Cornwall is well known as the British destination of choice for travellers in search of luxury, beautiful weather, stunning beaches and even better food – sans travel through airports. In fact, so popular has this South West county become that, in 2020, Newquay was the most searched for holiday destination in the UK.
Not only home to some of the finest seafood dining in the country, Cornwall is also home to some of Britain’s most luxurious hotels. With everything from traditional guesthouses to adults-only eco-retreats cropping up over recent years, catering to British staycationers looking for something a little more refined than a seaside B&B. Here are 4 of the most luxurious hotels in Cornwall to book now.
Watergate Bay Hotel, Newquay
If you’re in search of a typically Cornish luxury hotel experience The Watergate Hay Hotel is where you want to book. Rooms vary from classic doubles to family apartments (most are dog-friendly). With four restaurants to chose from at the hotel there’s little chance of disappointment, chose from seasonal modern fine dining, casual Mediterranean dishes and British classics or dine in the new pop-up seafood and plant-based restaurant by Emily Scott.
For those with little children, The Watergate Bay Hotel offers a huge range of activities. Aspiring surfers big and small an enroll in the Extreme Academy, the Watergate Bay’s Surfing England and British Kitesurfing Association-approved surf school, where tutelage in stand-up paddleboarding & ‘waveski’ is offered alongside traditional surfboarding. The hotel also offers swim breaks, yoga and pilates retreats and fitness camps. Looking to be a little less active on your break? There’s a full-service spa too.
The Scarlet, Mawgan Porth
Situated in the picturesque hills overlooking the white sands of Mawgan Porth, The Scarlet is a sophisticated luxury hotel offering wellness and the opportunity to reconnect with nature. Using glass at every opportunity, the hotel has been built into the rockface and offers spectacular views from each of the 37 rooms. Guest areas prioritise light and spaciousness, with an abundance of terraces, relaxation rooms and lounges available for those in need of somewhere peaceful to unwind.
The hotel boasts an on-site restaurant serving all-day casual dining. We hear that afternoon tea and Sunday lunch are a particular highlight, but the real draw at The Scarlet is its world-class spa. Focusing on holistic wellbeing, treatments are offered in lantern-lit tents and include a range of Ayurvedic massage and bathing rituals. Guests also have access to an indoor pool, natural reed-bed outdoor pool and steam room, as well as a host of yoga, tai chi and wellness classes.
St Michaels Resort, Falmouth
One of Cornwall’s leading independent hotels, offering a luxurious seaside retreat right next to the shores of blue-flag Gyllyngvase Beach and the Southwest Coastal Path. The resort beckons with a luxury spa, a state-of-the-art Health Club, and a range of family activities. There is a whole host of family-friendly rooms available to book, or alternatively, families can opt for one of four beachfront self-catering apartments, the perfect hideaway for families of all sizes, with the added benefit of a full resort experience on the doorstep. Stretch your legs on the enjoyable coastal path leading to secret coves and Falmouth’s best spots including Pendennis Point, Swanpool Nature Reserve, and Maenporth beach, especially during low tide for some rock pooling along the way. Just 15 minutes from Falmouth’s town centre, you can easily access independent shifts, a bustling harbour, and waterside pubs, as well as the historic delight of Pendennis Castle and the National Maritime Museum Cornwall.
Back at the resort, guests can relax into the Cornish way of life with a visit to the state-of-the-art spa, which features an expert range of hydrothermal facilities, relaxation areas, and revitalising spa treatments. The celebration of Cornwall extends through every arm of St Michaels, especially through the local, honest food served at Brasserie on the Bay, providing a relaxed dining experience which includes a dedicated menu for children.
From £179 per night- Book here.
Chapel House, Penzance
Last but most definitely not least, one of the most luxurious hotels in Cornwall, is this historic townhouse hotel is situated just above Penzance’s well-known working harbour. Blending Georgian style and architecture (designed by architect Keith Bell and owner Susan Start) with contemporary comfort, this hotel offers the perfect opportunity to relax and explore all that Cornwall has to offer.
Chapel House works with an ‘open house’ concept. Guests occupying the six bedrooms and two suites are invited to treat the facilities at Chapel House as if those of a friend’s home. A resident therapist is on hand to administer in-room treatments, their boot room is stocked with spare jackets, hats, gloves, flippers and wellies and unlimited tea and cake is available to guests content to loll away a warm afternoon on the garden terrace overlooking Penzance Harbour. If you find yourself staying over a weekend you can book onto one of their very popular supper clubs which take place in the open-plan kitchen every Friday and Saturday night.
