What about the sleeper service?
The Night Riviera departs London Paddington at 11.45pm Mon to Fri. The first stop is Reading (pick-up only), after which it continues to Taunton, Exeter, Newton Abbot and all stations to Penzance (arriving at 7.50am). The stops are set-down only. On Sunday it leaves at 11.50pm, with no stop at Taunton.
You can board the train from 10.30pm. Travelling in a seat is included in the basic ticket price. There are single occupancy (“from £45” but see below for a real-life example) and twin (“from £34pp”) cabins. Each train has one accessible cabin (bookable at 0800 197 1329).
Return services depart Penzance at 9.45pm Mon-Fri and 9.15pm Sunday, arriving in London at just after 5am (cabin guests can stay on board until 6.45am).
Is it ever cheaper than driving? How can you get the cheapest fares?
No. Two adults and two children travelling London Paddington to Newquay on August 15, returning August 28, costs £315.90 (a combination of Super Off-Peak Singles and Family Advance Std, whatever that is). Clearly, even a car with a thirsty six-litre engine would be cheaper. First class for the same journey is £607.50.
The return sleeper service for those dates is £570 for the family group plus £826 for two twin cabins in each direct. Total: £1,396.
For solo travellers, the train is obviously more competitive.
Book in advance to get the best deals. GWR allows booking up to 24 weeks before travel for weekday journeys and 12 weeks for weekends.
Are there extra services for summer?
In response to the high demand for GWR services towards Devon and Cornwall, especially at midday, two services depart at almost the same time. The 12.03 runs direct to Exeter St Davids and on to Plymouth, before heading to stations in Cornwall. The 12.05 Paddington departure serves intermediate stations (Reading, Taunton, Exeter, Newton Abbot).
Any insider tips?
Don’t have a reservation? Don’t panic. Railway station monitors show which carriages are busy and which have space. Ask the guard to direct you to the part of the platform where you need to stand. It’s often quieter in the unbooked carriages for the whole journey.
When booking, always check the first-class price. It’s sometimes just £25 extra to travel one-way in the posher seats.
Take food. Onboard catering is patchy at best.
By air
How many UK airports offer flights to Newquay?
There are regular flights to/from Aberdeen/Dyce, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Guernsey, Humberside, London Gatwick, Manchester and the Isles of Scilly to Newquay.
A few European services are available, including to Dublin.