Newquay Hostels

In the summer, Newquay is quick to claim the mantle of Cornwall's liveliest resort. Rumbling into action with the waxed-down polyplex of the Boardmasters Festival, it draws revellers ready to ride the waves of Fistral Beach and hit the bars… hard. The upshot? Hostels in Newquay are a convenient mix of heady party pads and carefree surfer retreats. The former herald pub crawls and karaoke evenings. The latter have the salt-washed decks, leafy gardens and al fresco BBQ events. Most hostels in Newquay sit within earshot of the Atlantic waves, so you'll never feel far from the ocean. What's more, they've got a whole medley of different room types, so there are dorms for families, private rentals for couples and larger bunk quarters for those on a real budget.

The beachside hostels of Newquay

What's the greatest allure of hostels in Newquay? How about a guarantee that you'll never be more than two streets from the honey-hued sands of Towan Beach or the legendary swells of Fistral Beach? That's usually enough to convince the board-touting surfers that these are a worthy escape, while low-cost dorm rooms, equipment storage and in-house surf lesson ticketing only add to the draws. Other places tend more towards Newquay's happy-go-lucky crowd of holiday revellers. Those are the establishments with their own bars, their own happy hour beer deals, their own pub-grub menus, not to mention al fresco drinking decks overlooking the Cornish coast. Couples will also be pleased to see an array of private ensuite rooms in the town's central lodges.

Fancy a surf lesson? Looking to join Newquay's infamous evening pub crawl? Tickets for those and much more are often easy to pick up at reception desks in hostels in Newquay. That's because most of these places have good links with local tour providers and offer booking services for free. Some might even provide their very own in-house board rentals, along with walking access straight from your dorm to the rising waves down on Fistral or Towan beach.

Stand-out hostels in Newquay

The tried-and-tested chain name of St Christopher's Inn is often mentioned as a legend of the Newquay hostel scene. It's easy to see why. Just check out its panoramic perch atop the rocky cliffs of Towan beach. It's a breeze to rent a board and organise a surf lesson at the reception desk – the waves you'll be riding are probably even within eyeshot of your bunk. Once you're done in the ocean, head back to vibrant Belushi's Bar, where gastropub cooking mingles with frothy beers to kick-start those evenings on buzzing Beach Road. Meanwhile, there's a distinct Cornish charm to the Blue Reef Lodge. Its private double and twin rooms are cheap and cheerful, but are a prime base for launching family days with the roaring lions and elegant zebras of Newquay Zoo. Then comes the adults-only Longbeach Hotel, which rewards surf-lovers with proximity to the sculpted swells of Fistral Beach.