SeaSpace Newquay Review: The Best Family Hotel in Cornwall?
A stylish but affordable, family-friendly hotel, with a pool, near the beach in Cornwall? Unheard of!
Finding hotels that fit our family of five is always a struggle. Fortunately, we came across SeaSpace Aparthotel in Newquay, and it turned out to be exactly what we were looking for.
We booked SeaSpace because not only does it have stylish rooms that fit a family of 5, it has a host of features that make staying here perfect for families: an incredible pool, games room, outdoor play areas, on-site cafe and restaurant and an enviable position making the most of sea views on the North Cornwall Coast.
In this review I’m sharing our honest family review of staying at SeaSpace as a family with 3 children (aged 8, 11 and 14). If you’re considering booking this hotel for a family stay, here’s everything you need to know.
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Our honest review of staying at SeaSpace Hotel in Newquay as a family of five
Our stay
- Stayed: 4 nights
- Room: Large Studio
- Price range: Varies by date from around £100 – £440 per night for a large studio. We visited during February half term, which was very affordable. Prices, as you would expect, rise during the summer months.
- Best for: Families who want the option to self-cater and enjoy affordable luxury at a stylish family hotel in Cornwall.
- Would we stay again? Absolutely!
Fully booked or not for you? There are a variety of excellent family hotels in North Cornwall, with something to suit every taste, budget and family size. Full guide coming soon.
Where is SeaSpace Aparthotel?
Head out of the bustle of Newquay and follow the road towards stylish Watergate Bay, and you’ll come across SeaSpace Aparthotel. SeaSpace isn’t directly on the beach, but it is a short walk away.
The hotel is located:
- Porth Beach – 2-minute drive / 10-minute walk
- Watergate Bay (surfing, bodyboarding) – 20-minute coastal walk / 5-minute drive
- Newquay town centre – 5-minute drive / 15-minute cycle / 30-minute walk
- South West Coast Path – 30-second walk
- Wheal Coates & Chapel Porth Beach – 30-minute drive
- Padstow – 25-minute drive
- The Eden Project – 30-minute drive
- The Lost Gardens of Heligan – 40-minute drive
We loved the location being just outside town, so we could access the facilities of Newquay and the coast, but retreat to a calm space. The views are fabulous and being able to walk to spectacular Watergate Bay along the South West Coast Path was a real highlight for us.
Reception and Check-in
Perched high up on the coast, the first impression of SeaSpace is an inviting one: warm lighting, friendly curves, ocean views and an eye-catching abstract mural by local artist Phil Strugnell.
This hotel is seriously stylish and packs a much greater punch than the price would suggest. Calm colours, art-deco touches and thoughtful design are key here.
We arrived from a long drive to a friendly welcome and the offer of day passes to use the pool until check-in. The hotel excels in clear, simple communication, sharing all the important details by text message and email, which makes everything run smoothly and ensures an easy check-in-process.
The Rooms at SeaSpace Aparthotel
There are several apartment and studio sizes available at SeaSpace Aparthotel in Newquay, making it a great option for families of different sizes. There are also accessible options available in both studio categories.
- Small Studio – Sleeps 2. King-size bed with living area and kitchen.
- Large Studio – Sleeps 5. King-size bedroom with kitchen and living area, plus a separate bunk room sleeping 3.
- Two-Bedroom Apartment – Similar to the large studio, but with the main bedroom separate from the living area.
- Three-Bedroom Apartment – Ideal for larger families, sleeping up to 7 plus a baby.
We chose the Large Studio, which worked perfectly for our family of five. This is definitely the most stylish hotel we’ve stayed in as a family.
The Bathroom
The bathroom has an excellent waterfall shower, calming coastal vibes and lovely Land & Water shower gel, soap and shampoo provided. And the towels? Seriously soft and fluffy.
The Kids’ Room
The children had their own separate bunk room, with a bunk bed and an additional single bed, comfortably sleeping three. The bunk room isn’t huge, but did fit our 3 children. Best of all, there’s a sliding door separating it from the main space, so we could still enjoy some grown-up time in the evening once they were settled.
Living Space & Layout
The studio felt bigger than it looked in the photos. Just inside the entrance, there’s a very handy space for hanging coats and storing shoes and bags, which helped keep everything organised.
Despite the dining table being fairly compact, we managed to fit all five of us around it comfortably. There’s a huge, comfy sofa and a lovely armchair for relaxing in the evenings. Although we hadn’t paid extra for a sea view, but were lucky enough to have a partial glimpse of the ocean through the patio doors.
The king-size bed was big enough for all of us to pile in and watch a film on the smart TV before bed. We all slept incredibly well thanks to the crisp sheets, thick curtains and comfortable mattresses.
Self-Catering Facilities
For families looking for self-catering accommodation in Cornwall, the kitchen setup here is ideal. We cooked dinner on two of our four nights and made breakfast and lunch most days.
The kitchen includes:
- Small dishwasher
- Oven, toaster and kettle (no microwave)
- Cutlery, crockery and kitchen utensils
- Pots, pans, colander and dishes
- Fridge (with a shared freezer available in the laundry room)
- Starter pack including dishwasher tablets, washing-up liquid, a tea towel and bin bags
The kitchen had everything we needed to make our stay both practical and affordable, especially during school holidays.
The Pool and Gym at SeaSpace Newquay
The real highlight of SeaSpace Aparthotel in Newquay is the absolutely fabulous, art-deco, Miami-style pool. I usually hate taking the kids swimming on holiday, but this pool was so lovely that we went for over an hour every day. I would genuinely come back to SeaSpace for the pool alone!
Firstly, the facilities are excellent. There are free towels available, roomy shower cubicles large enough to share with your child, and lovely Land & Water shower gel and shampoo provided.
The pool area includes a 19-metre main pool and a separate mini kids’ pool, which is ideal for younger children. Even better, there’s a poolside hot tub just for grown-ups which we loved taking it in turns in.
The styling is gorgeous: mustard yellow walls, huge windows with expansive views of crashing waves, and plenty of plants giving it that relaxed, design-led feel. It feels more boutique spa than standard family hotel pool.
For over-18s wanting to stay active while on holiday, there are excellent on-site fitness facilities too. These include a gym, padel courts, and a range of yoga, Pilates and strength classes. If you’re visiting during school holidays, it’s worth booking classes in advance.
For us, the pool completely elevated our February half-term stay. On drizzly Cornish days, having such a beautiful indoor pool made all the difference.
Kids at SeaSpace Hotel
SeaSpace Aparthotel in Newquay is exceptionally well set up for families. Whether the Cornish weather behaves or not, there are plenty of indoor and outdoor options to keep children entertained.
Outdoor Play Areas
Outside, there’s even more for kids to explore. We couldn’t make the most of this in February, but it would be perfect for a visit later in the year.
- Playground with trim trail and adventure fort
- Imaginative play space, including a pink boat for little explorers
- Mud kitchen
- Hedge maze, leading to the “witch’s house” in the centre
Indoor Games Room
The indoor games room was a huge hit with our boys. Facilities include:
- Table football
- Basketball hoop game
- Magnetic darts
- Selection of toys and games
- LEGO build table
- Comfortable seating
Our boys absolutely loved it and had to be torn away each day. For a family hotel in Cornwall, this space really stands out — especially on rainy afternoons.
The outdoor space is thoughtfully designed for real play, rather than a token add on. It’s creative, slightly quirky and encourages proper play.
For us, what makes SeaSpace Newquay particularly good for kids is that the facilities are integrated naturally into the hotel’s design. In fact we didn’t even notice the play facilities when we first walked in.
“Can we come back here every year please?” J, age 8
If you’re wondering whether SeaSpace Newquay is good for kids, the answer from our three is a very enthusiastic yes!
Eating at Seaspace
One of the real bonuses of staying at SeaSpace Aparthotel in Newquay is that you don’t actually need to leave the hotel for good food. Whether you want a relaxed brunch or an easy evening meal, there are two on-site options.
SeaSpace Café
The SeaSpace Café serves breakfast, brunch, smoothies, sweet treats and genuinely excellent coffee. The space is shared between families and remote workers, which gives it a relaxed but productive feel. Service was warm and efficient throughout our stay.
It’s definitely worth popping into the café even if you’re not staying at the hotel.
After a morning swim, we treated ourselves to brunch here, and it was the best meal we had during our time in Newquay. The kids went all in on pancakes, while we ordered the (enormous) breakfast. Both the vegetarian and non-vegetarian options were excellent, and portion sizes were generous.
We also really appreciated the games library, which kept the kids entertained while we enjoyed our coffee in relative peace.
For families looking for a family-friendly café in Newquay, this is a brilliant option.
Tallo Restaurant
Tallo is the on-site evening restaurant, serving pizza, drinks and a small selection of other dishes. On our visit, the experience wasn’t quite as strong as the café, although reviews are generally very positive, so it may simply have been an off evening.
The convenience of having an on-site restaurant is still a real plus, especially after a long beach day when everyone is tired and hungry.
The vibe at Seaspace
This hotel is laid back, friendly and very cool. The mix of families and remote workers makes for a calm atmosphere and the thoughtful attention to detail means everyone is happy. The vibe is a little like hanging out at home with your friends, but much more stylish.
Explore the Local Area
We have a full guide to things to do in Cornwall coming soon, based on multiple visits over many years. Until then, here’s a mini guide to some of our favourite places in and around Newquay and the North Cornwall coast.
If you’re planning a family holiday in Newquay or exploring Cornwall with kids, SeaSpace Aparthotel makes an excellent base.
In and Around Newquay
- Hire surfboards, bodyboards or paddleboards from Wavehunters (you can arrange this via the hotel).
- Walk the South West Coast Path to Watergate Bay — the views are spectacular.
- Bodyboard or surf at Fistral Beach.
- Pop down the hill to Porth Beach for an easy beach day.
- On a rainy day, try the aquarium or pirate adventure golf!
North Cornwall Coast
- Visit Chapel Porth Beach and walk along the coast to Wheal Coates.
- Explore Padstow for harbour views and great food.
- Discover the evocative ruins of Tintagel Castle.
- Visit Bedruthan Steps for dramatic coastal scenery.
- Spend the day at Perranporth Beach.
- Swim at the Sea Pool in Bude.
- Tide Climbing Centre.
This stretch of coastline is wild, rugged and incredibly beautiful. It’s one of our favourite parts of Cornwall.
Cornwall Classics
- The Eden Project (30 minutes)
- The Lost Gardens of Heligan (40 minutes)
- St Michael’s Mount (55 minutes)
- National Maritime Museum, Falmouth (55 minutes)
- St Ives, including Tate St Ives and numerous incredible beaches (60 minutes)
These are the iconic Cornwall attractions for good reason and are well worth adding to your itinerary if you have the time.
Final Thoughts. Would we book SeaSpace hotel again?
SeaSpace is by far the best hotel we’ve stayed in as a family. In February, the price was surprisingly affordable and gave us a really luxurious option which was perfect for a rainy half-term holiday in Cornwall. The pool and cafe are standout highlights and the games room was a huge bonus for drizzly days.
The option to self cater helped keep the holiday within our budget, even in school holidays.
Check out SeaSpace prices here for your dates.
This is the Holy Grail of hotels for us, a stylish, thoughtful hotel with cooking facilities and rooms that fit larger families. Would we stay at SeaSpace again? 100% yes!
If you’re heading to the area, you might find our other Cornwall posts useful:
Try our 3-5 day itinerary for St Ives or check out our review of this beautiful floating home outside Falmouth. And if you’re looking for the best beaches in Cornwall and the South West try our guide, although be warned there are too many to chose from!
If you’re looking for a stylish family hotel in Newquay that genuinely caters to larger families, SeaSpace Aparthotel is hard to beat.
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FAQs
Is there parking at SeaSpace Newquay?
Yes, SeaSpace Aparthotel has a large on-site car park for guests, making it easy for families travelling by car around Cornwall.
Is SeaSpace Newquay good for families?
Absolutely. The indoor games room, hedge maze, playground, swimming pool and family-sized studios make it one of the best family hotels in Newquay for keeping children entertained.
Is SeaSpace dog friendly?
Yes, SeaSpace Aparthotel is dog friendly. You can bring your dog for a small additional charge, making it a good option for families travelling with pets.
Can you do laundry at SeaSpace?
Although the studios do not have washing machines, there is a shared laundry room available for guests to use.
Are towels provided at SeaSpace?
Yes, fluffy towels are provided in both the rooms and the pool area.
Is SeaSpace Newquay worth it?
In our experience, yes. For families wanting stylish accommodation, self-catering facilities and excellent leisure options, SeaSpace offers strong value (particularly outside peak summer months).
Is there food available at SeaSpace?
Yes. SeaSpace has an excellent on-site café serving breakfast and brunch, as well as Tallo restaurant in the evenings. There is also a small fridge at reception selling essentials such as milk and snacks.
How far is SeaSpace from the beach?
SeaSpace Aparthotel is around a 10-minute walk from Porth Beach and a short drive from Watergate Bay, making it well positioned for a beach holiday in North Cornwall.
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