Most people who travel to the UK head straight to London, Edinburgh, or the Lake District. However, if you’re willing to make the journey to Cornwall, you’re in for a treat. England’s most southwesterly county is noted for its picturesque scenery and quaint towns, but above all, its beaches.
If you’re planning to surf, there’s only one place to go – Newquay! Not only does it have epic surfing beaches, but great nightlife, too. If you prefer food over drink, there are some great restaurants that use local seafood too. What’s not to love?!
The only thing about travelling to Newquay (and throughout the UK, to be honest) is that it’s not exactly budget-friendly. You might have to think outside the box when it comes to picking somewhere to stay. While that beachfront hotel with a pool and a spa may seem perfect, you may have to forego surfing lessons. Why not look at hostels in Newquay instead? They’re a great way to keep your costs down.
Newquay has a few hostels – definitely prioritising quality over quantity. Suitable for a range of different travel styles and personalities, all you need to do is pick the perfect one for you. So, we’ve decided to help!
Here is our list of the seven best hostels in Newquay.
Quick Answer: Best Hostels in Newquay
- Overall Best Hostel in Newquay – Newquay International Backpackers
- Best Cheap Hostel in Newquay – St Christopher’s Inn Newquay
- Best Hostel for Families in Newquay – Breakers Guesthouse
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Newquay – OYO Minerva Guesthouse
- Best Hostel with a Private Room in Newquay – Berties Lodge
Best Hostels in Newquay
You may have rushed to grab your surfboard, but before you embark on your UK backpacking trip, it’s crucial to make sure you have the right hostel for you.
Our tip: visit Newquay on a Cornwall Road Trip. Exploring the area by car/campervan can work out cheaper than staying at the same place for a long time. In this list, we’ll look at the best hostels in Newquay. Each has its own distinct character and personality – all you need to do is pick the one that best matches your travel style. Let’s go!
Overall Best Hostel in Newquay – Newquay International Backpackers
- $
- Free breakfast
- Board/wetsuit store
- Fruit and vegetable garden
This traditional Newquay backpacker hostel is the ideal place to base yourself, no matter your reasons for travelling to Cornwall! It’s in a great location; you can walk to Fistral Beach, but it’s also close to nightlife and a number of hiking and biking options.
There’s a lively and vibrant atmosphere, but it’s not a party hostel. Hen and stag dos aren’t welcome here, much to the relief of everyone who is not on a hen or stag do! There’s a fully equipped kitchen and a vegetable/herb garden – perfect for whipping up a tasty meal after a day in the waves.
Best Cheap Hostel in Newquay – St Christopher’s Inn Newquay
- $
- Free breakfast
- Clifftop location
- Party bar
St Christopher’s Hostels are known throughout the world, so there’s no doubt this is one of the best hostels in Cornwall overall! The spectacular location on top of a cliff provides excellent views of the waves crashing against the beach below.
Start your day with a free breakfast before heading into town or taking your first surf lessons. If you feel like a lazy day, chill out in Belushi’s bar instead and treat yourself to a cocktail or a burger. With the price of beds here, you’ll have enough in your budget to enjoy some me time!
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Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!
View on Osprey View on REIBest Hostel for Families in Newquay – Breakers Guesthouse
- $$
- Excellent location
- Fully licensed bar
- Chilled out patio
With a range of private rooms, families will not be disappointed with Breakers Guesthouse. It’s right above Fistral Beach, offering breath-taking views and a convenient trip to the city centre shops and restaurants. There are plenty of communal spaces, including a patio, bar, and a common room. You can also enjoy breakfast each morning, though that’s at an extra cost.
Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Newquay – OYO Minerva Guesthouse
- $$$
- Billiards table
- Beachfront location
- Private bathroom
Hostels can be tricky for digital nomads. While you’ll undoubtedly want the ease of meeting other people and regular human contact, pick the wrong one, and you could end up awake all night too tired to work the next day. Newquay’s hostels can be a little rowdy, so why not check yourself into a guesthouse instead?
Here, you’ll have quick Wi-Fi, and there’s a shared lounge where you’ll be able to work. You’re close to the beach and the town centre, so there’ll be no shortage of things to do once you close your laptop for the day!
Best Hostel with a Private Room in Newquay – Berties Lodge
- $$
- Bar
- Games room and TV lounge
- Beachfront location
Especially if you’ve had a long day surfing on the UK’s best beaches, you’ll want a good rest. With a range of private rooms and dorms, Berties Lodge boasts a TV lounge and games room, so you can still enjoy the warm hostel atmosphere. There’s a bar on-site and even a nightclub next door! This might be a good option if you’re on a stag or hen do and are looking for a place to crash after a night out!
Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Newquay – The Escape
- $$$
- Wonderful location
- In-house Thai restaurant
- Bar with pool table
A bit more flashpacker than backpacker, the Escape is right in Newquay’s town centre. You won’t even need to leave the hostel for great food and a night out – the in-house Thai restaurant will see to the first, while the bar and pool table will make it easy to connect with fellow travellers.
There is a range of private and shared rooms – meaning it’s suitable for large groups of friends and family. Stag and hen dos are welcome here, and the hostel can even help organise activities such as go-karting.
The Escape is one of our favourites in Newquay but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Best Hostel for Couples in Newquay – Shore Lodge
- $$
- Great location
- Sun terrace
- Private parking
If you’re staying with your partner, a bunk bed in a crowded dorm doesn’t exactly scream romance. While Shore Lodge is a little more expensive at first glance, when you split the price in half, it’s really not much more expensive than a hostel.
This cute boutique lodge offers a bar and restaurant, and even room service if you want the full hotel experience! Long walks on the beach aren’t a problem; both Towan and Fistral Beaches are a hop, skip, and a jump away from this lovely lodge.
Shore Lodge is one of our favourites in Newquay but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
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Hide Yo’ Money!What to Pack for your Newquay Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from us, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straight forward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art we have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Why You Should Travel to Newquay
While you might have California and Australia on your mind when you think of surfing, that’s just because you haven’t been to Newquay yet. The golden sands and blue waters off Fistral Beach are just waiting for you to catch a wave! There are loads of other beaches near the town if you fancy a spot of swimming or sunbathing, too.
To make the most of your holiday to Newquay, you need to be sure that you’ve picked the right place to stay. If you’re still scratching your head and can’t make the decision between two or three hostels on our list, let us give you one last piece of advice. Go for our top recommended hostel in Newquay – Newquay International Backpackers. It’s an excellent combination of value for money, location, and a friendly atmosphere!
FAQ about Hostels in Newquay
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Newquay.
Travel Safety Tips for Newquay
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
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Final Thoughts on the Best Hostels in Newquay
So, we’re pretty sure you’re ready to go to Newquay. You might have even started packing! And who could blame you? In Newquay, there’s not only surfing to enjoy, but an awesome food, drink, and nightlife scene, too. And if you’re using it as a base, you could even head further afield to the world’s largest indoor rainforest – The Eden Project in St. Austell.
However you choose to spend your trip to Newquay, you’ll have to pick the right base. So before booking your hostel, think about what type of traveller you are. Do you want to be out sinking pints till the early hours with other backpackers? Perhaps you’d rather have a family-friendly guest house for some treasured time together. Whatever you want, Newquay has it.
Have you been to Newquay before? We’d love to hear about your trip in the comments – especially if you’ve stayed in a budget accommodation that hasn’t made it onto our list!
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
