A Family-Friendly Hotel Near Fistral Beach in Cornwall
The Headland is a 5-star family-friendly hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, overlooking Fistral Beach with spacious, sea-view bedrooms, family dining and activities for all to enjoy.
Why Families Choose The Headland
- Overlooking Fistral Beach: One of the UK's best beaches for surfing, rockpooling and sandcastle-building, a few minutes' walk from your room.
- Six pools at the AquaClub: Including a dedicated splash pool and family zone, ranked in the World's Best Hotel Swimming Pools.
- Suites built for families: Separate children's bedrooms, interconnecting rooms and space for the family to unwind.
- Dog-friendly: Bring the whole family, four-legged members included.
- Free, unlimited pool access for all hotel and cottage guests: No extra booking, no time limits.
- Five-star without the formality: Relaxed dining, flexible mealtimes and a "bring the sand in with you" attitude.
Family Rooms, Suites & Cottages
From interconnecting bedrooms to self-contained cottages, The Headland's accommodation is built around how families holiday together, intimate enough for bedtime stories and spacious enough that nobody's living on top of each other.
Whether you're after front-row Fistral views or the extra independence of your own cottage, here's how to choose the right base for your stay.
The Minni Parker Best Family Suite
Newly refurbished, this is The Headland's flagship family suite with a separate bedroom for the kids, a private balcony with uninterrupted Fistral Beach views and a family bathroom with a walk-in shower plus a separate bath.
Sustainably designed, beautifully finished and built to sleep four in comfort.
Ocean View Suites & Family Suites
Spacious suites with sea views and room to spread out, designed with families in mind from the ground up.
Interconnecting Bedrooms & Suites
Two rooms, one shared door. Ideal for families who want their own space at bedtime without being a corridor apart.
Family Cottages
Self-contained cottages located on Fistral's headland just outside the hotel. Choose from front-row sea views to hot tub options, perfect for families who want a little more independence during their stay.
Dining With Kids
Mealtimes at The Headland are relaxed, not formal. Choose from poolside wood-fired pizzas at The Deck, all-day dining in The Ballroom, or a proper sit-down at RenMor, with flexible timings so you're never racing a kitchen cut-off with a toddler in tow.
RenMor
We believe that children should enjoy the same quality as grown-ups, which is why our dedicated children’s menu features wholesome, delicious options like fresh fish parcels with Cornish veg, miniature sirloin steaks and homemade fruit lollies.
Whether it’s a family breakfast to start the day or a celebratory dinner as the sun sets over Fistral Beach, RenMor provides a relaxed yet quality dining experience that makes every family feel treated.
The Deck
The Deck restaurant is located within the AquaClub, specialising in laid-back Mediterranean vibes. It’s the ultimate spot for a family lunch.
Grab one of our freshly made pizzas to-go, perfect for an impromptu picnic right on Fistral Beach as the sun sets.
The Ballroom
Need a moment to recharge between adventures? The Ballroom is the perfect place to pause.
Whether you’re looking for light snacks, nibbles to share, or a cosy spot to refuel with a coffee and a cake, it’s a versatile space where the whole family can relax and reset before the next activity.
Family-Friendly Facilities & Activities
Whether your ideal family break involves much-needed relaxation with your loved ones or a high-energy itinerary packed with coastal exploration, there's no shortage of ways to fill the days:
Dive into the AquaClub
The AquaClub is the perfect place for the whole family to enjoy quality time together without ever having to set foot off the grounds.
- The Splash Pool: Built for kids, with the energy of family fun.
- The 25-Metre Lap Pool: For older kids and parents who want to swim.
- The Vitality & Edge Pools: Outdoor, Atlantic-facing and the best spot to watch the surf.
- Hydrotherapy Pools: The ultimate relaxation pools. Under-12s aren't permitted here and 12–16s must be supervised.
- The Sunset Spa: For the grown-ups to take a breather, ages 16 plus only.
Open daily for families 9am–7pm, with towels, robes, hairdryers and even a swimsuit dryer provided, so you can pack light and let the kids loose. Adults-only swim times from 8-9am and 7-9pm.
Fistral Beach & Newquay
The famous Fistral Beach is so close to us that you could almost consider it part of The Headland!
Take the short coastal path down to the beach and explore the rock pools that surround our beautiful hotel. There are plenty of spots to buy a nice drink and ice cream, or even a bucket and spade to keep the little ones busy.
Why not borrow our litter pickers from reception and go on a hunt, collecting weird and wonderful objects that are buried in the sand?
For families with four-legged friends, we have our self-service ‘Dog Wash Express’ on the hotel grounds, which you are welcome to make use of to clean sandy paws.
Surf Sanctuary Surf School
Based right on our grounds, Surf Sanctuary offers lessons for every age and ability on Fistral Beach, just steps from your room.
Cornwall Segway Tours
Explore stunning grounds with a guided Segway experience. It’s the ultimate way to add a dash of adrenaline to your stay, offering a unique perspective of the coast.
Cornwall Segway's expert instructors are with you every step of the way. Each session begins with a comprehensive safety briefing and a hands-on demonstration, ensuring even the most hesitant explorers feel like pros in no time.
Lawn Games and Pitch & Putt
For a bit of friendly family rivalry, spend some time on our Pitch & Putt course. Perched above the iconic sands of Fistral Beach, it offers some of the best views on the property.
It’s the perfect anytime activity if you have an hour or so to spare before heading out for the day and you want to settle who’s buying the first round of drinks before dinner.
Swing by Reception to borrow your clubs and balls, then you’re ready to tee off!
We also have a variety of lawn games we'd love you to borrow, such as Swing Ball, Croquet, Giant Connect 4 and Jenga.
Children's Park
Our children's play park is the perfect spot for your energetic little ones to let off some steam.
The park can be found on our hotel grounds, opposite the main hotel entrance, so there is no need to venture off-site to get some fresh air and play time.
Camel Trail Cycle Route
Why not hire a bicycle at Wadebridge and cycle the Camel Trail to either Padstow or Bodmin Jail? The Camel Trail provides views of the beautiful Cornish countryside.
The Wadebridge to Padstow path is an 18-mile, largely flat trail that showcases some of the finest hidden spots in the south-west.
Lappa Valley
Lappa Valley is an attraction that transports families on a nostalgic train ride into a secret world of traditional fun and adventures.
Children will also enjoy boating on the lake, letting off steam in the outdoor spaces and enjoying time in the multi-level soft play area.
Newquay Harbour
The harbour is just a short stroll away from the hotel, where kids can scramble over the rocks at low tide, hunt for crabs and anemones in the pools, watch the boats head out, or grab an ice cream from one of the nearby shops.
Coastal Walks & Beach Days
Whether you're building sandcastles, flying a kite, rockpooling, or just letting the kids run off some energy, there are miles of golden sand right on the doorstep.
Plus, our location offers easy access to the coast path, with family-friendly stretches and sea views, perfect for a slower-paced walk before or after time on the sand.
Cornwall Day Tours & Guided Sightseeing
We're well located for families who want to venture further afield. You can see most of the top attractions, from the Eden Project to Newquay Zoo, without the hassle of planning how to get there.
FAQs: Family-Friendly
Is The Headland a family-friendly hotel?
Yes. The Headland is a perfect choice for families, combining five-star comfort with family-friendly facilities, including family suites, interconnecting rooms, swimming pools and direct access to Fistral Beach without the formality luxury hotels carry.
Does The Headland have a swimming pool for kids?
Yes. The AquaClub includes a dedicated splash pool and family zone alongside its lap pool and outdoor pools. Pool access is free and unlimited for all hotel and cottage guests. Under-12s cannot use the hydrotherapy or sunset spa pools, and 12–16s must be supervised when using them.
What family rooms does The Headland offer?
Options include the Minni Parker Best Family Suite (a separate children's bedroom, sleeping four), Ocean View Suites & Family Suites, Interconnecting Bedrooms and Suites and a range of self-contained family cottages.
Is The Headland close to the beach?
Yes, The Headland sits directly above Fistral Beach, one of Cornwall's best-known beaches for families, surfers and rockpoolers alike.
Does The Headland have flexible dining for children?
Yes. With multiple restaurants on site, including poolside pizza at The Deck, families can choose relaxed, flexible dining to suit younger guests' mealtimes.
