After this morning’s deluge from the heavens, you were probably wondering what to do in Newquay if it rains!
Here are a few ideas – Places to Go and What to Do in Newquay If it Rains.
For some, getting in the water’s the solution. If you’re a surfer then now’s the time to hit the water, there’ll be fewer people in the water as they’re discouraged from the journey or their friends/family aren’t keen to sit on the beach and watch them. If you’ve been thinking about taking surfing lessons, then you might be able to cut a cheap deal down on the beach as potential customers have headed for the bars and not the beach and the surfing schools have spare slots to fill.
If that doesn’t appeal and you want to stay dry, there’s still plenty to do.
1. If it Rains: Go 10-pin bowling
There are three main bowling alleys in Newquay. One at the Hotel California, with glow bowling – another at Porth Lodge Hotel just up Porthbean Road from Porth Beach, or if you want a drive out, there’s the Atlantic Lanes bowling at Trevarrian (between Watergate Bay and Mawgan Porth).
All bowling venues will have limited capacity, so it’s best to phone and book rather than taking pot luck. Porth Lodge has 4 lane tenpin bowling centre, which, when it rains in Newquay, is likely to be fully booked with residents.
2. If it Rains: Visit the Blue Reef Aquarium
Down on the main Towan Beach, opposite the Island, is the Blue Reef Aquarium. They’ve constantly got new arrivals and newly born fish and sealife creatures – and, if any fishermen in Cornwall catch something unusual or rare in their nets it’s dropped off at Blue Reef to be re-homed. Adults are £8.75 and kids tickets are £6.50 (2013 prices).
Once you’ve wandered around and seen the fish, there’s a small gift shop and a cafe with beach views.
3. If it Rains: Go to Pirate’s Quest
Another visitor attraction is Pirate’s Quest, relaunched and reopened in 2009 by Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne as Buccaneer Bay and prior to that called Tunnels Through Time Pirate’s Quest can be found along the road behind Newquay Tourist Office.
Learn the secrets of the olden times as you wander through Smugglers Cove, onto Crandock Quay and into the village tavern guided by Calico Jack or one of his notorious crew. Thrills and scares await, with new themed areas each season. An interesting and fun way to learn about Cornwall past, entertaining for the whole family.
4. Newquay Lighthouse Cinema
If it’s raining, the cinema’s likely to fill up quickly. It’s quite a small cinema and popular films do sell out – so it’s best to either get there early, or phone ahead to book.
Newquay cinema is right in the centre of town, at the end of the pedestrianised zone and immediately behind the Central Inn. If you don’t want to park in town, park at Mount Wise car park and walk down.
5. Kingsley Village
If you fancy a small road trip, Kingsley Village is a few miles away at Fraddon. There’s a couple of factory outlets there, as well as a food hall with top quality local Cornish produce to cook yourself at home, or packaged as gifts for friends.
NOTE: In 2017 Kingsley Village is being redeveloped – closing down at end of business Saturday 29 April 2017 – Kingsley Village will reopen in 2018, probably late in the season.
It’s entirely indoors and has lots of free parking right outside.
6. Further Afield
If it’s going to be raining all day, wondering what to do in Newquay if it rains might not be enough, you might want to look further afield. Without hitting the High Streets and going shopping, you could check out the Cornish Goldsmiths Treasure Park, close to Portreath, about 20 miles down the coast is a free visitor attraction and shopping centre built on the site of Tolgus Tin Mine. You’ll find gold jewellery for sale, as well as interesting exhibits to see. There are goldsmiths, silversmiths and Cornwall Pearl on site. There’s a restaurant and plenty for kids to do, including Build a Bear or painting pottery. There’s even an eight hole crazy golf course, piskie panning, a 4D mine ride, the bear works, create and paint, crazy sands and fossils, find treasures and sharks teeth in the gem scoop, try pick a pearl and take home a real pearl to treasure, weigh yourself in gold, try out a penny press or even find a real diamond at pick a diamond.
I hope that’s given you some ideas about what to do if it rains in Newquay again – it’ll keep you out of the bars, which will be crowded!
