- Getting there
- Newquay station, on a branch line from Par, or Cornwall Airport Newquay
- Best time
- May-Sep
- Activity
- Surf / coasteer
- Stag welcome
- 9/10
Why Newquay
Newquay is the UK's best-known surf town and the classic outdoor stag. Surfing and coasteering by day, bars and clubs by night, with some of the best beaches in Britain right on the doorstep.
It's a long way from most of the country, so it suits a full weekend or longer. The town has also worked hard to shake off its old reputation as a party resort, and it feels very different from how it did fifteen years ago.
Do locals mind stags?
Newquay depends on tourism, and stag groups are a big part of the summer trade. Most locals and business owners are welcoming.
Around 2009 the town had a bad reputation for drunken tourism, and it responded firmly. Pubs and police famously banned mankinis and offensive costumes, local businesses brought in ID scanners and worked to cut street drinking, and crime fell. The town wants your money, not your mess. Keep it to having fun and you'll get on fine.
Getting into bars
The big bars and clubs in the centre take stag groups, but door staff use ID scanners and are strict with drunk or rowdy groups. Split into smaller groups and stay on the right side of drunk at the door.
Offensive costumes and mankinis will get you refused from pubs and moved on by police. Fun fancy dress is fine in the party bars, but keep it decent.
Bring physical photo ID. Many venues scan it.
Where to drink
- The town centre
- The main bars and clubs, all within a few minutes' walk of each other.
- Fistral Beach
- The famous surf beach, with a couple of bars and restaurants overlooking the waves.
- The harbour
- Quieter pubs and seafood by the water.
What to do
- Surfing
- Newquay's surf schools run group lessons almost all year. A morning lesson on Fistral is the best way to start a day.
- Coasteering
- Climbing, scrambling and jumping into the sea along the cliffs, with a guide. Brilliant fun and a good test of nerve. Only do it with a qualified operator.
- Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding
- Easy to book in the summer.
- Go-karting and paintball
- Available nearby for a day when the sea's too rough.
A weekend plan
- Friday
- Travel down, check in, and head into the town centre for food and the bars.
- Saturday
- A surf lesson or coasteering in the morning, a long lunch and the beach. Dinner at the harbour or in town, then a big night.
- Sunday
- Breakfast overlooking Fistral, a walk along the cliffs and the long drive or train home.
Where to stay
Self-catering houses and surf lodges are the usual choice for groups, and there are plenty in and around the town. Book early for summer.
Summer is busy and expensive. Late spring and early autumn are cheaper and still warm enough for surfing in a wetsuit.
What it costs
| Pint | Roughly £5–£6.50 |
|---|---|
| Surf lesson | Group lessons are reasonable. Check what's included. |
Prices change, so check before you book.
Worth knowing
- Never go in the sea or near cliff edges after drinking. People have died in Newquay doing exactly that.
- Swim between the flags on lifeguarded beaches.
- Leave the mankini at home. It's a famous ban for a reason.
Best for
Facts on this page were last checked in October 2026. Venue policies and prices change, so check before you book.
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