Cornwall
Right down on the rugged southwestern tip, Cornwall is a haven for surfers once the season starts.
The Surf Club Cornwall
Nick Tiscoe owns and manages this surf school, bringing over 20 years of experience.
Overlooking Mawgan Porth beach, this club prides itself on its head instructor, but also offers a host of other coaches who are also fully-qualified beach lifeguards.
The beach is protected by a couple of headlands, so it’s great for those just starting out, and you can choose family, group, or private lessons to suit. There are also packages available, starting at £140, so if you’re staying for a few days you can put your time to good use.
Newquay Activity Centre
This gold award-winning centre is the longest-running in Newquay and offers surfing, kayaking, bodyboarding and other water activities for all ages.
Their talented instructors can accelerate your confidence in just a matter of hours when it comes to surfing, where you can choose from taster sessions, private and group lessons, or even a surfing experience day. Location-wise, Towan Beach is right in the midst of it all, so you can soak up all the atmosphere while enjoying a little more privacy than the likes of Fistral Beach.
Watergate Bay Hotel’s Surf Clinic
The Watergate Bay Hotel doesn’t just have some of the best views around, it also has an Extreme Academy, led by Carl Coombes who is an ex-wave-ski champion.
Open the entire year, you can get expert tuition, and twice a year you get the option to book a two-day surfing course, where you can get really immersed in the action and learn all in one go. Plus, if you’re staying in the hotel then children get a free Croyde surf lesson, so it’s worth booking.
There’s also surfing yoga (yes, a thing), surf fitness and body surfing classes available.
The Surf Sanctuary at The Headland Hotel, Newquay, Cornwall
Set on a beautiful clifftop overlooking the famous Fistral Bay, this hotel and its Surf Sanctuary has surf classes, equipment hire and private or group lessons.
All coaches are fully-qualified in surfing and have lifeguard qualifications to boot, priding themselves on striking the ideal balance between fun, safety, and education. Group lessons start at £35, with private sessions coming in at £90.
Head here between autumn and spring next year to see the staggering 4-12ft swells, or for a summer getaway, you’ll experience 1-4ft waves (much easier for a beginner!).
St Ives Surf School
St Ives Surf School runs its lessons from Porthmeor beach, which is a favourite amongst suffers thanks to its beautiful landscape, and location being (sort of) sheltered from strong winds.
For a unique touch, it offers a surf camp in partnership with the Cohort Hostel, where you can select different levels of packages to create a unique surfing getaway. 3 nights and 3 lessons start from around £160, whereas a 5-dayer is £250. If it’s just lessons you want, choose from beginner, improver, advanced and private to suit your needs.