When is the Cheapest Time to Fly to Newquay?
The summer holidays are Newquay’s peak tourist season, and you’ll find the town at its liveliest as it hosts the Lusty Glaze music festival in July and the Boardmasters Surf, Skate and Music Festival in August. If you can travel off-peak, September and October are the best times to visit for surfing, as the beaches are quieter and the sea temperature is at its warmest. March to June is a good time to find cheap flights to Newquay too, when you can still get out in the fresh air and take advantage of bargain prices on return flights.
When is the Best Time to Book your Flight to Newquay?
It’s best to book your return flights to Newquay at least six weeks in advance, and further ahead than that if you’re travelling during any of the school holidays, particularly July and August. Using Netflights.com, you can check and compare airfares to save money on direct flights to Newquay. Last-minute flights are sometimes available too. If you plan to surf, it’s best to book lessons in advance as demand can be high in the summer months, and check baggage allowances if you’re bringing your own gear.
Flying to Cornwall Airport Newquay NQY
Cornwall Airport Newquay (NQY) is located on the northern coast of Cornwall at St Mawgan, five miles away from Newquay town centre. Flying is the fastest way to get to Newquay from most parts of the UK, and the airport is an important and growing hub for domestic and international travel for the region, serving around 450,000 passengers per year.
FlyBe operates direct flights to Newquay from London Gatwick Airport, Birmingham Airport and Manchester Airport. British Airways and Aer Lingus both offer indirect flights to Newquay from London Heathrow, with a stopover in Dublin. You can also find Newquay flights from other UK airports, including Bristol Airport, Southampton Airport and Edinburgh Airport, all with one connection on the route.
On Arrival and Getting Around the Airport
Cornwall Airport Newquay (NQY) is a small airport with one terminal building serving international and domestic arrivals and departures. As well as flights from the UK, Cornwall Airport Newquay receives direct flights from Ireland, Germany, Spain and Portugal too.
When you arrive at Cornwall Airport Newquay, you’ll find plenty of useful amenities and services for passengers, including free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal building and assistance for passengers with reduced mobility. There are also cafes, restaurants and shops, as well as an executive lounge. There is a cash machine, and Hertz and Europcar car rental desks too.
Getting to the City from Cornwall Airport Newquay NQY
Getting to Newquay from the airport is easy. You can hire a car from one of the car-rental companies located at the airport or visit the taxi desk in the arrivals hall to order a taxi from Coastline Travel Cornwall, the airport’s official taxi provider. The A5 bus towards Padstow links the airport with Newquay town centre, and you can catch it from the bus stop between the airport terminal and the west car park. The journey time is around 25 minutes and the bus departs approximately every two hours. GoByCycle offers bike hire from Newquay Airport and if you book in advance and can also provide luggage transfers.
Why Visit Newquay?
With its sandy Atlantic beaches, laid-back surfing lifestyle and hip local food scene, Newquay is a popular destination for British tourists seeking fresh air and relaxation. Fistral Beach, the most famous of the north Cornwall town’s beaches, is one of the best spots for surfing in the UK and hosts international and national surfing competitions every year, including the Boardmasters Festival in August. That said, it’s also a good spot for beginners. Book a surfing lesson (or a whole course of lessons) for an exhilarating start to your holiday, or try Watergate Bay instead for kayaking, windsurfing or kite surfing.
For a different ocean-bound experience, head to Newquay harbour, where you can take a day or evening trip on one of the town’s fishing vessels with an experienced skipper and keep whatever you catch. Later, be sure to try some fresh Cornish seafood or fish and chips, or head to the local speakeasy bar Tom Thumb for a cocktail or coffee.
Don't Forget Before you Fly
It’s best to check your airline’s guidance on what ID documents you’ll need to bring when taking domestic flights in the UK. If you’re bringing your own surfing kit, don’t forget to check baggage allowances and restrictions before you travel. At peak times, it’s best to book surfing lessons and day trips in advance. Before setting off, it’s also a good idea to pre-book your taxi or transfer from the airport to your accommodation, or to finalise your car rental arrangements before you depart, as demand can be high at peak times.
