Holiday rentals and lettings in Bude

Table of contents

• At a glance: what should you know about renting a holiday home in Bude?
• Holiday rentals in Bude: find your perfect retreat
• Exploring Bude: our top recommendations
• Activities: what are the top things to do and see in Bude?

• Choice of holiday homes: Bude's self-catering options run from white-walled Cornish cottages to sea-view apartments, with options for couples, families and groups.
• Where to stay: Base yourself near Summerleaze Beach for family days, by the river south of the centre for calm, or close to Crooklets for surf.
• Loved by guests: Travellers praise lettings in Bude for proximity to the beach, spacious interiors and that quieter-than-the-rest-of-Cornwall feel.
• Best time to visit: Summer brings warm beach days and Bude's famous sunshine, whilst spring and autumn offer quieter sands, milder walks and lower season rates.
• Things to do: Walk the Bude Tunnel light show, swim the Bude Sea Pool, rock-pool at Widemouth Bay and try watersports along the coast.

Bude's holiday lettings lean towards traditional Cornish character: pretty thatched and stone-roofed buildings with white walls and tumbling flowers. Self-catering cottages in Bude suit couples and small families, while roomy holiday homes work well for large groups. Whichever you choose, certain amenities make a Bude holiday let especially comfortable:

• Sea views
• A garden or terrace
• Fast Wi-Fi
• Private parking close to the beaches

Many Bude properties welcome dogs too, so the whole family can enjoy the Cornish coast together.

What are the best areas to stay in Bude?

For first-time visitors, Summerleaze puts you closest to the beach, the Sea Pool and the canal. The table below details regions for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Guests consistently rate Bude's holiday homes highly, mentioning how close the best lettings sit to Summerleaze and Crooklets beaches, the generous space inside the family houses, and the calm that sets Bude apart from busier Cornish resorts.

Here are our top-rated holiday rentals from the past year:

1. The Getaway @Summerleaze Beach - 10.0: Steps from Summerleaze Beach, this spacious retreat for seven wins guests over with its sandy-toes location and sunny, family-friendly feel in the heart of Bude.
2. Firethorn - 10.0: A roomy six-person house with a private garden in Bude, praised for its comfort and easy reach of the town's beaches and the coast path.
3. 3 Bol-Y-Maer - 10.0: A bright two-bedroom apartment for four with a balcony, this Bude bolthole is a favourite for couples and small families wanting space near the sea.

Bude sits on the rugged north Cornwall coast, right by the Devon border, where the River Neet meets a sweep of sandy, surf-washed beaches in the south-west of England.

✈️What is the best way to get to Bude?

Getting to Bude is easiest by car, though regular trains to nearby Exeter make the rail-and-coach route straightforward too. Here are the most common ways to get to the town:

• Car: Most visitors drive, following the M5 motorway down to Exeter before joining the A30 and then the A39 Atlantic Highway towards Bude. A car is genuinely useful here for reaching quieter beaches, coast-path car parks and the villages that public transport does not serve.
• Train and coach: Bude has no railway station of its own, so the usual approach is by train to Exeter St Davids, which has frequent services from London Paddington, Bristol and Birmingham. From Exeter, regular coaches continue to Bude in around two hours.

🥗Where to eat in Bude?

According to Google Maps data and reviews, Temple Restaurant is among the best-rated places to eat in Bude. Below is a table showing five highly-rated restaurants hand-picked by our travel experts.

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest travellers Ellie and Josh recommend Rosie's Kitchen in Bude: they loved its laid-back brunches and friendly welcome after a morning on Summerleaze Beach, calling it the perfect spot to refuel before a coastal walk.

☀️When is the best time to visit?

Bude is a year-round coastal escape, but July and August bring the warmest seas, lifeguarded beaches and the town's celebrated sunshine. For quieter sands and gentler prices, aim for the late-spring weeks of May and June or the autumn shoulder season, when the coast path is at its most walkable.

Summer (July to August)

• Best for: Beach holidays, watersports and family days by the sea.
• Weather: Warm, bright and often the sunniest corner of the UK.
• Atmosphere: Lively but never as packed as Cornwall's busier resorts.

Spring (April to June)

• Best for: Coastal walks, wildflowers and peaceful early-season breaks.
• Weather: Mild days with fresh sea air and lengthening light.
• Atmosphere: Calm and peaceful, with the beaches almost to yourself.

Autumn (September to October)

• Best for: Surfing, rock-pooling and quiet weekends away.
• Weather: Still-warm seas and golden, often-settled afternoons.
• Atmosphere: Relaxed and restful as the summer crowds drift home.

⭐Our hosts' recommendation: Our Bude local expert, Charlotte of The Getaway @Summerleaze Beach, recommends the rock pools at Widemouth Bay at low tide, a couple of miles down the coast. She sends guests there with a picnic to spot crabs and watch the surfers, then back to Summerleaze for sunset over the Sea Pool. You can read more about local tips on Charlotte's page.

1. Walk through the Bude Tunnel
2. Swim in the Bude Sea Pool
3. Explore the rock pools at Widemouth Bay
4. Discover Bude Castle
5. Try the coast's watersports

1. Walk through the Bude Tunnel

   This unassuming 70-metre plastic tunnel shot to fame after locals affectionately hailed it as a remarkable piece of architecture. The town leaned into the joke, and the covered walkway is now dressed up as a changing light show that draws curious visitors year-round. It takes only a minute to stroll through, yet it has become one of Bude's most photographed and best-loved little landmarks.

2. Swim in the Bude Sea Pool

   Tucked beside Summerleaze Beach, the half-natural, half-man-made Bude Sea Pool is one of the town's great treasures. Topped up by the tide yet sheltered from the open swell, it offers safe, calm bathing that is ideal for young children and nervous swimmers alike. Families gather here on sunny days to paddle, picnic on the surrounding rocks and watch braver bathers take the plunge.

3. Explore the rock pools at Widemouth Bay

   Just a couple of miles south of the centre, Widemouth Bay is a broad, golden beach with fabulous sand and, at low tide, hundreds of rock pools to discover. Children love hunting for crabs, shrimp and tiny fish among the seaweed, while grown-ups enjoy the wide views and gentle surf.

4. Discover Bude Castle

   The Castle Bude is a striking seafront building that now houses a welcoming heritage centre. Inside, well-presented displays trace the town's history, from its canal-building past to the many shipwrecks that lie in the waters off this stretch of coast.

5. Try the coast's watersports

   Bude is a brilliant base for life on the water. The Atlantic rollers make it a favourite with surfers, while sheltered spots are perfect for learning to windsurf or paddleboard. The town's sub-aqua club welcomes both beginners and experienced divers. Prefer to stay close to the action? A glamping stay near Bude lets you wake up just minutes from the waves and head straight out for a morning session.