Rock
Balangan
An elegant home in Rock complete with hot tub, sauna and fabulous outdoor space
From £1,595 / week
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Fancy staying near Polzeath?
Why Polzeath?
Polzeath has a reputation for epitomising warm and welcoming Cornish ‘cool’ for family holidays with a twist - even teenagers love it here!
This small village on the headland, opposite Padstow, was a favourite haunt of poet Sir John Betjeman, and these days, despite being compact, it is a veritable haven for surfers, with a number of pubs, cafes and restaurants for apres-surf!
Tatler even called it “the British St Tropez”, a world of safe freedoms and wetsuits. To be honest, it is more low key and friendly, but probably rather less sunny!
UPDATED 29/07/2026
Polzeath has a reputation for epitomising warm and welcoming Cornish ‘cool’ for family holidays with a twist – even teenagers love it here!
This small village on the headland, opposite Padstow, was a favourite haunt of poet Sir John Betjeman, and these days, despite being compact, it is a veritable haven for surfers, with a number of pubs, cafes and restaurants for apres-surf!
Tatler even called it “the British St Tropez”, a world of safe freedoms and wetsuits. To be honest, it is more low key and friendly, but probably rather less sunny!
From the motorway (M5), follow the A30, A395 and B3314. Polzeath is about 7 miles from Wadebridge, 14 miles from Bodmin.
If coming from either direction, approach Wadebridge on the A389 (from Bodmin) or the A39. At the roundabout on the outskirts of Wadebridge, head on to the B3314 (signposted to Polzeath) and follow signs.
If you’re driving to North Cornwall in a plug-in electric vehicle, see our list of charging locations here.
There is direct, level access to the beach from Polzeath Beach Car Park, a Cornwall Council long-stay car park located right on the sand. Do check the tide times before leaving your vehicle, as the sea can occasionally cover parts of the car park at high tide. The car park has 260 spaces (tide dependent) and, being the closest to the beach, fills up quickly during the summer holidays.
From 1 April to 31 October, charges apply between 9am and 6pm, starting from £2.50 for up to one hour, £11.50 for 24 hours or £29.00 for a weekly ticket. An evening tariff of £2.30 applies from 6pm until midnight, after which parking is free until 9am. During the winter season (1 November to 31 March), charges apply from 9am to 4pm, with free parking outside these hours. Payment can be made by pay and display (coins, chip and PIN, contactless, Apple Pay and Google Pay) or via the JustPark app.
There’s also Tristram Car Park, located above the cliffs with spectacular views across Polzeath Bay. This privately operated car park is around a 10 to 15-minute walk from the beach and is open daily from 7am to 11pm, with charges starting from around £2 for short stays.
New Polzeath Car Park is another useful option at the northern end of the village, providing easy access to the beach and often proving a little quieter during busy periods.
You’ll also find a handful of smaller private car parks, including one close to the beach and another field car park on the approach into Polzeath. If you’re lucky enough to find accommodation with parking — grab it! It can be a real lifesaver in the busy summer months.
Polzeath has earned a reputation as one of North Cornwall’s best foodie destinations, with everything from relaxed beach cafés to contemporary restaurants serving fresh local produce and seafood.
Head to The Point at Polzeath to enjoy stunning elevated views across Hayle Bay and Pentire Point. New for 2026, The Bear is a stylish restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows and a spacious terrace, serving modern Cornish dishes from breakfast through to dinner. It has quickly become one of the area’s standout dining spots. The neighbouring Bear Bar offers a more relaxed atmosphere with live sport shown throughout the year, making it the perfect place to catch a match over a drink or casual meal.
For relaxed beachside dining, The Waterfront is a family-friendly favourite, serving seasonal dishes made with Cornish produce just moments from the sand. TJ’s Surf Cafe is another popular choice, offering excellent breakfasts, lunches and homemade cakes alongside fabulous sea views.
A short walk from the beach, The Oystercatcher is well known for its hearty pub classics, gourmet burgers, fresh fish and chips, local ales and Camel Valley wines. Families will also enjoy The Galleon, a long-standing favourite for pizzas and takeaway after a day on the beach.
If you’re looking to eat with your toes almost in the sand, Surfside is hard to beat. This lively beachfront venue serves pizzas, burgers, seafood and cocktails, and has become especially popular for its vibrant atmosphere, live music and laid-back rum bar. Nearby, The Cracking Crab specialises in fresh local seafood, from light lunches to generous shellfish platters, all enjoyed with spectacular views over Polzeath Beach.
Polzeath is the quintessential surf beach, so older children (7+) and teenagers will love to learn to catch a wave. The enclosed bay and shallow waters mean you walk out with your board rather than paddling out, so it is less tiring for younger ones. Surfing is great for wearing children out, bringing on a good night’s sleep.
Don’t forget the free and easy activities though, such as building sandcastles, and seeking out sea life in rock pools – buckets and nets are available to buy locally. Beach games are also good fun, like cricket, rounders, football and racquet sports.
Opposite Polzeath beach, you’ll find Coronation Gardens where you can play pitch and putt, try the bungee trampoline or play tennis at an outdoor court. There is also a bouncy castle. Near to Polzeath is the Camel Creek Adventure Park visitor destination, which younger children will love.
Have we mentioned surfing?
Surf’s Up surf school is a home grown, grass roots family business with a big reputation, so get a taste for the surf life here.
Wave Hunters also offers progressive surf coaching and equipment hire, but also boat trips and private charter.
Or try coasteering and sea kayaking with the popular Era Adventures.
Visit Whitewater gallery, for paintings, etchings, sculptures, studio ceramics and contemporary crafts, with featured artists throughout the year.
Many people love Becky Bettesworth’s prints. She offers modern and fresh vintage style posters and prints from a bygone age, including Polzeath.
Nirvana for surfers, the golden sand and shingle beach is lifeguarded in summer, so also fabulous for families who enjoy sandcastle building and rock pooling. Although it is a largely safe Blue Flag beach, the surf can be large with rip currents, so avoid letting your children in the water with inflatables.
Wetsuits and boards can be hired beachside by the hour. The less confident might have just as much fun bodyboarding as surfing. There is less to learn, the water is shallow, and you can easily hire boards from Ann’s Cottage.
You may also park on the beach – some people love the convenience of this. There is a seasonal dog ban, however, during the summer season. A BBQ or picnic on the beach, watched over by a glowing sunset, is a great way to end your day.
Nearby Daymer Bay is also worth a day out, with its long stretches of golden sand.
For sand chair hire for the disabled at Polzeath Beach, phone Wave Hunters Surf School on 07969660014
To be honest, Polzeath is more about surfing than shopping. Three are a few surf shops and convenience stores but as locals will tell you, for a range of independent shops, visit nearby Wadebridge, the largest town in the area.
When the weather is good, it is hard to beat Polzeath. There is a school of thought that says if the weather is bad, it is probably pleasanter and warmer in the sea than out of it, depending on conditions, of course. If in doubt, check with the lifeguards; that’s why they are there.
Just out of Polzeath is Pentire Glaze, an old lead mine that used to be one of the main employment sources in the area. The car park at Pentire Glaze is perfect for walking a stretch of the south-west coast path around Pentire Headland and The Rumps, so you don’t have to walk as far from Polzeath.
The Rumps near Polzeath are perfect for dolphin spotting, so take your binoculars.
Try the cycle path along the Camel estuary from Wadebridge, about 15 minutes drive from Polzeath.
The affluent village of rock is under two miles away. From here, you can catch a ferry to Padstow, being on the water fun in itself, but also offering somewhere new to see.
There is good walking on the coast path north to Pentire Point. Walking south on the coast path, there is a small pebble beach called Greenaway Beach, on which dogs are welcome all year round. It is most definitely a walking area around here and while in the area do take in St Enodoc Church.
The National Trust Pentire headland walk is also spectacular, though moderately difficult.
It is really busy here in August, a haven for teenagers and families, occasionally affectionately referred to as Eton-on-Sea.
At the south end of the beach is Brea Hill. It is only a 15 minute walk to the top, for an amazing view over the Camel estuary, dotted with windsurfers and small craft, out towards Padstow.
The sunsets over the beach are grand here, so stay beachside to catch one. Also, the roads out of Polzeath are steep so in the town/beach side is the place to be.
Try the Camel Valley Vineyard for a drink or a wine tour.
The weather here is warm and temperate, with July the warmest month and February the coolest. It is prone to rain, but luckily the sea is also wet! Get your flip flops on – and an extra sweater, just in case!
There are paid-for toilets just across the road, behind the beach.
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Rebecca Moore
LOCAL EDITOR AND CORNISH AFICIONADO
Rebecca Moore is a seasoned editor and content writer with over a decade of experience, specialising in Cornwall’s unique lifestyle, travel, and culinary scene. Her expertise has been featured in media outlets such as The Sun, Express, and Cosmopolitan. A proud Cornish resident, Rebecca’s authentic insights help readers explore the best of the Duchy.
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