Torquay, a Seaside Town on the English Riviera
Torquay Seafront
Torquay is the most popular and visited of the three Torbay towns that describe themselves as the “English Riviera”.
Besides some good beaches to enjoy, Torquay also offers the standard English seaside experience of tea rooms and sea-side amusement arcades.
What To Do In Torquay:
Our visit to Torquay started at its colourful harbour area, which has nice cafes, restaurants, pubs and other convenience eateries. It can get quite lively at night time. The number of pleasure boats moored at the piers attests to the popularity of Torquay as a holiday resort for the locals.
Babbacombe Beach has a nice harbour and seaside area and is covered by steep hills which offer excellent views of the coast, both by night and day.
Babbacombe Model Village is a charming miniature village containing thousands of buildings. A great attraction for kids.
Cockington is picturesque and at Cockington Court and Country Park there’s a craft centre, tearooms and gardens. Explore Torre Abbey and Mansion House which is home to the Agatha Christie Memorial Room. Stroll along the Agatha Christie Mile and get a sense of the things and places that inspired the life and works of this great writer.
Kents Cavern is an ancient geological structure and there have been some highly significant prehistoric finds here (some as old as 700,000 years old).
Torquay Fountain
Living Coasts – a wonderful wildlife attraction where visitors can come and see penguins, seals, puffins, ducks and countless other marine life in a natural surrounding.
Torquay Museum – first opened in 1845, Torquay Museum is worth a visit to discover a wide range of facts about the town. There are exhibitions about everything from history and archaeology to pottery.
Compton Castle – About 5 miles west of Torquay lies Compton Castle which was built in stages from the 14th to 16th centuries. The castle itself is a notable attraction but the surrounding grounds are also very popular with tourists because of the feast of lush flowers, shrubs and trees that inhabit it.
Paignton – About a 15 minute drive from Torquay is the coastal town of Paignton. If you’re in Torquay, it’s certainly worth visiting Paignton too. Though many argue that it’s a low-class version of Torquay, there are some nice attractions including a fair seaside resort, zoo, and the impressive Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway.
Brixham – A mere five miles from Paignton is the wonderful little town of Brixham – it’s a highly popular place with tourists and it’s not difficult to see why – narrow, steep streets brimming with character and a cosy harbour just two of the things that visitors flock to see every year. You can step on board a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hind, visit the heritage museum or explore the coastal caves, once a haven for smugglers.
Torquay Accommodation
As with the other towns and villages along the Devon coastline, there is an abundance of hotels, bed and breakfasts, cottages, and self-catering accommodation to suit all budget types for your Torquay holiday. It remains for the holidaymaker to decide what facilities they must have and their accommodation budget.
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