Best Places to Spend New Year’s Eve in Cornwall
A Frosted Window into Cornwall’s Spectacular New Year’s Eve Schedule…
With its fresh sea air, beautiful beaches and scintillating walks, it’s easy to see why so many of our guests choose the timeless county of Cornwall as the location for their New Year’s Eve getaways.
Whether you find yourselves bedazzled by a harbourside firework display, togged up for a fancy-dress street party, dining by candlelight at your favourite waterfront restaurant, or singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ in a cosy country pub… where better place to be than this beguiling and southernmost county as we complete our latest orbit around the sun.
From raucous parties in Padstow to flamboyant fireworks in Falmouth, here are our top picks when it comes to Cornish New Year’s Eve celebrations…
Best Places to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Cornwall
Padstow
Set on the banks of the River Camel estuary, Padstow is a charming fishing village steeped in maritime history and famous for its array of seafood restaurants and its stellar list of award-winning chefs, led by Rick Stein. The streets will be bustling throughout the festive period as this illustrious North Cornish town enjoys a packed schedule of events, including a Christmas market and lantern parade. This year, Padstow’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are expected to go off with a whizz and a bang – visitors flocking to the bustling harbour to indulge in some hearty celebrations led by the town’s pubs and hostelries. Foodies and gastronomes will no doubt want to take full advantage of Padstow’s plethora of fine dining establishments and toast in 2020 in gourmet-style!
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Looe
From one idyllic seaside setting to another, only this time we’re headed for the golden, sandy beaches of Cornwall’s south coast and the delightful town of Looe. Looe is one of the county’s most established tourist resorts, having attracted holidaymakers to its inviting waters and sunnier climes since the Victorian era. It still retains much of its maritime heritage and rustic charm; its active fleet of fishing boats maintaining time-honoured traditions and hauling in the ‘catch of day’ for the many local restaurants and their seafood menus. Lots of our guests smuggle themselves away to Looe for the famous New Year’s Eve celebrations, where thousands of party people fill the streets in their finest fancy dress and fireworks light up both the sky and the sea – launched from the Banjo Pier.
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Newquay
Newquay is considered the party capital of the South West, a vibrant coastal town best-known for its sparkling surfing beaches and exciting nightlife. If you’re looking for a New Year’s Eve venue in Cornwall where you can really let your hair down, Newquay definitely fits the bill – the perfect choice for a gathering of families or a long and overdue reunion of friends. A host of pubs, bars and night spots will once again be throwing open their doors to streams of revellers who can dance the night away and see in the New Year whilst getting their groove on. The Newquay Harbour New Year’s Eve firework display is considered one of the best in the region, attracting hundreds of merrymakers to witness a vivacious show set to light up the waterfront accompanied by plenty of ‘Oohs and Aahs’.
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St Ives
They say nowhere celebrates New Year’s Eve quite like the characterful town of St Ives. Nestled into the heritage coast, this enchanting community is riddled by maritime tradition and plays host to some of the West Country’s most talented artists and artisans. Previous New Year’s Eve events in St Ives have seen the narrow, winding streets closed to traffic and crammed with festive well-wishers, many of them wearing elaborate fancy dress costumes. Bell ringing and fireworks help to celebrate the arrival of the New Year, and if the tide’s out many people gather upon the moonlit beach for a friendly and jovial get-together under the stars. The party goes on into the night during these family-friendly festivities.
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Would you like to know more about St Ives? Take a look at our handy guide for a bird’s eye view of this delightful seaside parish.
Falmouth
One thing is for sure, Falmouth knows how to throw a New Year’s Eve Party. Known as one of the region’s more vibrant and cosmopolitan locations, this bustling and historic town is another of Cornwall’s many creative enclaves. The festive schedule is packed with family-friendly events, all culminating in a lively end-of-year bash. The town’s pubs and taverns will be crammed full of party goers – many dressed up in outrageous, risqué and amusing costumes – while the restaurants and bistros will be cooking up a storm and living up to Falmouth’s glittering reputation among food critics. The highlight of this eagerly anticipated evening has to be the firework display, lit ‘on high’ from Pendennis Castle on the stroke of midnight, a spectacular event enjoyed by the excited crowds gathered on the seafront.
It’s not too late to whisk your loved ones away to the beautiful and beguiling county of Cornwall for a memorable New Year’s Eve break. Take a look at Toad Hall Cottages’ special festive offers and celebrate 2020 in West Country Style!