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A coastal getaway in Cornwall is always a good idea.
Cornwall is known for its world-class hospitality, making it one of the best places to visit in the UK. The Cornish coast has many wonderful golden sandy beaches, beautiful villages and an incredible food scene.
As one of the favourite staycation spots in the UK, Cornwall has grown a large selection of luxury and boutique hotels, offering uninterrupted sea views and spectacular spa breaks.
This guide is a compilation of our trips to Cornwall over the last 5 years. It includes the best boutique hotels, luxury apartments and unique stays in Cornwall we have stayed in and would return to in a heartbeat.
Read on to discover some of the best hotels in Cornwall with a sea view, world-class hospitality and fantastic local cuisine.
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Watergate Bay Hotel
The sister hotel of Another Place in the Lake District, Watergate Bay Hotel has charm, elegance and one of the best sunset views in Cornwall from their beach loft rooms. Located on the beachfront at Watergate Bay, this is one of the best beaches for surfing and is sheltered by cliffs at either end of the beach.
Watergate Bay Hotel draws your eyes out to the ocean, with easy access to the beach there is no excuse not to go for a quick dip, surf or walk along the golden sand.
The beach loft rooms are the jewel in the crown at Watergate Bay Hotel, the concept design was to replicate a ‘ski chalet on the beach’, with private access to the beach perfect for a morning or sunset surf. Each room is faultlessly designed to a beachy bohemian, luxurious style with a neutral colour palette echoing the surrounding seascape.
Watergate Bay Hotel is an ideal place for a spa break in Cornwall with state-of-the-art facilities including an infinity pool, sauna, outdoor hot tub, treatments and Kids’ Zone where they offer babysitting, supervised sessions and beach school for children. There are also several restaurants and relaxed dining areas to enjoy whilst staying at one of the best hotels in Cornwall with a sea view.
Bedruthan Hotel
An iconic hotel built in 1959, Bedruthan Hotel and Spa sits on the craggy cliffs in Mawgan Porth and looks out over the Atlantic Ocean and marvellous Cornish coastline. This spacious hotel maximises the ocean views with floor-to-ceiling windows showing off some of the best panoramic coastal scenes in Cornwall.
Bedruthan Hotel has a unique design in keeping with architecture typical of the time it was built with a minimal, modern and simple design was its main inspiration with a take on Californian desert houses that were popular in the 1950s. Whilst the building of the hotel may look similar to a typical all inclusive in Spain, don’t let its exterior prevent you from discovering its wonderful interior.
Today the hotel offers a relaxing and rejuvenating getaway with spa facilities and an outdoor sensory spa garden experience which takes you on a serene journey. As a family-owned hotel, Bedruthan is known as one of the best family-friendly hotels and there is a kids club for kids over 3 years which gives parents the chance for two hours of child-free bliss.
There is a unique collection of artwork throughout the rooms and across the Bedruthan hotel walls, many of which are created by local artists. Bedruthan Hotel is a creative space both in design and as a place of inspiration. The hotel hosts creative workshops and local artisan markets which will leave you feeling energised for your next project.
Hotel rooms take full advantage of the ocean views with large windows and with a scandi-inspired interior design, furniture was imported from Denmark and connects guests to the outdoors.
Scarlet Hotel
Only a stone’s throw away from Bedruthan Hotel is its sister hotel, the Scarlet, an exclusive adults-only hotel. The Scarlet Hotel is an eco-sanctuary, a wonderful example of how a hotel can be in harmony with its surroundings. A key focus at The Scarlet Hotel was to ensure it was future-proof, the hotel could be dismantled with minimal trace and was built using raw building materials all of which can be recycled.
Thoughtful, eco-friendly design is evident across the hotel and it is fuelled by 100% renewable energy and features a natural outdoor pool which is filtered entirely by plants. There are 37 rooms in total at the Scarlet, with ocean-facing rooms designed that allow you to observe the surrounding environment and were designed with a sustainable focus using reclaimed materials where possible.
The Spa at The Scarlet is a wonderful oasis of calm, overlooking the natural outdoor pool there is an indoor pool, lounge area, steam rooms, sauna and there are scenic wooden hot tubs that overlook Mawgan Porth beach. The indoor pool is heated by a solar system that also works in the winter as a result of a biomass boiler, the grey water from showers and baths is collected to flush toilets.
There is an ocean-facing spa restaurant which serves delicious dishes with local ingredients for the ultimate spa break in Cornwall. The Scarlet is one of the best adult-only hotels in Cornwall with a sea view and for a serene escape on the coast.
The Alverton HoteL
Hidden from sight, The Alverton Hotel is a peaceful sanctuary without compromising on location. We stayed at the Alverton Hotel in spring and were lucky to discover beautiful bluebells in the gardens, adding a burst of colour to the former 18th-century convent.
Enjoy one of the best Afternoon tea in Truro at The Alverton Hotel on the beautiful sunny terrace overlooking the beautiful gardens and in spring it was bursting with life with blossoms and bluebells. The proper Cornish way to eat your scones is jam first then cream on top, the trick is to use a spoon to dollop on top!
Stay in one of the beautifully decorated rooms which are a combination of original features with modern luxury touches. There are two main areas of the hotel where the rooms are located, the main building of the hotel and the Courtyard. The main house is where the reception and restaurant are connected to the chapel room. The Alverton Hotel has 50 rooms to choose from including classic rooms, garden view rooms, executive suites and the Bishop Suite, junior suites and superior courtyard rooms.
POllurian on the lizard
In September, we were invited to the Pollurian on the Lizard to stay in their island view suite. Pollurian on the Lizard lies on Cornwall's southern coast, between Poldhu Cove and Mullion Cove on the Lizard Peninsula. The Lizard is Britain's most southerly point, lonely and wild, with a microclimate that supports a wide range of unique plant species.
The Pollurian Hotel, built in 1890, has a rich history of adaptation and change over time. Passengers would have arrived by train on the Helston Railway, which closed in the 1960s. Today, the railway has been reconstructed so that you can experience what it was like for visitors arriving by steam train.
In January 2023, the hotel underwent an impressive makeover in most bedrooms, restaurants, and bars to give it a fresh new look. Staying at the Pollurian is the ultimate relaxing escape, with sweeping ocean views from all corners of the hotel and easy access to the spectacular Cornish coastline.
The Pollurian hotel is designed in a sophisticated, elegant, and contemporary Art Deco style, with a colour palette inspired by nature. It's a wonderful combination of vintage elements with a tasteful modern touch.
Choose from a sea view room or a self-catering villa. If you stay in the Island View suite, you will have exclusive use of the no-smoke beach buggy, guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. The hotel has sweeping ocean views from the rooms, Vista Lounge, Pollurian restaurant, garden terrace, and even the tennis courts, which boast some of the best views we’ve ever seen!
More interesting redevelopment ideas include a new spa and a covered indoor pool that will take advantage of the coastal panoramas. Time seems to stand still as you watch the waves come in from the Atlantic Ocean, with the renowned St. Michael's Mount visible in the distance. There's much to do on your doorstep, including picturesque fishing villages, breathtaking coastal walks, and beautiful beaches.
The hotel is dog-friendly, so you don’t have to leave them behind on your stay. Dogs are allowed in the Vista Lounge and bar area but not in the Pollurian restaurant, but don’t worry—you can order food in the Vista Lounge. The Pollurian restaurant offers a farm-to-table approach, offering a catch of the day and a seasonal menu ensuring the ingredients are fresh and local.
The hotel is positioned to enjoy the most spectacular sunrises over the ocean, so make sure you get up to experience it for yourself! Hollywood and famous figures have stayed at the Polurrian, including Winston Churchill, Clark Gable, and Guglielmo Marconi, who was sent the first transatlantic radio message from Poldhu Cove.
The Headland Hotel
The Headland Hotel and Spa is one of the most iconic hotels in Cornwall, with a distinguishable outline and enviable location on the north coast of Newquay overlooking the world-famous Fistral Beach. On a sunny day, the water surrounding The Headland Hotel transforms into a translucent blue, with rocky pools and pristine surf.
Renowned for world-class hospitality, The Headland Hotel welcomes you with a friendly welcome on arrival and your luggage is taken to your room. Stepping inside through the revolving door feels like you have walked into a Wes Anderson movie. The Headland Hotel is unpretentious and has a laidback feel and following a treatment at the award-winning Headland Spa, it will leave you as chill as a capybara.
The recent addition of the Aqua Club makes The Headland Hotel one of the best spa hotels in Newquay with sea views and state-of-the-art facilities. The ultimate spa break in Cornwall, the Headland Spa and Aqua Club has hydrotherapy, hot tub, steam rooms, aromatherapy showers, Swedish sauna, pools, sunloungers and specialist treatments. We loved our Ocean Essence treatment, a Headland Hotel Signature Spa treatment, the perfect remedy after a surf at Fistral.
In May 2023, the newly refurbished RenMor restaurant opened at the Headland Hotel with the most spectacular views and setting. Sip on your favourite cocktail on The Terrace or if you’re at the Aqua Club there is a wonderful selection of pizzas at The Deck.
The rooms at The Headland Hotel are mostly in the main building and there is the option to stay in a self-catering cottage closer to the Aqua Club. Each room is unique and we stayed in one of the best rooms which had sea views and had the most incredible balcony for sunbathing and sunsets. The Headland Hotel is also dog-friendly and is taking steps towards a greener future starting with the RenMor restaurant powered completely by solar energy.
The Pig at Harlyn Bay
A refurbished country house, The Pig at Harlyn Bay is a Cornish gem positioned on the north coast close to Padstow and isn’t your conventional house in the country. The Pig philosophy champions the relationship between the kitchen garden and chef’s kitchen and guests can observe the fresh, local ingredients growing in the garden. The Pig at Harlyn Bay has a 25-mile menu, sourcing ingredients unable to be grown or sourced on-site within its local Cornish surroundings.
The Pig at Harlyn Bay provides a spectacular experience of serenity, nature and animals onsite including pigs and runner ducks. The creation of The Pig Hotels started from an idea to bring the outdoors in, to bring people together and create a place that makes you feel at home. Whilst staying at The Pig at Harlyn Bay, take a short walk to the nearby Harlyn Bay for a dip in the ocean or walking along the beach.
There is a large selection of rooms full of character and upcycled pieces, the rooms are found both in the Main House, the Stonehouse and the Garden Wagons which are found in the gardens with private outdoor showers, perfect after a dip in the ocean. The Pig at Harlyn Bay offers great hospitality and the team is happy to share local tips and places to visit nearby.
Esplanade Hotel
The Esplanade Hotel is located on Pentire headland, opposite the world-famous Fistral Beach. This family-friendly hotel is the perfect location for endless days on the beach surfing or sunbathing. As one of the hotels with the best views of Fistral Beach, choose a room that has a private balcony to make the most of these Cornish sea views and is a wonderful viewpoint to watch the sunset.
As a family-friendly hotel, The Espalande offers endless entertainment with silent discos, movie screenings in the private cinema and live music sessions to keep the whole family happy. The Esplanade has to have one of the best sea views in Cornwall, making it the perfect spot to watch surfers enjoy the never-ending, consistent waves. The hotel is a short walk from Newquay town centre, there are many shops and restaurants to explore.
Fistral Beach Hotel
The Esplanade’s sister hotel is The Fistral Beach Hotel, an adult-only hotel with a fine dining restaurant and luxury indoor spa and the rooms boast beautiful Cornish coastal landscapes. As one of the best hotels in Cornwall with a sea view, Fistral Beach Hotel is a wonderful 4-star hotel located in a prime location in Newquay.
Fistral Beach Hotel offers you the chance to get to experience life by the sea, convenient access to Fistral Beach will give you the ultimate beach getaway spent on the golden sand or crystal clear water. The rooms are beautifully decorated, with many featuring sea views and a balcony where you can soak in the coastal scenery without having to leave the hotel.
The hotel features a sea-view restaurant which serves fresh ingredients that are locally sourced at the Dune Restaurant with two AA rosettes and is one of the best places to eat in Newquay. There is an outdoor terrace overlooking the beach perfect for sunset cocktails.
St Michaels Resort
Situated in the harbour town of Falmouth, St Michaels Resort provides a wonderful Cornish coastal getaway close to Gyllyngvase Beach. St Michaels is a wellness retreat with plenty of rooms to choose from for your stay including Beach Apartments, Lodges and Luxury coastal rooms.
St Michaels is a 4-star resort with an award-winning spa, hydrotherapy pool, spa garden, outdoor hot tub, icy plunge pool, and Scandi-style sauna. Located in the heart of Falmouth, St Michaels is a short walk from the shops, art galleries and restaurants in town to discover. Return to your cosy room after a day of adventure, finishing with a wonderful meal at one of the restaurants at St Michael’s whose passion for Cornish produce is evident on the seasonal menu.
A recent addition to St Michael’s is the Spa Garden Lodges, these luxurious lodges are surrounded by tropical bliss and have private outdoor space with beautiful bathtubs and the ultimate place to chill and feel rejuvinated by nature.
Kudhva
Kudvha is one of the most unique and quirky places to stay in Cornwall, whilst it may not technically fall into the boutique hotel category, it’s well worthy of a mention in this list. Kudhva means ‘hideout’ in Cornish and is an off-grid wild campsite that is a rewilded former slate quarry. It gives you the chance to reconnect with nature, where time seems to slow down and unleash your adventurous spirit.
The structures at Kudhva are temporary allowing them to be removed with minimal impact on their surroundings and are designed to frame nature and a chance to sleep under the stars with minimal light pollution. Kudhva showcases a typical Cornish landscape with plants such as gorse, ferns, giant rhubarb, fungi, slow worms, butterflies, wild strawberries and also the resident goats.
Go on a little adventure around the grounds at Kudhva to discover the lake which features a picture-perfect waterfall and pontoon perfect for swims and sunbathing.
