The most beautiful luxury family hotels in Cornwall

Last updated on December 1, 2025

Cornwall is the perfect destination for a UK family staycation, feeling just as special as further flung destinations, but without the cost and added bother of a flight. In fact, driving along the rugged Cornwall coast reminds me of Big Sur and our gorgeous California road trip.

For places to stay in Cornwall, there are excellent options for every budget and style, and in this post we’re focusing on the best luxury family hotels in Cornwall. It’s a niche that Cornwall does well with indulgent accommodation options that match luxury, comfort and ease for adults with plentiful fun and care for kids.

From free kids clubs offering creative and inspiring activities to locations on some of the UK’s best beaches, they have all the ingredients for a magical family stay.

I enlisted the help of other expert bloggers to add their recommendations alongside my own.

Also see our guide to the best things to do in Cornwall with kids. And if you’re looking for an Airbnb or glamping option, we also have guides to the best Cornwall Airbnbs, Cornwall lodges with hot tubs, and this review of a gorgeous yurt near Bude.

I’ve also written an in-depth comparison of Newquay’s best family hotels: Watergate Bay, Bedruthan and SeaSpace.

The Best Luxury Family Hotels in Cornwall

Watergate Bay Hotel

Our trip to Watergate Bay Hotel is one that has transformed my image of family travel in the UK. Combining style, comfort and ease, it’s all I wish for from a family hotel. I’ve written a dedicated post about why I think it’s the best family holiday in Cornwall, but in short, it has style to rival some of our favourite hip hotels, the views are dreamy, the food top notch and both children and adults are cared for in a way that ensures a memorable and refreshing break.

Highlights include an indoor infinity pool and outdoor hot tub with ocean views, a high-end spa, four dining options to suit every style, a free (and stylish!) kids club and a baby monitoring service, which means parents can have dinner while the kids sleep upstairs.

The family suites have an extra bedroom with bunks for children, but the most beautiful rooms of all are the suites with a freestanding bathtub with ocean views. Large self-catering apartments are also available.

We’ve also included it in our guide to the best UK family Christmas breaks.

Bedruthan Hotel and Spa

The Bedruthan is a long-time Cornwall favourite for families, set above Mawgan Porth with views that feel more North California than UK coastline. It’s a place that combines creativity, comfort and a gentle, laidback vibe, with a focus on sustainability and mid-century charm. While parts of the hotel are being steadily updated, the overall atmosphere is welcoming and cosy, and the setting is undeniably spectacular.

Kids are brilliantly catered for with a soft play, arts-and-crafts room, a cinema, games in the lounge and family workshops during busy periods. Adults aren’t forgotten either – the Sensory Spa Garden is a highlight, with hot tubs, saunas and an outdoor cold plunge set against the wild Cornish landscape.

Rooms vary in style, so it’s worth choosing carefully, but the sea-view villas are the standout option with separate sleeping areas for kids, calming natural materials and those epic ocean views.

SeaSpace

SeaSpace is the newest of Newquay’s family hotels, and brings a bold, joyful burst of colour to the Cornish coast. It’s stylish and creative without feeling precious, the kind of place that suits families, couples and groups alike. The overall vibe is playful and relaxed, with design touches that wouldn’t look out of place in a magazine.

The star attraction is the striking Miami-inspired pool, complete with a hot tub and paddling pool for little ones. Kids also have plenty to explore, from a games room filled with books and board games to outdoor play areas with a mud kitchen, climbing frame and giant garden games. It doesn’t have childcare or a spa, but it does have Cornwall’s largest padel club and a calendar of fitness classes you can join.

Rooms, designed by Dynargh Design, are colourful and full of personality, with options from studios to two-bed apartments, all featuring kitchens and huge windows that draw in the sea light. For families who want style, space and a more affordable stay, SeaSpace is a brilliant option.

Nare Hotel

The Nare Hotel offers an indulgent country house escape overlooking the beautiful Carne Beach, which reminds me of Italy’s Capri. It’s a hotel for all generations, so not family-specific, but children will be well entertained with the beach, two swimming pools, tennis, croquet, sailing, horse riding and more. The sheltered bay and sandy beach is particularly ideal for children, safe for swimming and with plenty of rock pools for exploration. And adults can indulge in the spa and sea-view hot tub.

The hotel has specially designed family suites, including ones with separate bedrooms for children or smaller suites with space for extra beds.

The restaurant has designated times for children’s, family and adult dining, so you can choose to eat together or take advantage of the hotel’s baby listening service and dine as just a couple. Babysitting can also be arranged.

St Michael’s Resort

Contributed by George at Oh my George.

When St Michael’s Resort comes to mind, I remember pure relaxation, enjoyment, and fulfillment. Situated in Falmouth, over-looking Gyllyngvase beach, it’s sat perfectly to watch the sun rise and fall each day.

With a boathouse chic décor, revamped in 2017, it’s open-plan space includes a brassiere on the bay, and a bar area overlooking the gardens. Unwind in the modern captain’s lounge, where you can keep the children occupied after dinner or sink into the sofas while sipping coffee. 

St Michael’s Resort has plenty of facilities, including a spa and health club with a healthy sized contemporary-style pool. The children can swim about during the designated children’s swim times, while you detox in the jacuzzi.

There are a variety of rooms to choose from, all taking inspiration from the Cornish coast. Family suites are available with separate living areas and bedrooms for the kids. And there are plenty of child-friendly activities in Falmouth and around the hotel, including paddleboarding, rockpooling, snorkelling, kayaking and more.

The restaurant has designated times for children’s, family and adult dining, so you can choose to eat together or take advantage of the hotel’s baby listening service and dine as just a couple. Babysitting can also be arranged.

Hotel Tresanton

Housed in a former yacht club and with sweeping views of the Roseland Peninsula, Hotel Tresanton is a chic and sophisticated boutique hotel in the pretty town of St Mawes. Despite its sophistication, the hotel is well suited to families and includes family suites with fully equipped kitchens and separate bedrooms for children. One is modelled on a ship’s cabin with built-in bunk beds. And all the rooms have sea views.

There’s also a children’s playroom with lots of toys, games, table football and a playstation, as well as a children’s garden with playhouse. And families can enjoy films on the hotel cinema, chosen from their extensive collection.

In the summer, there are extra activities for kids and the hotel also hosts a Sunday BBQ, perfect for a family get together. Only children over six are allowed in the hotel’s restaurant in the evening, and babysitting can be arranged.

Polurrian on The Lizard

Contributed by Jasmine at The Life of a Social Butterfly

The Polurrian on The Lizard boasts breathtaking views over the rugged Cornish coastline. A luxury hotel where you can enjoy the quiet haven across St Mount’s Bay, but still be within easy distance to explore the best of Cornwall – which must be the reason for the hotel’s famous clientele, including Winston Churchill and Clark Gable.

A huge benefit for families staying there (especially in the warmer weather) is the hotel’s close proximity to five blue-flag awarded beaches. It also has an outdoor children’s play area, an indoor and outdoor pool, a plentiful supply of children’s books and games, and a pool and table tennis table. In the school holidays, they run a children’s activity programme, including wood-fired cooking and sports, and also show family films in the hotel’s cinema room.

There are sea view/family rooms, the hotel also has a selection of three-bedroom villas, which are ideal for those looking for a longer stay in Cornwall. Pets are even welcome too.

Whether you are travelling as a family, a couple or just enjoying some well-needed “me-time”, there are adventures to be had, including paddle-boarding, surfing, horse riding and climbing The Lizard Lighthouse. And when you’re not sitting reading a book, with the wind in your hair and breathing in the cool sea breeze, the health club facilities, treatments and yoga classes offer the perfect way to unwind. Followed by a Cornish cream tea, of course! 

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