Cheap flights to Newquay
Set your departure airport and maximum budget: SniperAir tracks prices to Newquay and alerts you the moment a deal matching your criteria appears.
Quick summary
Country
United Kingdom
Continent
Europe
Airport
NQY
Currency
Pound sterling (GBP)
Time zone
UTC+0 (UTC+1 during summer time)
Deals already spotted to Newquay
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Why track Newquay with SniperAir
An Atlantic break whose flight is worth watching
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Enter your departure airport and a maximum budget for a flight to Newquay (NQY), or to nearby airports in south-west England.
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Airport and getting there
A small airport a few kilometres away, and a railway terminus in town
Cornwall Airport Newquay (NQY)
Cornwall Airport Newquay, formerly the military base RAF St Mawgan according to Wikipedia EN, lies north-east of the town. The distance varies by source, from about 5 to 10 km, so allow a few kilometres. Bus 56 links the airport with Newquay in roughly 20 to 25 minutes according to Wikivoyage EN and DE; a taxi or car are the alternatives. Several routes are seasonal according to Wikipedia EN, so we name no routes or airlines because they change.
Distances and times are approximate, based on Wikipedia and Wikivoyage; flights, train timetables and bus services change, so check them before you travel. We give no fares.
Newquay also has a railway station, the terminus of the Atlantic Coast Line from Par. According to Wikivoyage you change at Par for London Paddington or Penzance; Wikipedia EN mentions a few direct summer trains. By road from Exeter you take the M5, then the A30, A39 and A392, according to Wikivoyage EN and DE. Check train and bus timetables before you travel, as they change with the season. If the direct flight is too pricey, compare fares to Exeter or Bristol and continue by train or hire car.
Beaches, harbour and coast
Cliffs, waves and a former fishing town
Newquay began as a medieval hamlet, Towan, beside a small harbour called New Quay. Pilchard fishing, coal imports and the railway built the town; from the second half of the 19th century, summer tourism took over. The places below are illustrated; other sights are described in text.
Sandy beaches at the foot of the cliffs
The town has several sandy beaches, from seven to eleven depending on the source, which Wikipedia DE puts at more than 10 km of sand in total. They are backed by cliffs, which creates coves where the waves break. The RNLI patrols beaches from May to September, and Fistral from before Easter to the end of October, according to Wikipedia FR.
The little harbour
The harbour and its stone pier recall the town's origins: a pier application dates from 1615 according to Wikipedia EN, and the quays were started in 1832. Fishing and leisure boats sit beside the harbour beach. The Huer's Hut, a former lookout that announced shoals of pilchards, is a listed building restored in 1836.
Cliffs and Atlantic waves
Cornwall's north coast takes the Atlantic swell: waves arrive in sets on beaches flanked by grassy headlands. The South West Coast Path runs through the town and lets you follow the cliffs on foot.
A wild coastline
North of the town, the Carnewas and Bedruthan Steps coast is partly managed by the National Trust according to Wikipedia FR. Rocks, arches and sheer cliffs make a spectacular landscape. Walk carefully near the edge, as cliffs can be unstable.
The big surf beaches
The best known is Fistral, which hosts international competitions according to Wikipedia EN and DE. Other beaches, such as Towan, Great Western, Tolcarne, Crantock Bay or Watergate Bay, also suit surfing. At low tide some stretch out into wide sweeps of sand.
Surfing, Trerice, the Eden Project and festivals in text
Newquay is nicknamed the UK's surf capital according to Wikipedia EN, DE and FR. There are many surf schools; we name none and give no prices. The Boardmasters festival takes place in early August at Fistral and Watergate Bay according to Wikipedia EN. A few kilometres away, Trerice, an Elizabethan National Trust manor house at Kestle Mill, can be visited; the Eden Project near St Austell holds two biomes, rainforest and Mediterranean, in a former china clay pit, and opened on 17 March 2001. A bus links the site with St Austell station. As the distance from Newquay is not cross-checked, plan the trip as an excursion arranged in advance.
Museums and culture
Aquarium, zoo, manor house and film
Blue Reef Aquarium and Newquay Zoo
The Blue Reef Aquarium, cited by Wikipedia FR, DE and Wikivoyage, is a small aquarium with a fish tunnel. Newquay Zoo opened in 1969 according to Wikipedia EN, in the Trenance Gardens, laid out in the early 20th century (1906 per Wikipedia DE) around a stone viaduct. We give no hours or prices.
Trerice and Cornish culture
Trerice is an Elizabethan National Trust manor house at Kestle Mill, near Newquay. The Cornish name of the town, Tewynblustri, recalls the region's historic language. The Cornish Film Festival fills two weeks each November according to Wikivoyage EN.
Magical Mystery Tour
Towan Beach and the Atlantic Hotel served as the setting for a few scenes of the Beatles film Magical Mystery Tour, released in 1967, according to Wikipedia FR. A film-buff detail to add to your visit.
Food and drink
Fish, seafood and Cornish flavours
Seafood
A former pilchard town, Newquay lives by the sea: fish and seafood are served in restaurants around the harbour and beaches. We name no venues and give no prices because they are not cross-checked.
Cornish flavours
Pasties, savoury pastries filled with meat and vegetables, and cream tea, scones with cream and jam, are part of the region's image. We do not go into detail because the open sources we checked say little, and suggest asking local bakeries.
Drinks and nights out
The centre has many pubs and bars according to Wikivoyage EN. In summer the centre is lively in the evening; if you want quiet, choose your accommodation accordingly. Please drink responsibly.
Getting around
On foot, by bus and by car
On foot
Many visitor sights are within walking distance of the centre according to Wikivoyage EN; some suburbs and beaches are 4 km or more away. The South West Coast Path lets you reach beaches on foot.
By bus and train
Buses link Newquay with Truro roughly every 30 minutes according to Wikivoyage EN, in about an hour; check timetables. The station is the terminus of the Atlantic Coast Line from Par.
By car
A car is handy for outlying beaches, Trerice or the Eden Project. In summer it is busy: allow time for parking.
Budget and precautions
A tourist price level in high season
Price level
Newquay is a holiday resort whose prices rise in summer. We give no figures because we could not confirm them across two independent sources.
Flights
The flight is the most variable item. SniperAir tracks prices to NQY and compares them with the route's history, but does not sell or book tickets. Also watch Exeter or Bristol depending on where you start.
Entry rules and precautions
UK entry requirements depend on your nationality: check official sources before booking. In the sea, respect the flags and swim at lifeguarded beaches; currents can be strong. The weather changes quickly: pack a jacket even in summer.
When to go
Surf and beaches from April to October, a dramatic coast all year
Winter (December to February)
Cool, windy and damp. Beach supervision is reduced out of season: find out before you swim.
Spring (March to May)
Days lengthen and the first visitors arrive. According to Wikipedia FR the RNLI patrols Fistral from before Easter, then the other beaches from May to September.
Summer (June to August)
High season: beaches, surfing and festivals such as Boardmasters in early August. Traffic is heavy and the town can hold 100,000 people or more in summer according to Wikipedia EN, so book early.
Autumn (September to November)
Fewer people, often beautiful swell, and the Cornish Film Festival in November.
The climate is mild and oceanic, with near-tropical vegetation in the Trenance valley according to Wikipedia DE. We give no precise temperatures or statistics; check the forecast before you travel. May, June and September are good compromises between quiet and mildness.
By length of stay
What to do in Newquay by length of stay
The essentials
The beaches, the harbour, the Huer's Hut, the coast path and a surf or bodyboard session with a school.
Nature and culture
Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay Zoo, Trerice and the Bedruthan Steps coast.
Cornwall
Excursions to Padstow, Truro and the Eden Project, or along the South West Coast Path.
In pictures
Newquay in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Newquay
How do I get from Newquay airport to the town?
The airport (NQY) is a few kilometres north-east. Bus 56 links the airport with the town in roughly 20 to 25 minutes according to Wikivoyage; check timetables. A taxi or car are the alternatives.
Is Newquay really the UK's surf capital?
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage present it as the UK's surf capital, and Fistral hosts international competitions.
Can I get to Newquay by train?
Yes: the station is the terminus of the Atlantic Coast Line, which starts at Par. According to Wikivoyage you change at Par for most long-distance journeys; check timetables before you travel.
When is the best time to visit Newquay?
May to September for beaches and surfing, with heavy crowds in July and August. Spring and autumn are quieter.
Is the Eden Project near Newquay?
It is near St Austell on Cornwall's south coast; plan an excursion arranged in advance, with a bus linking the site with St Austell station. We give no prices.
Is Newquay expensive?
It is a holiday resort whose prices rise in high season. We give no amounts because we could not confirm them.
How much does a flight to Newquay usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the period and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Newquay falls under my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Newquay as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected.
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