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Things to do in Cornwall

Step from the hotel straight onto the coastal path, hire a bike and explore some incredible landscapes. Walks through forgotten gardens and stepping stones for giants, there's plenty to do around Watergate and further afield.

Here's a selection of our favourite places to visit and events coming up at Watergate and beyond the Bay.

View our events calendar for the full list.

Events

Jurassic adventures at the Eden Project

25 July-6 September. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Eden Project sees dinosaurs return to the biomes.

Find out more

Halloweden at the Eden Project

24 October - 1 November. A mushroom trail, a glowing UV room, and an ice rink lit up like the Northern Lights. On the night of Halloweengroove to Eden’s in-house band The Spellbinders as they take over the Citrus Grove

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Nautical nasties at The National Maritime Museum

24 October - Sunday 1 November. Brave maritime monsters, join a make & take session an discover hidden prizes along the museum trail.

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Ice skating at the Eden Project

17 October - 21 February. Lace up your skates and join the fun as their ice rink opens again.

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Heligan night garden

Dates throughout November and December. Journey through the garden trail exploring woodlands and gardens lit with installations and lanterns.

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SURF! at the National Maritime Museum

Until January 2027. SURF! celebrates a century of surfing, showcasing its pioneers, culture, and global impact through boards, art, and rare artefacts.

Find out more

Autumn & Winter in Cornwall

As the days get shorter and the evenings get darker, there is still plenty going on throughout Cornwall this Autumn and winter. From surf exhibitions to harvest celebrations, there's something for everyone in the family. Here's our go to guide to what's on in Cornwall this month with Muddy Stilettos.

Events in the Bay

There's a full programme of events taking place in the Bay.

Sunset supper club

Sep 20

Gather over a long table on the beach for a wood-fired feast.

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Celebration of stories weekend at The Eden Project

Sep 26  - 27

Talks and workshops with bestselling children's author of the Greenwild trilogy, Pari Thomson, plus family storytelling on the Sunday inspired by Julia Donaldson's latest nature-themed books. To celebrate the UK National Year of Reading.

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November Swim break

Nov 13  - 15

Have you ever wanted to perfect your front crawl, and swim smoother, faster, and further with more confidence?

Read more

December Swim break

Dec 04  - 06

Have you ever wanted to perfect your front crawl, and swim smoother, faster, and further with more confidence?

Read more

Explore our rooms

Beach lofts

Stay closer to the horizon in one of our seven new beach lofts, with beach access.

Room details

Suites

Contemporary open-plan with baths in the bedroom bay windows and ocean views.

Room details

Family suites

A spacious double room and a separate bunk room for your family of four or five.

Room details

Double rooms

Modern beach living comes as standard. Choose a sea view or non-sea view option.

Room details

Village apartments

Stylish two-bedroom properties designed for families to really relax and feel at home.

Room details

Discover more

Activities

Rain or shine, take place in these indoor and outdoor activities nearby to Watergate Bay. 

UK Padel at SeaSpace

Try your hand at the worlds fastest growing sport. Just up the road at SeaSpace in Porth, find UK Padel – complete with sea views.

Find out more

Powerboat tours

Take a boat safari from Padstow harbour with Wavehunters. Boat tours and sea safaris exploring hidden coves, private charter also available.

Take the tour

Cycle trails

Woodlands and coast paths, traffic-free cycle routes all within a 30-minute drive.

Ride on

Surfing lessons

Explore surfing lessons, equipment hire and book a session with Wavehunters surf school right on the beach.

Surf lessons

Walks

Discover beach, coast path and woodland walks near Watergate Bay and further afield.

Top 10 Walks in Cornwall

Swimming pools

Seek out tidal pools, sheltered bays, and geothermal pools.

Top ten places to swim in Cornwall

Boat trips with Wavehunters

Take a tour

Cultural and Cornish attractions

Hall for Cornwall

Hall for Cornwall is back with a line-up full of comedy, music, theatre, screenings and entertainment all year round.

What's on

National Lobster Hatchery, Padstow

Learn all about lobsters and the conservation work that goes into ensuring the sustainability of the wild lobster population in our seas.

Visit the Lobster Hatchery

Cornish Seal Sanctuary

Say hello to an array of rescued marine animals, enjoy woodland walks and learn the amazing rescue stories of the wonderful characters that live at the Sanctuary.

Visit the Cornish Seal Sanctuary

Bodmin Jail

Built in 1779, you can now dig into the jail's history yourself, literally. With immersive experiences, a “Dark Walk” grimy cells, and chilling last moments

Experience Bodmin Jail

Tate St Ives

Tate St Ives have a couple of limited exhibitions. The Barbara Hepworth Museum, the Bernard Leach Pottery & Museum and many other art galleries are also dotted around this bustling small town.

Explore St Ives

National Maritime Museum

Local, national and international stories are told through rare objects around the world, a delve into the history of our seafaring heritage with limited exhibtions.

Explore our maritime history

Camel Valley Vineyard Tour

Take a tour of the Camel Valley Vineyard or a seat on the terrace and soak up the view of the rolling hills. Camel Valley produces some of the best English sparkling wine, consistently winning awards for their Pinot Noir Rose Brut.

Take the tour

Tarquins Gin Distillery Tours

At the Southwestern Distillery, Tarquin and his team distil his famous gin overlooking the wild Cornish coast.

Gin tours

The Minack Theatre

An incredible theatre perched on the cliff edge near the tip of Cornwall. Visit for the day or buy tickets for a production.

Cliff side theatre

Lost, botanical and historic gardens

Eden Project

Near St Austell, a 30-minute drive Explore the Rainforest and Mediterranean Biomes, hidden gems in the outdoor gardens, iconic sculptures, England’s longest zipwire, ice skating rink and limited exhibitions. Timed ticket entries, booking ahead essential.

Explore Eden

Lost Gardens of Heligan

45-minute drive. A garden frozen in time, forgotten since the outbreak of WW1, and re-awakened in 1990. The history, scale, wildlife, woodland, and jungle rope bridge suspended 100 feet above ancient ferns, are waiting.

Discover Heligan

Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens

1-hour drive. A sheltered valley with a coastal backdrop of St Michael's Mount, with changing exhibitions. Permanent sculptures are interwoven with exotic planting making a dramatic and tranquil place to explore.

Wander the gardens

Trebah Gardens and the Helford River

Discover a 26-acre sub-tropical garden, located above the Helford River and with a coastal backdrop. Four miles of footpath weave through exotic plants to a private secluded beach, just at the mouth of the Helford River.

Visit Trebah

Historic landmarks, houses and islands

St Michael's Mount

A tidal island, 500 metres from the mainland, linked by a causeway that is passable between mid-tide and low water. Take a picnic, grab a bite from the takeout café menu, and breathe in the views.

St Michael's Mount

Bedruthan Steps

Experience the natural wonder of Bedruthan Steps, dramatic views and sea stacks towering high above the beach.

Bedruthan Steps

Lanhydrock

Country house estate, ancient woodland, extensive gardens, and riverside paths. Off-road cycle trails for all abilities and bike hire available.

Lanhydrock

Trerice

20 minute drive, an Elizabethan manor house and gardens.

Trerice House and Gardens

Discover more

Meet: Artist in residence Sonia Shomalzadeh

We caught up with sand artist Sonia Shomalzadeh ahead of her residency at Watergate Bay from 7–10 June 2025, when she’ll be creating life-size wildlife drawings of endangered marine species on the beach.

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Meet: Fused glass artist Dreya Bennett

Meet fused glass artist Dreya Bennett as we look forward to welcoming her and her glass fusing skills to the Bay for our next Artist Residency.

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Gstee: abstract aerial photographer

We caught up with Gstee, the man behind the large-scale works lining our beach lofts walls, to talk about the joy of the tangible, how to find a fresh perspective and why Watergate Bay always calls him back.

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Artist in residence: Reflections with Becca Hall

Find out about Becca's residency at Watergate Bay and learn how to draw your own dogs at home with her video tutorial.

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Good food, well earned

We speak to three nutrition and exercise experts to find out the relationship between getting active outdoors and good food, including ten top tips.

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Meet: Pianist Joe Kirby

Our first musician-in-residence kicks off between 16 - 19 November. We caught up with pianist, Joe Kirby ahead of his residency.

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