
  • There’s no lift so if you have a pram request a room on the ground floor

Mama
knows
best

Book now

At SeaSpace you'll find

Heated indoor pool
Hot tub
Shallow splash pool
Padel courts
Outdoor playground
Maze
Mud kitchen
Indoor games room
Fitness studio and classes

What's provided for tiny travellers

Cots and highchairs are provided, everything else you’ll want to bring with you

Surf boards, SUPs, soft racks, wetsuits, body boards and even hoods and gloves are available for hire from the Wavehunters trailer at SeaSpace

What to do nearby

A short stroll down the road leads to Porth Beach, a hotspot for bucket-and-spade toting tots and bodyboard-keen teens and tweens. It’s well worth packing the gang in the car and making the short drive to nearby Newquay, for retro-chic arcades, oodles of attractions and lots of great British grub. Where shall we eat you ask? The team recommend Stax for insta-iconic sandwiches; burgers and shakes at HERD; and coffee plus croissants from House of Glass

How much you'll need to spend

Prices start from £160 p/night in low season and £369 p/night in high season for a two bedroom cottage

You're loving

SeaSpace

Newquay

SeaSpace was so clean and colourful, very inviting for both adults and children - retro vibes but stunning decor! There was a playroom for little ones with wooden toys and an additional games room for older children. The pool was also child friendly with a baby pool. It's the perfect location for a day out at the beach or to head into Newquay. The food was also excellent and I would totally recommend to parents

Mama @rosie_dowen, Tiny Traveller aged 8 monthschat to the team

Treworgey Cottages: Our favourite for a beautiful budget break

Our Insider Intel

With 2 bed cottages starting from as little as £90 per night (that’s £45 per room!), Treworgey’s prices are unbeatable. The seriously cheap cost doesn’t come at a compromise to style or substance either.  The 17 self-catering cottages ooze country charm and all come with private gardens – a luxury for both little and furry legs! A self-catering stay with a difference, the impressive onsite Farm Shop stocks all the essentials and plenty of Cornish sweet treats too. Blending homestay privacy with hotel-like facilities, guests are treated to the use of a heated outdoor pool, hot tub and spa treatments. For kids, there’s a huge outdoor playground, indoor playroom (with small soft play), daily animal feeding, weekly Animal Antics sessions and riding lessons

Best for:

  • Pleasing your purse strings
  • Group getaways
  • Dog mums
  • Cosy country interiors with luxury trimmings

Bear in mind:

  • The nearest town (and beach) is a short drive away and is on the smaller side
  • The outdoor pool is open mid-May until the end of September
  • The indoor playroom isn’t heated, so can feel quite chilly in winter

Mama
knows
best

Book now

At Treworgey Cottages you'll find

Small soft play
Indoor playroom with Wendy house, Brillo train set, pool table & table tennis
‘Indoor Beach’ with mechanical sand play, big climbing frame, slide, giant Lego, plus Volleyball, badminton and climbing walls
Outdoor playground with climbing frame, swing, slide and ropes and ride-on tractors
Daily animal feeding sessions
Seasonal pony clubs and weekly rides
Weekly Forest School

A seasonal heated outdoor pool (open May – September) plus separate ‘toddler’s pool’
A small heated hot-tub-sized outdoor spa pool (open year round and available to book for private use)
Sauna and spa treatments
Sun-trap tennis court

A honesty shop stocked with organic meats, eggs and local treats

What's provided for tiny travellers

Treworgey can lend the below, please let them know in advance any requirements

Cots
Highchairs
Bed guards
Stair gates (most of the cottages have these already built in)
Loo seats
Potties
Lightweight pushchairs
Microwave sterilisers
Changing mats
Baby baths
Plastic crockery
Nappy bins
Baby gyms
Baby bouncer chairs
Baby doorway bouncers

What to do nearby

The closest town Looe is a picturesque, small fishing town with a river and harbour. There’s a handful of restaurants (but many do close seasonally) plus a small beach and beautiful Monkey Sanctuary in the woodlands. For a greater choice of eateries head to Polperro – a charming fishing village with breathtaking views and all the trimmings of a traditional seaside resort. Adrenalin addicts will love Adrenalin Quarry (a 10 minute drive away), where visitors of all ages can get wet and wild. Thrill seekers can defy gravity on the Giant Swing, zip wire on Britain’s longest and fastest sky-high adventure or wipe out on the colossal inflatables at the aquapark. For something a little more relaxed, board a boat to Looe Island – Cornwall’s only marine nature reserve where the only human residents are the two wildlife wardens. Visitors are transported to the pages of Robinson Crusoe, with crystal-clear waters, swimming seals and sheep grazing grassy slopes

How much you'll need to spend

Prices start from £90 p/night in low season and £384 p/night in high season for a two bedroom cottage

You're loving

Treworgey Cottages

Looe

The style at Treworgey Cottages is luxury farmhouse. It's warm and wonderfully decorated, but not so precious that I felt uncomfortable with the kids bouncing around. My boys love being in the water so the pool and hot tub was a big draw. One of the boy's favourite areas was the huge playground, which had everything a child's heart could desire

Mama @scandimummy, Tiny Travellers aged 3 & 8chat to the team

Reviews from other parents

I'd describe Treworgey as family friendly cottages for grown ups. Rather than feeling too kiddy, the interiors gave cosy Grandma chic and the towels and bedding really were next level. We visited en mass as a group of 8 adults, 3 under 4s and 2 dogs, staying across 2 cottages, and it honestly felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. I couldn't believe how cheap it was. All of the activities are really close together, so super easy to navigate with toddlers. We loved that there was table tennis & a pool table for grown ups in the games room, so us adults could have a match whilst the kids were busy playing with the Wendy house and train track. There's not much going on in Looe, especially off season, but we had a great day out in nearby Polperro Harbour

Becky, Tiny Traveller aged 3

Treworgey simply isn't possible to do justice to in a few short sentences. The owners are meticulous about every detail, and care deeply about their business and their clients. As our daughter Poppy grows up, Treworgey will adapt with us for a genuinely wonderful holiday for all ages. I'm so thankful to have found this gem, and we'll be back much more in the years to come. I cannot recommend it to you mamas & papas highly enough!

Jane, Tiny Traveller aged 2

Bosinver Farm: Our favourite for all inclusive activities

Our Insider Intel

The largest and most famous family friendly farm stay in the area, Bosinver goes big on free-range fun, for all ages. There’s something for everyone here – from the indoor soft play for tots to the gym and spa treatments for mum & dad. While you’ll find similar facilities at neighboring properties, what sets Bosinver apart is their all-inclusive nature, and daily schedule. Appreciating that it’s really damn hard for families to travel light Bosinver have available ALL of the parental paraphernalia you could possibly need. Going above and beyond the usual cots and highchairs, you can borrow prams, wellies and wetsuits. Whether you’re travelling with a dog, or not, there’s something to suit everyone with 20 cottages to choose from 

Best for:

  • Large families or groups of different ages
  • Daily activities – which are all included in the price
  • No planning needed – detailed local guides await in all cottages
  • Fur and human babies
  • Neurodiverse children

Bear in mind:

  • There’s no farm shop onsite, so come prepared with a food shop
  • The nearest town and beach are a short drive away
  • Weekly minimum stays apply in high season
  • The site is very large and when fully booked activities can have less of a personal touch & a longer wait

Mama
knows
best

Book now

At Bosinver Farm you'll find

Daily animal feeding sessions and pony rides
Soft play
Large games room with pool, table tennis & board games
Zip wire and huge slide
Gruffalo trail

Indoor heated pool
Gym
Tennis court
Spa treatments

What's provided for tiny travellers

Bosinver Farm can lend the below, please let them know in advance any requirements

Cots
Stair gates
Booster seats
High chairs
Bed guards
Black-out blinds
Prams
Baby carriers
Baby baths
Baby monitors
Toys
Wellies, wetsuits & beach toys

What to do nearby

Matriarch ‘action nan Pat’ has you covered with an unbeatable book of recommendations which you will find in every cottage – all tried & tested by her own discerning family. A fam fan favourite is Trelissick Gardens – a great place to play nature detective, and the small beach is perfect for a little seashore exploration. If you’re looking for a family friendly day out with a culinary twist, head to The Hidden Hut for elevated cafe cuisine overlooking a sublime sheltered cove. Maritime enthusiasts will love the fascinating history soaking every corner of Charlestown. There’s plenty to see and do around the harbour, which is home to the Square Sails fleet, and is a popular location for filming period dramas (watch out for film crews and pirate ships!) The Shipwreck and Heritage Centre has the largest collection of shipwreck artefacts in the UK, and is well worth a look. Charlestown beach is great for families – ideal for sandcastle-building competitions and swimming. Finally, Mevagissey is a traditional, unspoilt fishing village with a history of boatbuilding – and smuggling. Wander through the narrow alleyways to find numerous pubs, restaurants and excellent fish and chips. The kids will love crabbing on the harbour, the model railway & aquarium. Finally, the iconic Lost Gardens of Heligan are a mere hop, skip and a jump away from Bosinver, home to wonderful woodland sculptures, fungi-growing areas and exotic plants

How much you'll need to spend

Prices start from £750 p/week in low season for a cottage sleeping 4 and £5150 p/week in high season for a cottage sleeping 12

You're loving

Bosinver Farm

Saint Austell

We did more belly-laugh inducing activities for my toddler in a single day at Bosinver than we usually fit into a month at home. There’s an indoor heated pool, which you can book for private sessions, plus 2 hours of ‘family time’ each day. In a true stroke of genius the indoor soft play is open 23 hours a day, so if you have an early bird like me, you can stroll over for a 6am sesh

Frankie, Tiny Traveller aged 2chat to the team

Reviews from other parents

Bosinver really is a very special place that is hard to sum up in a quote. It's ideally positioned to explore amazing areas, yet you could quite simply never leave the site. Some of our favourite parts include: animal feeding with the fantastic Farmer Dave ; the spotless Playbarn; the gorgeous cottages with incredible interior (pictures don't do them justice); pony rides on Ginger and Crystal; and Wildkidz sessions with the engaging and imaginative Tatum. They really have thought of everything to make it the most relaxing break for parents because children and adults alike have so much fun here

Sophie, Tiny Travellers aged 6 & 3

The Headland Hotel & Spa: Our favourite for adult indulgences

Our Insider Intel

Proving that a super slick spa break isn’t off limits to parents (or dog owners) The Headland is a masterclass in family friendly luxury. While not a child-centric hotel, it’s clear the needs of parents are well considered & catered to. Tots are greeted at check in with busy books, and the thoughtful touches extend to sweet treats and toiletries waiting for them in room. Plus, mocktails are happily made at dinner & children’s menus comes complete with colouring in on the back. A siren call for frazzled mums & dads, the views from the award-winning Aqua Club (which guests have complimentary access to) are the ultimate soul soother (with the brilliant spa treatments coming a close second). Whilst some of the pools are adults only, tiny travellers will love the large indoor splash pad and prime location. Literally steps from the golden sands of Fistral beach, and a short stroll into Newquay, there’s no need for any car seat tantrums here

Best for:

  • A grown up getaway with fabulous food
  • Brilliant beach in walkable reach
  • Not needing a car (after you’ve taxied from Newquay station)

Bear in mind:

  • The hotel is undergoing a renovation and some rooms feel more modern than others
  • Babysitters can be arranged but there’s no other childcare
  • Dogs aren’t allowed in the main restaurant

Mama
knows
best

Book now

At The Headland Hotel & Spa you'll find

6 pools, including a splash pad and family friendly pool
State-of-the-art spa and treatments
Peloton equipped gym
3 restaurants

What's provided for tiny travellers

Cots, highchairs and baby toiletries are provided

What to do nearby

Newquay is known as having some of the best beaches in Cornwall, and Fistral (directly in front of the Headland) is a prime example of why. The miles of golden sands are equally enticing to sandcastle-building-smalls, surfers and delighted dogs alike. Walk the ten minutes into Newquay to visit the Blue Reef Aquarium, dog-friendly arcades and the brilliant Fort Inn – where gastro pub classics are served alongside soft play. A short drive away from the hotel is Newquay Zoo, where tiny travellers are treated to animal encounters sessions, and a brilliant play area. The Newquay Trampoline Park is a great one to have in your back pocket for rainy days, with dive towers, foam pits, slides and gladiator beams

How much you'll need to spend

Prices start from £200 p/night in low season and £300 p/night in high season

You're loving

The Headland Hotel & Spa

Newquay

Whilst not purpose built for families, it's clear The Headland have really thought through how to create a 5* experience for mums and dads. There are plenty of ease-inducing touches for tiny travellers, a car-seat-free location with so much to do on your doorstep and Maggie declared that she LOVED her 'new room' and asked if were moving in

Becky, Tiny Traveller aged 3chat to the team

Reviews from other parents

As a parent to both human and fur babies it's really hard to find luxury dog friendly hotels. The Headland totally exceeded all of our expectations. Delivery 5* luxury across the dazzling destination spa, fine dining restaurant and slick service. The location, right on Fistral Beach, is unbeatable, and the proximity to Newquay meant no car seat meltdowns were involved in the making of this holiday

Frankie, Tiny Travellers aged 2 & 6 months

Fowey Hall: Our favourite for FREE childcare

Our Insider Intel

The famed Luxury Family Hotel group’s flagship bolthole, Fowey Hall is a luxurious retreat providing unparalleled pampering for mamas and minis alike. Adult aesthetics sit harmoniously with next-level touches for tots. From prams and bibs to borrow, to Yoto players in room, a puree menu and super handy bottle cleaning service,  there’s not a single stone Fowey Hall has left unturned when it comes to alleviating mum’s mental load. Much-loved for the 90 minutes of complimentary childcare a day (for babes as young as 3 months), Fowey is also the perfect backdrop for time spent together; thanks to the indoor & outdoor pools, bonkers supply of boardgames & books, and cinema nights. Dogs are allowed everywhere inside (just not the spa), and it’s easy to walk into Fowey itself – which is as gorgeous as seaside towns come

Best for:

  • Family focused facilities and tiny touches
  • Free childcare
  • A beautiful, beachy boutique town
  • Pooch pampering

Bear in mind:

  • The outdoor pool closes in the winter
  • Fowey itself is very hilly
  • The beach is a 10 minute walk away

Mama
knows
best

Book now

At Fowey Hall you'll find

Complimentary Kids Club (3 months +)
Well equipped library and reading nooks, with plenty of boardgames
A mini cinema
Table football, table tennis and arcade games

Indoor & outdoor pool
Spa treatments

Restaurant

What's provided for tiny travellers

Fowey Hall lends the below as standard, please let them know any additional requirements

Cots
Highchairs (for different ages)
Yotos
Bibs and cutlery
A bottle cleaning service
Prams
Potties
Baby monitors
Bottle warmers

What to do nearby

The town of Fowey is a short stroll away, where streets are lined with delicious restaurants and independent shops. There’s also an Aquarium and small mechanical art & design museum. A ten minute stroll from the hotel will get you to Readymoney Cove, a small sandy beach with cute cafe, rockpools and ‘discarded beach toy library’. Readymoney is great for kayaking and SUP, but for more water sports facilities head to Polkerris. Camel Creek guarantees fun whatever the weather, with three huge indoor play areas, aerial walkways, climbing nets and ball pools, whilst Kidzworld Adventure Play has all ages covered with everything from soft play & slides to roller skating, trampolines, mini golf, dodgems and a high wire climbing frame

How much you'll need to spend

Prices start from £225 p/night in low season and £375 p/night in high season

You're loving

Fowey Hall

Fowey

I would honestly go so far as to say Fowey Hall was the best hotel we've visited since having our daughter. It somehow managed to be both incredibly beautiful and incredibly family friendly - for example, the lounges and libraries looked like they were straight from those stunning interiors accounts you see on Instagram, but tucked under coffee tables there were piles of children's books and jigsaws very much inviting tiny hands to get stuck in. The outdoor pool and views over Fowey Estuary easily rivalled any Greek island we've ever been to, and I can honestly say my daughter had the time of her life (she still talks about it now) making her first ever mocktail, petting the resident rabbits and toasting marshmallows

Henry, Tiny Traveller aged 3chat to the team

Reviews from other parents

Fowey Hall is the only hotel we have ever stayed at that has literally thought of every detail for families with kids of all ages. From puréed food for babies and child friendly cutlery, to the best kids activities and entertainment. It’s the first time we had ever heard of and experienced a Kids Club in the UK and it was perfect. You are never short of something to do onsite and a stay there requires less packing with all they have to offer (think bedtime books, Yotos, beach buckets and baby cams, sterilisers and potties). The location is perfect, especially if like us a holiday means minimal driving. Lots of AMAZING places to eat in the town and the perfect little beach all within walking distance. The standard and decor of the hotel is spot on and the outdoor pool is heated

Jess, Tiny Traveller aged 1

Watergate Bay Hotel: Our favourite for a super luxe beach bolthole

Our Insider Intel

An exercise in exemplary coastal living, Watergate Bay is the place to book for a food-forward, sea-centric, uber stylish stay. Easy, breezy and beautiful, it’s a hotel beloved by those with and without children. If you’re looking for endless entertainment for your tiny traveller, but don’t want it to impact on your grown getaway, Watergate Bay demands zero sacrifice from parents. Yes, baby monitors are handed out at check-in, cots & highchairs are provided and there’s seasonal ‘beach’ school, but this sits seamlessly alongside destination dining, a swish spa and magazine worthy interiors. With a surfers paradise out front and a complimentary Kids Club that welcomes babes as young as 6 months, truly everyone from tots to teens (and dogs) will marvel at this unique utopia

Best for:

  • Laidback luxury
  • Location, location, location
  • Free childcare
  • A chic twist on coastal Cornish design

Bear in mind:

  • Emily Scott restaurant is for those 10 and older
  • Room rates in the summer can rack up

Mama
knows
best

Book now

At Watergate Bay Hotel you'll find

Complimentary Kids Club (6 months plus)
Games, craft activities, ping-pong table, vintage arcade games
Seasonal Forest School inspired ‘beach classrooms’
Year round surfing lessons

Indoor ocean-facing infinity pool
Gym, sauna & spa treatments

4 onsite restaurants

What's provided for tiny travellers

Watergate Bay lends the below as standard, please let them know any additional requirements

Cots
Highchairs
Baby monitors

What to do nearby

The real crowning glory of Watergate Bay is its location – perfectly positioned on a two mile long stretch of golden sand, more than enough room for toddlers with energy to burn, plus older kids can try their hand at learning to surf or paddleboard. If the weather is driving you inside head to Newquay Leisure World for watery fun (no umbrellas needed). Not only are there a range of flumes for all ages, but also a bubbly volcano and well-equipped soft play. Another indoor trump card to have up your sleeve is Pirate’s Quest – an immersive set of mythical caves and twelve swashbucklin’ holes of adventure golf! Cornwall heavy hitter The Eden project is less than 20 minutes away, where inventive play spaces have been designed to enhance children’s eco awareness and educate them on how to look after the planet.

How much you'll need to spend

Prices start from £210p/night in low season and £445 p/night in high season

You're loving

Watergate Bay Hotel

Newquay

We've stayed in a few different rooms as we've visited various times. The view from the window-side bath tub in the Sea View suite is simply breathtaking, and the kids loved the bunk bends in the Family Room. The pool is beautiful, and the beach incredible - that's what keeps us coming back year after year, we just love it so much

Kay, Tiny Travellers aged 2 & 3chat to the team

Reviews from other parents

From the amazingly bright and spacious restaurant area, where dogs and babies can roam free, to the baby monitors handed to us on arrival and the amazing Kids Club which was like the best nursery in the world, when it comes to being family friendly, Watergate Bay wins ALL THE PRIZES

Poppy, Tiny Traveller aged 1

Three Mile Beach: Our favourite for a superlatively scenic self-catering stay

Our Insider Intel

Upping the aesthetics ante on your usual bucket & spade boltholes, is Three Mile Beach. An A* all-rounder, the location, interiors and foodie fare are all spectacular. This halcyon holiday has been given a serious glow-up; think Ooni pizza parties, sunken cedar hot tubs and sublime sundowners. Guests can choose from 2-4 bed rainbow-hued home-from-homes and dogs are welcome in each and every one – a rare treat for owners of fur babies. Going the extra mile is the name of the game here (though not in terms of distance from bed to beach – it’s right across the road); private chefs can be arranged; baby packs go as far as to include nutribullets; and everything from wetsuits to boogie boards can be borrowed

Best for:

  • Foodie flexibility
  • Unrivalled location
  • Private hot tubs & saunas
  • A year-round getaway

Bear in mind:

  • There’s an additional fee for pets
  • Minimum night stays apply

Mama
knows
best

Book now

At Three Mile Beach you'll find

Year round surfing lessons

Private hot tubs
Private saunas
BBQ

Onsite restaurants

What's provided for tiny travellers

Three Mile Beach lends the below as standard as part of their Baby Pack, please book in advance

Cots
Highchairs
Changing mat
Potty
Toilet seat
Baby bath
Nutribullet
Bottle steriliser & warmer

What to do nearby

This halcyon holiday sits pretty beside the dunes of Gwithian Beach. There’s a surf school right outside the door, and the hotel can easily arrange stand up paddleboards to borrow. Cinematic coastal paths lead to Godrevy Point – the famed seal watching spot, whilst buzzy St Ives is an easy, breezy 20 minute car ride away. Paradise Park wildlife sanctuary, with its JungleBarn indoor play centre is 10 minutes away by car, or stop by Trevaskis Farm to pick-your-own fruit, indulge on sweet treats and make new farmyard friends

How much you'll need to spend

From £238 p/night in low season and £879 p/night in high season. 3 night minimum stays apply in low season and 7 nights in high season

You're loving

Three Mile Beach

St Ives Bay

We stayed in Purple Rain which is a 4 bedroom house with wrap around terrace, hot tub, sauna and BBQ. It was amazing, with a California beach house meets Scandi minimalist decor. We literally didn't need to pack anything but clothes for the kiddos. The food onsite is divine, and all from local suppliers, which is a really nice touch

Claire, Tiny Travellers aged 3 & 10 monthschat to the team
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