Fowey is a smart little seaside town on the River Fowey estuary. It's a labyrinth of narrow streets with plenty of independent shops and art galleries and countless bars, cafes and restaruants. The best places to stay in Fowey have easy access to all this, plus the pretty little coves and beaches, and many boast lovely views across the water. Our pick of the hotels includes adults only boutique pads, good value pubs with rooms and an excellent family friendly establishment with facilities galore.

If you want to do more than mooch around town or head to the beach, families will love the aquarium where you’re allowed to put your hands in the water, the China clay museum and 15th century church will suit history buffs and there's an atmospherically ruined wooden castle. There's also lots of lovely walks in the surrounding area and some can be started right from town. For a sandy stretch of beach venture down to Polkerris Beach, which is known for its sailing, paddleboarding and windsurfing. For those with a car, the possibilities are endless!

Don't forget that this is a very popular little town on Cornwall's south coast. So if you want to guarantee a room in one of the best places to stay in Fowey, get organised and book well ahead.

The Best Places to Stay in Fowey

For Families

• Fowey Hall is an elegant country house hotel, with sophisticated architecture and a commanding position overlooking the River Fowey. For all its refined décor and elegance, Fowey Hall is perfectly set up for families, with in-house nannies and babysitters, a fantastic list of kids activities and entertainments, a kids club, and lots of great kit for your kids too. It has 36 rooms and suites, with an excellent selection of family-sized options. The beach is nearby, and you’re only 20 minutes from the Eden Project. There’s a spa and yoga classes offered onsite too, because if they’re offering kids’ entertainment and nannies…
• Fowey Harbour Hotel is a rather beautiful-looking property, set above the banks of the River Fowey and surrounded by pretty tiered gardens, which the South-West Coast Path runs right through. Inside there are 37 rooms and suites, all of them stylishly decorated with Indian block prints in nautical inspired colours, and shapely contemporary furniture; the best boast views over the water. The Junior Suites are a good size for families, and the hotel has buckets and spades, boardgames, and an excellent kids menu in the classically Cornish restaurant.

For a Romantic Escape

• The Old Quay House Hotel is, as the name suggests, a charming, old building right on the quayside in the heart of Fowey’s harbour. It’s now a restaurant, with a wonderful terrace overlooking the water, and an eleven room hotel. There’s an old and new part of the building, and the room décor corresponds with the location. Our favourite rooms overlook the water, with a special mention to the top corner room with a glass turret. The restaurant offers an inventive take on seafood, and the whole place feels grown up, intimate and primed for romance!
• Havener’s is a boutique-style restaurant-with-rooms in a fantastic spot right next to the harbour wall. The restaurant’s huge glass windows allow you to see some of the fishing boats bringing in the catch that’s about the grace your very table, in a Cornish-refined-pub-grub format. Upstairs are six stylishly, yet simply, decorated rooms: expect panoramic photos of Fowey Harbour, a nautique-neutral colour scheme, and plenty of natural light.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• The closest airports to Fowey are Newquay Airport and Exeter Airport. Newquay is about 40 minutes away by car or taxi. Exeter Airport is about an hour and a half away by car or taxi. If you’re coming via London on the train the route runs between Paddington and St. Austell, after which you have to catch a bus or taxi the final 15 minutes.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• Fowey, like the rest of Cornwall, is busiest in the spring and summer months, when many people are feeling drawn towards the coastline. In August, Fowey hosts a yachting regatta, and this is when the town is at its busiest. There’s still plenty of life and light in Fowey in September too — this is a great month to visit if you’re not restricted by the school holidays. During the winter some businesses take an opportunity for a break, but if you talk to your accommodation they’ll be able to let you know what will be open and what may be closed.

Still not sure where to stay?

• Expand your search to include our Gurus’ recommendations for all of the best places to stay in Cornwall
• Refine your search by the type of accommodation you’re looking for — the best beach hotels in Cornwall, Cornwall’s most romantic hotels or the best hotels in Cornwall for families
• Consider some of Fowey’s pretty neighbours, St Austell possibly
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.