Best family hotels near Newquay: Watergate Bay vs Bedruthan vs SeaSpace

Last updated on April 16, 2026

The stretch of coast just north of Newquay has given rise to a collection of some of Cornwall’s – if not the UK’s – most stylish family hotels. But which one is the best? We’ve stayed at all three, so here’s my guide to how to choose the one that’s best for you.

Here’s my full comparison guide to Watergate Bay, Bedruthan and SeaSpace…

Watergate Bay vs Bedruthan vs SeaSpace

What are they like in a nutshell?

Watergate Bay in a nutshell

Watergate Bay has been a gold standard family hotel for close to a decade now and it has its formula down to a tee. It’s super stylish, there’s childcare galore and its location is within steps of one of the area’s best beaches. It’s easy to see why it’s a family favourite – but the prices do reflect that.

The Bedruthan in a nutshell

The Bedruthan is another long-time family favourite with all the kids’ bell and whistles, from a soft play to craft room and family workshops. The location above Mawgan Porth is stunning, more California than England, which is fitting for its mid-century desert house aesthetic. While the hotel is slowly being updated, the overall style is somewhat dated in places – but the prices are friendlier too. There’s a focus on creativity and sustainability, with lots of artwork and creative workshops.

SeaSpace in a nutshell

SeaSpace is the newest kid on the block, and arguably the coolest. It’s more of a hotel than a resort, so doesn’t have the all-encompassing package-style of Watergate Bay and the Bedruthan. There’s no childcare, but there are indoor and outdoor play areas, and it’s home to one of the most stylish pools in England. The onsite café and restaurant are destinations in themselves, and the hotel is in walking distance of a lovely beach. It costs a fraction of the price of the other two and all rooms have kitchens, so you can self-cater if you like.

How would you describe their style?

Watergate Bay Hotel’s style

Watergate Bay has a self-described ‘ski chalet by the beach’ aesthetic with the elevated, bohemian style of a Hamptons retreat – but with surfing instead of golf or ski slopes. Families are clearly the target market, but you won’t spot a primary colour in sight. Its style is perfectly polished.

The Bedruthan’s style

The Bedruthan has a laidback, quietly luxurious vibe, with the feel of a hotel that’s been beloved for many years. Built in 1959, the mid-century desert house architecture takes full advantage of the epic views, and often feels like being in California. Its makeover is ongoing and the old design was typically noughties with stripes and bold colours – but the newer look takes a more subtle, nature-forward approach with cork accents, local artwork and wild flower gardens. There’s a focus on sustainability.

SeaSpace’s style

SeaSpace has a bold, playful vibe that appeals to creatives and kids alike (just look at that pool!). Family-friendly, while also appealing to couples and groups, it’s a trendy escape where design is centre stage. Everything is colourful and infused with joy, from the walls to the bedding to the artwork that adorns the walls. It’s the kind of place that will easily look at home in a style magazine – but with a friendly aesthetic that keeps it accessible and family-friendly.

What are the rooms like?

The rooms at Watergate Bay Hotel

Watergate Bay finished its room refurbishment in 2023, so now all accommodation is of the same high-end standard. Designed by Dynargh Design, the rooms have a bohemian aesthetic with cosy, coastal vibes. You can choose between studios, doubles, family suites and apartments. Plus there are beach lofts with direct access to the beach. The family suites, apartments and some of the beach lofts have separate rooms for kids. And the largest rooms sleep up to 6 people.

The rooms at the Bedruthan

The Bedruthan has double rooms, villas and apartments, sleeping from 2-6 people. The design across the rooms varies considerably, from modern to fairly dated. We stayed in a sea-view villa, which has the best aesthetics of all the rooms, and we loved it. The dark tones and natural materials, like the cork headboard, made it feel cosy, and the view was simply epic. It was also exceptionally spacious with a separate bunk area for the kids. The rooms facing the car park are less appealing, but considerably cheaper. Make sure to check the photos carefully so you know what type you’re booking.

The rooms at SeaSpace

SeaSpace has also been designed by the impeccable Dynargh Design, this time with a playful, colourful, somewhat 70s vibe. Accommodation ranges from studios to 2-bed apartments, sleeping up to seven. Even some of the studios have a separate bedroom, sleeping up to 3 kids. All rooms have fully equipped kitchens and huge windows looking out at the view (either ocean or garden-facing). Note that SeaSpace is on the roadside, so the seaview rooms look out onto the coastal road as well as the ocean.

What are the facilities like?

The facilities at Watergate Bay Hotel

The highlight at Watergate Bay is the swim club with an infinity pool looking out to sea, a hot tub, sauna and spa with many services. There’s a surf school next door and the beach is just steps away.

For families, there are indoor and outdoor play areas that are free to use outside of supervised sessions. The games room includes Lego stations, giant Connect 4, arts and crafts, board games and more.

They also have seasonal specials, like ice skating on the beach, or beach sauna sessions.

The facilities at the Bedruthan

The Bedruthan has extensive family-friendly facilities, including a soft-play, arts-and-crafts room and cinema. The big lounge area has games and toys to play with – and at peak times, they have evening activities like a silent disco or family quiz.

The outdoor Sensory Spa Garden is a highlight with a hot tub, saunas and cold plunge – and with family sessions available. There are also indoor and outdoor pools, and an adults-only spa. The indoor pool has a partial sea view if you crane your neck, but is otherwise somewhat uninspired.

The facilities at SeaSpace

The undisputed star of the show at SeaSpace is the epic Miami-style pool with its striking yellow-and-white chequerboard design. There’s a big hot tub and a separate paddling pool for kids – and it’s a joy to hang out there.

There’s a fun games room for kids with books, board games, table football, magnetic darts and more. And outside, there are several play areas, including a mud kitchen, climbing frame, maze and giant games.

The onsite community health club has a full programme of classes that hotel guests can join. And out back, you’ll find Cornwall’s largest Padel club with five padel courts that guests are welcome to book. There’s no spa, which is a notable absence in comparison to Watergate Bay and the Bedruthan.

What are the food and drinks like?

Food at Watergate Bay

Watergate Bay has four restaurants: Zacry’s; The Beach Hut; The Living Space and The Cabin, all with sea views. The Living Space is in the main hotel whereas the Beach Hut and Zacry’s are closer to the beach (Zacry’s is ideal for a date night). For something casual, the Cabin serves easy street food and pizzas right on the beach.

There’s an early supper for children, served from 5-6pm each day in The Dining Room with plenty of kid-pleasing food. A full hot and cold breakfast buffet is included for all guests. Don’t miss the extreme hot chocolate in The Beach Hut!

Food at the Bedruthan

The Bedruthan has two restaurants: The Wild Café and Ogo. While Ogo welcomes older children, it’s more adult-focussed and good for a date night.

The Wild Café is a family affair, but low lighting at night makes it feel like a more elevated occasion than your standard family restaurant. There’s a focus on seasonal, sustainable cuisine and there’s plenty to please fussy kids.

Breakfast is a continental buffet, and you can order hot food for an extra cost. There’s also a bar next to the lounge area, and you can order drinks via a QR code from pretty much anywhere in the hotel, soft play included!

Food at SeaSpace

SeaSpace has an on-site Italo-American restaurant, Tallo, serving laidback comfort food, including pizzas, burgers, gnocchi and posh tater tots. The design is as gorgeous as the hotel with green stripes and arches that frame the details. There’s also a café, serving a laidback breakfast and lunch menu. It’s a popular spot for co-working and has a friendly, community vibe. All the rooms have kitchens, so self-catering is popular too.

Do they have childcare?

Childcare at Watergate Bay

Watergate Bay has a supervised kids’ zone, running sessions for different age groups throughout the day that are included in your stay. They run a beach school in the summer for older kids. You can also arrange babysitting, and they have baby monitoring where you can keep an eye on your child sleeping from the comfort of any of the hotel’s restaurants.

Childcare at the Bedruthan

The Bedruthan has a creche for under 5’s and a kids’ club for older kids, both of which offer 2-hour supervised sessions for around £15. The hotel can also help you arrange babysitting services. And they run family workshops too.

Childcare at SeaSpace

SeaSpace doesn’t offer supervised childcare, but it does have kids’ play areas (see the facilities section).

What about the location?

All three hotels are within about five minutes of each other, just north of Newquay on the coast.

Watergate Bay’s location

Watergate Bay has a premier location, right on a two-mile sandy beach of the same name. Surf hire and lessons are available right outside the hotel. It has the easiest beach access of the three hotels.

The Bedruthan’s location

The Bedruthan is elevated above the magnificent Mawgan Porth, on the cliffs with stunning sea views. The beach is a short walk down a fairly steep coastal path. It feels the most secluded and private of the three.

SeaSpace’s location

SeaSpace is a roadside hotel, and while that road borders the coast, the sea views are somewhat interrupted by the sight of cars. That said, it’s a fairly quiet road and the sound proofing is excellent, so it’s certainly not a dealbreaker and it didn’t bother us. You can follow the coastal path down to Porth Beach in around five minutes. Or head to Newquay/Watergate Bay for surfing.

Any downsides we should know about?

What to watch out for at Watergate Bay

At Watergate Bay, you have to be careful which room you book. For example, we’ve tried two different rooms: a double and a family suite. Our double had an incredible sea view from the bathtub. Whereas the family suite had a fairly uninspiring view of the car park. If you can afford it, it’s worth paying more for the view.

What to watch out for at the Bedruthan

A lot of people are put off by the front entrance to the Bedruthan, which looks a little run-down and doesn’t fairly represent the interiors or overall architectural style. Once inside, it feels more premium and you can appreciate the mid-century style.

Like Watergate Bay, your experience at the Bedruthan will vary depending on the room you choose. The sea-view villas are better both in terms of the view and design. Some of the non-sea-view doubles are significantly more dated and with carpark views. Overall, the Bedruthan has a less cohesive style so will appeal less to aesthetes (unless big fans of mid-century architecture). The pool is the least inspiring of the three.

What to watch out for at SeaSpace

The main downside of SeaSpace is its location right next to the road. We were only minimally aware of this, but it’s worth noting in comparison to the Bedruthan and Watergate Bay, which both have uninterrupted sea views. There’s also no official childcare or kids’ club if that’s something you’re looking for – and no adults-only space. It feels more like a hotel, rather than a resort like the Bedruthan and Watergate Bay.

Would you recommend these hotels for people without kids?

I get asked this a lot and my initial reaction was to say no for Watergate Bay and the Bedruthan because they feel so family-forward – and if I’m not travelling with kids, I generally don’t want to be surrounded by them! Instead, I’d opt for the adults-only Scarlett instead. But many people have told me they’ve loved having a couple’s holiday at both those hotels as there are many adults-only areas – especially at the Bedruthan, which has adults-only rooms, a spa, pool area and restaurant. I think the key would be to avoid the school holidays, and ideally travel during the week.

SeaSpace is less family focussed, so I’d recommend that to anyone.

Price comparison for Watergate Bay, Bedruthan and SeaSpace

When comparing prices, bear in mind the facilities and the fact that childcare is included at Watergate Bay. Breakfast is normally included in the price at both Watergate Bay and the Bedruthan, but not at SeaSpace. The best value option will depend on the facilities and services you need.

Prices at Watergate Bay

Watergate Bay is the most expensive of the three. Doubles start at around £280, but this climbs steeply for families and during the peak season. For example, a family suite in July is around £700 per night.

Check prices and availability.

Prices at the Bedruthan

The Bedruthan is in the middle of the three, with doubles starting at £155 per night. In the summer, a family of four can stay for £360 per night in a family room with a sofa bed in the same room, or £491 in a sea-view villa with a separate sleeping area for the kids.

Check prices and availability.

Prices at SeaSpace

SeaSpace has the best prices of the three. Studios, sleeping two adults, start at £100 per night, and £150 for a family of five. And in the summer, a family of five can stay in a sea-view room with a separate room for kids for £370 per night.

Check prices and availability.

The verdict

I don’t think you can go wrong with any of these hotels. I loved them all.

Watergate Bay is the most stylish option and probably the best choice for aesthetes who want the feel and services of a surf-chic resort. The free childcare is another bonus.

For me, the Bedruthan wins in terms of the view – I really felt like I was on the North California coast when looking out from our sea-view villa. The sensory garden spa is also a highlight. While the style is dated in places, we loved the mid-century architecture and cosy vibe.

SeaSpace is a winner if you don’t need childcare and are happy to forego an onsite spa. The pool, play areas and overall fun vibe are a hit with kids and adults alike. It was our kids’ favourite hotel. Just note that the roadside location may bother some people.