Overview
Didn’t think a complete mind-body-soul reset was possible with tiny travellers in tow? That’s only because you haven’t visited Bedruthan Hotel and Spa yet. We’ll be shouting about it from every rooftop, because few places truly ‘get’ family needs quite so intuitively. A seaside break on steroids, it’s perched just above one of Cornwall’s most beautiful golden bays – but there’s oh-so-much-more than sea dips on the agenda. Blending easy-going comfort with brilliantly comprehensive facilities, it feels terribly British to bring up the weather, but the fun truly stretches across all seasons
Inside, there’s a wonderfully creative kids’ club for school-aged children during the summer holidays, and a year-round creche for little ones from newborn to four. A huge double-storey Jungle Tumble soft play keeps both tots and bigger, bouncier adventurers busy with slides, rope bridges, ball pits and all manner of twists and turns. Daily guided craft sessions range from screen printing to candle making, while the drop-in art room lets little imaginations fizz away at any hour
The gorgeously inviting lounge area is dotted with squishy sofas, a pool table, board games and books, and the indoor pool — complete with a shallow section — is ideal for family splash sessions. Bedrooms are equally thoughtful, with more family layouts than we could count, including options with bunk beds, multiple bathrooms and generous living spaces. And those sea views – honestly, there aren’t words to describe them. Falling asleep to the sound of the waves is the ultimately luxury, if you ask us
A few more things that took our breath away: the staff (the warmest we’ve met), and the food which was just divine. The children’s menu far surpasses the usual beige suspects, while the adult dishes are pure delight. Cooked as skillfully as at any fine dining destination, but served without pretence (in seriously down-to-earth surroundings), you get all of the enjoyment with none of the (behaviour-related) anxiety. In short, Bedruthan is a staycation that makes you wonder why you’d bother boarding a plane
We put Bedruthan Hotel and Spa through the Tiny Travelship test. Read our honest first-hand family review here
Mama
Get in touch
Nearest station
Head for either Bodmin Parkway (a 30 min drive) or Newquay station (a 15 min drive) – you should be able to jump into a taxi to the hotel from both, though we would recommend prebooking. Newquay does have an airport as well, which is only 10 mins down the road!
Best time to visit
Bedruthan is one of those rare coastal hideaways that doesn’t shut down (or in fact, lose any of its magic) when the summer crowds drift away. Indoors, it buzzes with warmth year round: with an inviting indoor pool that keeps you toasty as you splash around, daily creative workshops throughout all seasons, that aforementioned huge softplay, and cosy lounges full of squishy sofas for boardgame afternoons. Its prime clifftop position makes cinematic sea viewing at all times of year, whether watching storms sweep in, or the sun sparkling off the waves. It’s also worth knowing, the team takes their holidays very seriously so come Christmas, Easter & Halloween, the hotel comes alive with immersive children’s experiences. So, you know what to expect weather-wise:
January: average highs of 9°
February: average highs of 9°
March: average highs of 11°
April: average highs of 12°
May: average highs of 15°
June: average highs of 18°
July: average highs of 20°
August: average highs of 20°
September: average highs of 18°
October: average highs of 15°
November: average highs of 12°
December: average highs of 10°
Favourite room
We’ve honestly never met a friendlier bunch than at Bedruthan, so our top tip is to get in touch, as the team can expertly explain the ins and outs of your options – whether you’re desperate for a bathtub (most rooms, suites & apartments have them), or want to bring a four legged companion (there are dog friendly versions of all rooms)
Our second tip? Treat yourself to a sea view. We promise, you won’t regret it! In a nutshell:
For a family of three – we’d recommend Bedruthan’s Spacious Sea View Doubles which have room for a cot for infants, or a pull-out sofa bed for smaller children
For a family of four – Bedruthan’s gorgeous villas are a fab choice. Meadow Villas have a partition wall splitting the space, with a double sofa bed on one side and a king size on the other, whilst the Standard Villas have partition walls too, but with bunk beds for the kids instead. For entirely separate sleeping spaces, the Large Villas boast two bedrooms (one with bunks)
For a family of five – Bedruthan’s selection of apartment suites have varying layouts, with some sleeping up to six guests
Nearby
Take a winding pathway down from Bedruthan’s clifftop perch and you’ll reach Mawgan Porth’s sweeping sandy bay, with Watergate Bay and the dramatic Bedruthan Steps a quick hop along the coast. While there are a few local restaurants to explore, Newquay sits just up the road (where you’ll find surf schools, an aquarium and zoo), while Padstow is close enough for an easy wander through its harbour, complemented by treasure-trove boutiques and little eateries. Whether you’re team ‘coastal walks & rock-pooling’ or ‘award winning family attractions’, this is a pocket of Cornwall where wild beauty, good food and all ages fun hang conveniently close together
Price
From £149 p/night in low season and £215 p/night in high season for a family of three, bed & breakfast
From £245 p/night in low season and £395 p/night in high season for a family of four, bed & breakfast
From £310 p/night in low season and £620 p/night in high season for a family of five, bed & breakfast
FAQs
What family facilities are there, and how much do they cost?
Bedruthan is brilliantly geared towards families, offering a playful mix of creative spaces, supervised care and all-weather activities that help keep little ones entertained and parents wonderfully at ease
Creche – A warm, welcoming creche for under-5s where little ones can enjoy toys, stories, sensory play and gentle creative activities while parents take a breather. The creche runs 2x two hour sessions a day year round, priced between £15 – £20
Kids Club – A fun, supervised club for children aged 5 up to 12 during school holidays, filled with games, crafts and imaginative play, with sessions from £15
Daily Craft Workshops – A rotating programme of hands-on creative sessions, from screen printing to candle making, giving families the chance to make something to take home together (or let the kids get gloriously messy without worrying about the cleanup). Ranging from £15 – £20
Jungle Tumble Soft Play – A huge double-storey indoor soft play with zones for tiny tots and bigger kids, featuring slides, rope bridges, ball pits and winding tunnels perfect for rainy-day energy burning. Complimentary to use for hotel guests
Art Room Drop-In Space – A dedicated creative room where children can colour, craft and tinker at any time of day, fuelling little imaginations between beach trips
Cinema & Games Room – A cosy indoor space offering a bumper collection of family friendly films, console games and classic board games for chilled downtime
Tennis Courts – For sporting sprogs and families who love a little friendly competition
Babysitting Services – Bookable babysitters (which should be arranged in advance) so parents can slip away for dinner or a spoiling spa session, knowing their little ones are in safe, caring hands
Seasonal Events & Festive Experiences – Bedruthan really goes all-in on the seasonal magic come Easter, Christmas & Halloween – we’re talking immersive experiences, decadent decorations, character visits & themed dining events. As you would expect, these are very popular, so we’d recommend booking as soon as possible!
Just remember to leave time to head down to the beautiful beach!
Which equipment is available to borrow for babies & children?
Not only are there cots, highchairs, crockery & cutlery, and toys & games, but also bottle warmers & sterilisers, potties & toilet seat adapters, and bed guards
What are the pools like?
There are three family friendly pools at Bedruthan – the indoor pool, which is open year round, and two outdoor pools, which are understandably shut in the winter months
The indoor option works really well for all ages and levels of swimming skill, with a separate shallow section where toddlers and babies can splash safely. For an hour or two a day, this is adults’ only, but for the vast majority of the time it is open for family fun (complete with technicolour swimming noodles), and we can confirm, feels bubblebath warm
Outdoors, one of the pools is solar-heated (with an extra-warm toddler splashing section), whilst the other is unheated (so best reserved for peak summer months). Both are lined by lots of loungers and little grassy areas, so there’s plenty of space to all sprawl out in the sun
And we’d be amiss if we didn’t mention the Nordic-inspired Sensory Spa Garden. Here you’ll find hot tubs, a sauna, and a crackling fire pit, as you’re led through seven spa stages at different temperatures, amidst fragrant flowers and herbs. You can book family sessions on select dates during the school holidays (with a lower age limit of 8) or slope off while the kids are being expertly looked after. And back inside, there are lots of more conventional spa treatments too!
Is there evening entertainment?
During the school holidays there is daily evening entertainment, ranging from storytelling to silent discos!
What’s the dining set up?
Firstly, an escape to Bedruthan Hotel and Spa *always* includes a delicious breakfast, plus you have the option of adding on dinner, too
At the heart of the hotel’s family dining lies The Wild Café, a bright, relaxed and pleasantly buzzy space where breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner are served alongside stunning sea views. The nourishing, freshly prepared dishes are nothing short of seriously impressive, as are the seemingly limitless thoughtful touches for kids – from a backup stash of bibs incase you forget yours, to a steady supply of colouring in sheets and pencils, toddler cutlery and crockery, highchairs, even table tops that effortlessly wipe clean (should your little darlings’ creativity escape the edges of their paper). Put simply, it’s a masterclass in scrumptiously stress free dining, with giggling kids at every table
If you’re hoping for an evening (or two) of adults only time by means of a babysitter, Ogo at Bedruthan offers a seasonal, sustainably inspired dinner menu that showcases local seafood and gorgeous garden veg. Though equally, children aged 5 and up are welcome earlier in the evening, before main service starts
And for any mid-morning or afternoon tummy rumbles, there’s an irresistible bakery counter laden with homemade pastries, sweet treats and fresh coffees. If you’d rather a refreshment of the alcoholic variety, the cocktail bar serves drinks to be enjoyed on the sea view terrace or one of the many squishy sofas
Meet the family...
Becky
Parent to Tiny Travellers aged 1 and 5
Never have I been to a hotel that makes being family friendly look so effortless! From the most delightful staff who literally crouched down to welcome my little ones, to cosy lounges full of huge squishy sofas, board games and craft supplies, a giant rainbow soft play, cheerful chalkboards all around with art session schedules, a drop in cinema room, indoor pool, and stunning beach minutes away. The real highlight was dinnertime, as not only was the food locally sourced and delicious, but it was devoid of any stress. There was an amazing kids menu, highchair, mini crockery & cutlery, colouring in provided as soon as we arrived, and kids at every table all chatting and giggling away. 10/10, no notes
Worth waking the baby for
01
Beach
A storybook stretch of golden beach with plenty of space for sandcastle kingdoms, wave-jumping and rockpool exploring. A wonderfully low-stress seaside outing just 5 minutes from the hotel, renowned for its epic sunsets and sheltered cove spot
02
Newquay Zoo
Giving tiny travellers a close-up look at creatures from all around the world, from big cats and colourful birds to miniature monkeys with boundless energy. Trails, talks and play areas keep curious minds engaged (or you could check out the Cornish Seal Sanctuary instead)
03
The Eden Project
The Eden Project brings global landscapes under one roof, with vast domes that recreate everything from sun-soaked Mediterranean gardens to lush rainforest canopies. Its interactive play zones invite children to connect with nature and understand how their choices help protect the planet
