The best hotels in Cornwall
Cornwall has 8,000+ places to stay and most of them are forgettable seaside B&Bs with damp carpets and a sea view that's actually a car park. We reviewed the standouts. these 10 made the cut.
Our Top Picks in Cornwall
Click any hotel to check availability and book at the best price.
The Seiner Arms
Village Centre, Perranporth
Free cancellation & Pay later
The Headland Hotel
Fistral Beach, Newquay
Free cancellation & Pay later
The Old Quay House
Waterfront, Fowey
Free cancellation & Pay later
Carbis Bay Hotel
Carbis Bay, St Ives
Free cancellation & Pay later
The Greenbank Hotel
Waterfront, Falmouth
Free cancellation & Pay later
Bedruthan Hotel and Spa
Clifftop, Mawgan Porth
Free cancellation & Pay later
The Metropole Hotel
Town Centre, Padstow
Free cancellation & Pay later
Tresanton Hotel
Waterfront, St Mawes
Free cancellation & Pay later
All Hotels Compared
Side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right hotel. Prices reflect shoulder season averages.
| # | Hotel | City & Area | Price/Night | Score | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Seiner Arms | Village Centre, Perranporth | $55–85/night | 7.6/10 | Budget Pick |
| 2 | Truro Backpackers | City Centre, Truro | $62–90/night | 7.9/10 | Best Value |
| 3 | The Headland Hotel | Fistral Beach, Newquay | $130–290/night | 8.5/10 | Most Popular |
| 4 | The Old Quay House | Waterfront, Fowey | $155–240/night | 9/10 | Romantic Stay |
| 5 | Carbis Bay Hotel | Carbis Bay, St Ives | $165–310/night | 8.7/10 | Best Location |
| 6 | The Greenbank Hotel | Waterfront, Falmouth | $140–220/night | 8.6/10 | Hidden Gem |
| 7 | Bedruthan Hotel and Spa | Clifftop, Mawgan Porth | $170–280/night | 8.8/10 | Family Friendly |
| 8 | The Metropole Hotel | Town Centre, Padstow | $120–195/night | 8.2/10 | Best Value |
| 9 | The Nare Hotel | Carne Beach, Veryan | $270–480/night | 9.3/10 | Top Rated |
| 10 | Tresanton Hotel | Waterfront, St Mawes | $310–550/night | 9.1/10 | Luxury Pick |
Why These Hotels Made Our List
Every hotel earned its spot. Here's exactly why we picked each one.
The Seiner Arms
A no-frills pub with rooms right in the heart of Perranporth, a short walk from the three-mile beach. Rooms are basic but clean, and the beds are comfortable enough for a beach holiday. The pub downstairs serves decent food and real ales, which keeps the atmosphere lively on weekends. Good base if you want cheap accommodation close to the Atlantic coast without paying seaside premiums.
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Truro Backpackers
Set just off Lemon Street near Truro Cathedral, this is one of the few genuinely affordable stays in Cornwall's only city. Private rooms are small but tidy, with shared bathrooms that are cleaned regularly. The communal kitchen and lounge make it easy to meet other travelers. Staff are helpful with local tips and the location puts you within walking distance of the cathedral, shops, and bus connections to the rest of Cornwall.
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The Headland Hotel
This Victorian clifftop hotel sits directly above Fistral Beach, one of the UK's best surf spots, and the views from the sea-facing rooms are genuinely spectacular. The building is grand and well-maintained, with a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and multiple dining options. Rooms vary considerably in size so it is worth paying for an upgrade if you want space. It gets busy in summer and families dominate the pool area, so couples should consider the quieter shoulder season.
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The Old Quay House
Perched right on the Fowey estuary at 28 Fore Street, this boutique hotel has some of the most dramatic water views in Cornwall. The eleven rooms are individually styled with a clean coastal aesthetic, and the estuary-facing rooms are worth every extra penny. The restaurant downstairs is genuinely excellent, focusing on local seafood. It is a small, intimate property so book well in advance, especially for spring and summer weekends.
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Carbis Bay Hotel
This hotel sits on its own private beach at Carbis Bay, a ten-minute walk from St Ives town centre along the coastal path. The beach access alone sets it apart from competitors in the area. Rooms are stylish and most have sea views, with the beach suites being particularly impressive. The spa and outdoor pool are well-run, and the dining room serves solid modern British food with local ingredients. It hosted the G7 summit in 2021, which the hotel mentions frequently.
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The Greenbank Hotel
Cornwall's oldest hotel sits on Harbourside in Falmouth, with rooms that look directly out over the working harbour and the Fal estuary. The building dates from 1640 and has genuine character without feeling tired or musty. The Water's Edge restaurant is one of the better dining options in Falmouth, particularly for local fish. Kenneth Grahame reportedly wrote parts of The Wind in the Willows here, and the hotel plays up that connection tastefully rather than overdoing it.
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Bedruthan Hotel and Spa
Sitting on the clifftop above Mawgan Porth beach between Newquay and Padstow, Bedruthan is genuinely one of the best family hotels in the UK. The children's facilities are exceptional, including dedicated kids clubs for different age groups, multiple pools, and a soft play area. Adults are well catered for too, with a separate spa section and decent evening dining once the children are in bed. Rooms are contemporary and many have direct ocean views. It books out months in advance for school holidays.
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The Metropole Hotel
The Metropole sits on Station Road above Padstow harbour and has been operating since 1904. It is one of the larger hotels in a town dominated by small guesthouses, which makes it easier to get availability. Rooms are comfortable and traditionally decorated, and the harbour-facing rooms have pleasant views over the Camel estuary. The restaurant is solid rather than destination-worthy in a town where Rick Stein has set very high expectations. Good value compared to what Padstow usually charges.
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The Nare Hotel
The Nare sits on a private cove at Carne Beach on the Roseland Peninsula, one of the least-visited and most beautiful stretches of the Cornish coast. This is a proper country house hotel with full-time staff who remember your name and your order from the night before. The rooms are traditionally furnished with antiques and quality fabrics, and the garden suites with private terraces are among the finest hotel rooms in Cornwall. The dining room is formal by modern standards but the food quality justifies it. Expect a deeply unhurried pace.
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Tresanton Hotel
Olga Polizzi's hotel in St Mawes on the Roseland Peninsula is a cluster of converted fishermen's houses tumbling down toward the harbour at Lower Castle Road. The design is immaculate, with Italian influences, original art, and careful attention to detail throughout. The hotel has its own boat for trips across the estuary to Falmouth and St Anthony Head lighthouse. The restaurant is one of the best in Cornwall, with a focus on seafood and a wine list that reflects the Italian aesthetic. It is expensive but delivers at that level consistently.
Check AvailabilityWhere to Stay in Cornwall
The neighborhood you pick matters more than the hotel.
North coast vs south coast: which side to pick
The north coast faces the Atlantic. That means bigger waves, wider beaches like Perranporth and Fistral, and a rawer feel. Newquay, Mawgan Porth, and Perranporth are all up here, and the surf culture is real. the WSL Boardmasters event draws 50,000+ people to Fistral each August.
The south coast is calmer, more sheltered, and honestly more interesting for food and architecture. Fowey, Falmouth, and the Roseland Peninsula have deep estuaries, centuries-old quaysides, and water you can actually swim in without being knocked flat. If you're torn, base yourself in Truro and do both.
The honest guide to Cornwall's beach towns
St Ives gets the most hype and mostly deserves it. The town wraps around Porthmeor Beach on the north side and Harbour Beach to the south, both walkable in under 10 minutes from each other. Traffic in August is brutal. use the Park and Ride at Lelant Saltings and take the branch train in.
Perranporth is underrated. The beach stretches 3 miles without a single hotel blocking the view, and the village pub scene on Ponsmere Road is genuinely local. It's 30 minutes from Truro and about 40% cheaper than St Ives for accommodation.
Where to eat in Cornwall beyond Rick Stein
Padstow gets the food tourism, but Falmouth is quietly better for day-to-day eating. The high street has gone upmarket and there are proper restaurants on Arwenack Street within 5 minutes of The Greenbank Hotel. The Cornish Arms in St Merryn, about 10 miles from Padstow, is where locals actually eat.
In Fowey, the Old Quay House restaurant is worth a booking even if you're not staying there. For something cheaper, Sam's on the Fowey waterfront does solid burgers and fish and chips at half the price. Don't leave without trying a proper Cornish pasty from the bakery on Fore Street.
Getting around Cornwall: what nobody tells you
Cornwall's public transport is better than its reputation, but only on the main corridors. The First Kernow bus network covers most towns, and the T1 from Truro Bus Station to Newquay runs roughly every hour for around £5. For the Lizard Peninsula or the Roseland, you really do need a car. there are villages with no bus service at all.
Parking in St Ives in summer costs $6-10/day and fills up by 10am. The Lelant Park and Ride is free and puts you in St Ives in 12 minutes by train for £3.50 return. If you're staying at Carbis Bay Hotel, you don't need a car at all. the beach is right there and the train stops practically at the hotel gate.
Avoiding Cornwall's biggest hotel mistakes
The words 'sea view' mean almost nothing in Cornwall. We've seen rooms marketed as sea view where the actual view is a distant grey sliver between two buildings. Ask the hotel specifically: is the sea visible from the bed, or only if you lean out the window at an angle? Reputable properties like Carbis Bay and The Headland don't need to fudge it.
Avoid booking anything near Newquay town centre if you want sleep on a summer weekend. The streets around Fore Street and Central Square are genuinely noisy until 3am. Spend the extra $40-60/night and stay on the Headland side. you'll thank us.
The best time to book Cornwall hotels
For July and August, book 4-6 months ahead. Seriously. The Nare in Veryan and Tresanton in St Mawes sell out their best rooms by February for the summer season. Anything on the Roseland Peninsula goes fast because there's limited supply and high demand from London regulars who come back every year.
September and October are the sweet spot. Prices drop around 25-35% from the August peak, the coast path is clear, and you'll get a dinner reservation without a week's notice. Hotels like The Old Quay House in Fowey often have last-minute deals in late October when the season officially winds down.
Cornwall's best neighborhoods
Cornwall is a long, thin peninsula and where you base yourself changes everything. Start with the north coast if you want big surf beaches; head south for sheltered estuaries, sailing towns, and the best restaurants.
North Coast 3 vetted hotels Big surf, long beaches, and Cornwall's most famous resorts.
Big surf, long beaches, and Cornwall's most famous resorts.
The north coast is where most people picture Cornwall. Fistral Beach in Newquay is the UK's surf capital. legitimately, not just by tourist board decree. Mawgan Porth sits a few miles north, quieter and more family-oriented, with a beach that rarely gets crowded even in August.
Perranporth anchors the southern end of this stretch. The 3-mile beach backed by sand dunes is one of the best in England and the village still feels like it belongs to locals rather than second-home owners. Prices here run $55-85/night at The Seiner Arms, which makes it the best-value entry point on the entire coast.
Avoid booking anything in Newquay town centre near Fore Street for a quiet break. The Headland Hotel on Headland Road is the right call if you want Newquay without the stag-do noise. it's a 5-minute walk to Fistral Beach and a world away from the town-centre chaos.
South Coast & Roseland 3 vetted hotels Sheltered estuaries, sailing towns, and the peninsula's most beautiful coastline.
Sheltered estuaries, sailing towns, and the peninsula's most beautiful coastline.
The south coast is quieter, greener, and has better food. Fowey is a town built on a hillside above a deep river estuary, with Fore Street running along the waterfront and some of the best independent restaurants in Cornwall within a 5-minute walk of each other. The Old Quay House sits right on that waterfront and earns its 9.0 rating.
The Roseland Peninsula. the thumb of land between Falmouth Bay and the Fal Estuary. is where The Nare Hotel sits on Carne Beach. The beach is reachable only via narrow lanes through Veryan village, which keeps it genuinely quiet. This is the top-rated property on our list at 9.3 and it's earned every point.
Falmouth is the largest town on the south coast and worth a night or two. The waterfront on Arwenack Street and Events Square has good restaurants and the National Maritime Museum is right there. The Greenbank Hotel sits on the working waterfront with direct water views. it's the kind of place that earns its badge honestly.
St Ives & West Cornwall 1 vetted hotel Art, beach, and the best light in England.
Art, beach, and the best light in England.
St Ives gets more first-time visitors than anywhere else in Cornwall and the reason is obvious: Porthmeor Beach faces northwest and catches Atlantic swells, Tate St Ives sits right above it on Porthmeor Square, and the old town's narrow streets are genuinely beautiful. Carbis Bay is a 15-minute walk or one train stop from St Ives, just south along the coast.
Carbis Bay Hotel sits above its own private beach on the B3311. It rated 8.7 and earned its Best Location badge without question. The G7 summit was held here in 2021, which tells you something about how the beach looks. and something about the prices in peak season.
Avoid St Ives in the last two weeks of August without a car strategy. The B3306 coast road and the approach on the A3074 both gridlock badly. Stay at Carbis Bay and walk or take the train into St Ives. it genuinely solves the problem.
Padstow & the Camel Estuary 1 vetted hotel Cornwall's food capital, with a harbour to match.
Cornwall's food capital, with a harbour to match.
Padstow punches above its weight for a town of 3,000 people. The harbour on South Quay is the focal point and Rick Stein's various restaurants on Middle Street and South Quay draw food tourists from across the UK. The Camel Trail. a 17-mile cycling and walking path along the estuary to Bodmin. starts right from the town.
The Metropole Hotel sits on Station Road, about a 4-minute walk from the harbour. It's the kind of solid, well-run property that doesn't need gimmicks. At $120-195/night and rated 8.2, it's the best-value option in a town where everything else charges a Padstow premium.
Parking is genuinely awful here. Use the main car park on Station Road and accept that you're paying for it. If you're staying at The Metropole, you can walk everywhere in town in under 10 minutes, so leave the car and use it only for day trips.
Truro & Central Cornwall 1 vetted hotel Cornwall's only city, and the practical base most people overlook.
Cornwall's only city, and the practical base most people overlook.
Truro doesn't have a beach but it has everything else. The cathedral on St Mary's Street dominates the city centre, the Royal Cornwall Museum is 5 minutes from the train station on River Street, and buses fan out to most of the coast from Truro Bus Station on Lemon Quay. It's genuinely useful as a hub.
Truro Backpackers on Lemon Street rates 7.9 and comes in at $62-90/night. That makes it the best-value city-centre option in Cornwall, and the location on Lemon Street puts you 3 minutes from the bus station and 8 minutes from the cathedral on foot.
Central Cornwall also means you're roughly equidistant from north and south coasts. The Eden Project near St Austell is 30 minutes east by car or train. Perranporth Beach is 25 minutes north. Falmouth is 25 minutes south. If you want to cover a lot of ground, this is where to base yourself.
St Mawes & Falmouth Peninsula 1 vetted hotel The quietest stretch of Cornish coast, with the most expensive hotel on our list.
The quietest stretch of Cornish coast, with the most expensive hotel on our list.
St Mawes sits at the tip of the Roseland Peninsula and the only practical way to reach it from Falmouth is the Place Ferry or a 45-minute drive around the Fal Estuary. That inconvenience is exactly why it stays quiet. The village has one main street, a 16th-century castle on the waterfront, and Tresanton Hotel sitting above it all.
Tresanton is Cornwall's luxury standard-bearer. Rated 9.1 and priced at $310-550/night, it's the most expensive property on our list and completely unapologetic about it. The terrace looks directly across the Carrick Roads to Falmouth, and the private beach is reachable in 3 minutes on foot down the hotel's own path.
Don't come here expecting a lively town. There are a handful of restaurants on the main street and that's it. But if you want genuine peace, extraordinary views, and a hotel that treats service as seriously as the scenery, nothing on this list competes.
Best Areas by Vibe
Tell us how you travel and we'll point you to the right part of Cornwall.
Romantic
Fowey's Fore Street waterfront is the call: the estuary views, candlelit restaurants, and the ferry to Polruan across the water all do the heavy lifting. The Old Quay House at $155-240/night is the natural centrepiece.
Culture
St Ives' Porthmeor Beach area puts you steps from Tate St Ives, the Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden on Barnoon Hill, and a town that's been an artists' colony since the 1880s. Genuinely more interesting than any gallery trip you'll take in a big city.
Family
Mawgan Porth and Bedruthan Hotel and Spa on the clifftop are built for families. the beach below is wide, sheltered, and safe for kids, and the hotel's childcare program means parents get actual downtime. Priced at $170-280/night.
Budget
Perranporth village centre keeps costs down without sacrificing location. The Seiner Arms sits 5 minutes from a 3-mile beach and costs $55-85/night. It's as good a budget base as you'll find anywhere on the Cornish coast.
Beach
Carbis Bay is the most reliable beach pick: private, calm, and backed by the Carbis Bay Hotel right above it. The water is clear enough that the G7 leaders swam there in 2021, which is about as good an endorsement as any beach gets.
Foodie
Padstow's South Quay is where Cornwall's food reputation was built, with Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant drawing serious eaters from across the UK for 40+ years. The Metropole Hotel on Station Road puts you a 4-minute walk from the best table in town.
Location Quality
Is the neighborhood walkable? Are restaurants, shops, and attractions within 10 minutes on foot? How does it feel after dark? We evaluate safety, public transport access, and whether the area has genuine local character or just tourist traps. A hotel in the wrong neighborhood ruins a trip. That's why location carries the most weight.
Value for Money
We compare what you pay against what you get. A €150 hotel with a great location, clean rooms, and helpful staff can outscore a €500 hotel with fancy amenities in a bad area. We factor in seasonal pricing, cancellation policies, and hidden costs like tourist tax and breakfast surcharges. The goal is finding the best ratio, not the lowest price.
Guest Experience
We analyze thousands of verified guest reviews across multiple platforms, looking for patterns rather than individual complaints. Consistent praise for cleanliness, staff, and room quality counts. We also assess the intangibles: does the hotel have character? Would you recommend it to a friend? A soul-less chain hotel with perfect facilities still loses to a well-run boutique with personality.
When to Visit Cornwall
When to visit Cornwall and what to pay.
Summer (July-August)
July and August are when Cornwall is absolutely rammed. Boardmasters festival hits Newquay in early August and fills every hotel within 15 miles of Fistral Beach. Prices for The Headland and Carbis Bay Hotel can hit $290-310/night for a basic room. Book 4-6 months ahead or you'll be looking at a caravan park off the A30.
Spring (April-June)
Late May and June are arguably the best weeks to visit Cornwall. The bluebells are out on the coastal paths, prices sit at $120-220/night for most mid-range properties, and the beaches are genuinely walkable without queuing for an ice cream. The Tate St Ives opens its summer exhibitions in late May, which is worth timing your trip around.
Autumn (September-October)
September is the month we tell everyone to go. Sea temperatures peak at 16-17°C off Fistral and Porthmeor, rates drop 25-35% from August highs, and the coastal path from Fowey to Polruan looks extraordinary in autumn. The Nare Hotel in Veryan often drops from $480 to $320/night after the first week of September.
Winter (November-March)
Cornwall in winter is wet, windy, and genuinely beautiful if you're dressed for it. Prices hit their floor. The Metropole in Padstow drops to $120/night, and even Tresanton in St Mawes runs promotions in January and February. Christmas and New Year spike prices back up, particularly in Fowey and St Ives, so book those windows 3-4 months ahead.
Booking Tips for Cornwall
Insider tips for booking hotels in Cornwall.
Book Boardmasters week at least 5 months ahead
Boardmasters festival in early August draws 50,000+ people to Newquay's Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach. Every hotel within 15 miles sells out, and prices for The Headland Hotel jump from $130 to $290/night in that week alone. If you're not going to Boardmasters, avoid that week entirely and save yourself $80-100/night.
Use the Lelant Park and Ride for St Ives
Driving into St Ives in summer is one of Cornwall's biggest visitor mistakes. The A3074 into town backs up past Hayle and parking on Island Road costs $8-10/day with no guarantee of a space. Park free at Lelant Saltings station and take the scenic branch line train into St Ives for £3.50 return. 12 minutes, no stress.
Ask hotels specifically what 'sea view' means
Cornwall has a sea-view problem. Properties routinely charge $40-70 more per night for 'sea view' rooms where the actual view requires standing at the window corner and squinting. When booking, ask: is the sea visible from the bed? Only properties like Tresanton, Carbis Bay Hotel, and The Greenbank have views that genuinely justify the premium.
The Roseland Peninsula needs a car
The Nare Hotel at Carne Beach and the Tresanton in St Mawes are two of the best hotels on this list. Getting to either without a car means a 45-minute drive from Truro or relying on the Place Ferry from Falmouth, which runs limited hours and doesn't run at all between October and April. Plan transport before you book.
Eat lunch at Rick Stein's, not dinner
Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant on South Quay in Padstow charges $80-120 per person at dinner. The lunch menu uses the same kitchen and similar dishes for around $40-55 per person. Tables at lunch are easier to book too. we've seen the dinner wait list hit 8 weeks in July. Go at 12:30pm and thank us later.
September is 30% cheaper than August for the same hotel
The school holiday premium is real and it's steep. Bedruthan Hotel and Spa drops from $280 in August to around $195 in September. Carbis Bay Hotel drops from $310 to roughly $220. Nothing changes except the number of children in the pool and the queue for parking at Porthmeor. Go in September.
Hotels in Cornwall — FAQ
Everything you need to know before booking hotels in Cornwall.
What's the best area to stay in Cornwall for a first visit?
St Ives is the easiest base for first-timers. You get Porthmeor Beach and the Tate gallery within a 5-minute walk, plus a good spread of restaurants on Fore Street. It's busy in July and August, but outside peak season it's genuinely one of the most beautiful small towns in England.
When is the cheapest time to visit Cornwall?
October through March is when prices drop sharply. Hotels like The Metropole in Padstow go from $195 down to around $120/night, and the coastal paths are quiet. It rains more, sure, but temperatures stay mild at 8-12°C and you'll actually get a table at Rick Stein's without booking three months ahead.
Is Cornwall worth visiting outside summer?
Absolutely, and we'd argue September is the best month of the year. The crowds from Newquay and St Ives thin out fast after the school holidays, water temperatures hit 16-17°C, and hotel rates fall 20-30% from their August peak. The South West Coast Path from Fowey to Polruan is stunning in autumn light.
How far is it between Newquay and St Ives?
About 35 miles by road, which takes 50-70 minutes depending on summer traffic on the A30. The train via Truro takes around 90 minutes total but it's a genuinely scenic ride. Don't underestimate Cornish traffic in August. what looks like a 40-minute drive can stretch to 2 hours near Hayle.
What's the best hotel in Cornwall for families?
Bedruthan Hotel and Spa in Mawgan Porth is the clear winner. It sits on the clifftop above a beach that's calm enough for kids, and the hotel runs a proper children's program so parents actually get time off. It's priced at $170-280/night, which is fair given how much is included.
Are there budget hotels in Cornwall that aren't grim?
Yes, two that we'd actually stay in ourselves. The Seiner Arms in Perranporth village centre comes in at $55-85/night and sits 5 minutes from one of Cornwall's longest beaches. Truro Backpackers on Lemon Street is $62-90/night and a solid base for exploring the county capital and getting buses to the coast.
What's the most romantic hotel in Cornwall?
The Old Quay House in Fowey is the one. It's right on the waterfront on Fore Street with direct estuary views from most rooms, and the restaurant is genuinely excellent. It rates 9.0 and prices run $155-240/night, which is reasonable for what you get.
How do I get around Cornwall without a car?
It's doable but takes planning. The main rail line connects London Paddington to Penzance with stops at Truro, St Austell, and Bodmin Parkway. Local bus routes like the T1 (Truro to Newquay) and the 17/17A (Truro to Falmouth) are reliable. But for places like Mawgan Porth, Veryan, or Perranporth, a car genuinely makes life easier.
Is Newquay worth staying in or just visiting for the day?
Worth staying, but pick your hotel carefully. The Headland Hotel sits right above Fistral Beach on Headland Road and is a proper property, rated 8.5 with rooms at $130-290/night. The town centre near Bank Street gets rowdy with hen parties and stag dos on summer weekends, so if that's not your scene, stay on the Headland side of town.
What's the top-rated hotel in Cornwall?
The Nare Hotel in Veryan rates 9.3, making it the highest-rated property on our list. It's on Carne Beach, one of the quietest and most beautiful beaches on the Roseland Peninsula, about 20 miles from Truro. Prices run $270-480/night, but it's the kind of hotel where you genuinely don't want to leave.
When do hotel prices peak in Cornwall?
School summer holidays, mid-July through August, are when prices hit their ceiling. Expect to pay $250-310/night for mid-range properties that cost half that in May. The Easter school holidays are the second-busiest spike, and Boardmasters festival in Newquay (usually early August) fills every hotel within 15 miles of Fistral Beach.
Is Padstow worth the premium over other Cornish towns?
For food, yes. Rick Stein's empire spans several restaurants on South Quay and Middle Street, and the harbour is genuinely lovely. The Metropole Hotel on Station Road rates 8.2 at $120-195/night, which is good value by Padstow standards. Just know that parking is a nightmare and everything closes early outside summer.