Torquay
Torquay - the quintessential seaside experience.
You can stay right here in South Devon and find sun, sand and sea - at the beautiful bay of the English Riviera. Take your holiday during the summer and you’ll find golden stretches of sand, a great choice of local eateries and there is loads to see and do too. Plus, it’s closer to home than the Mediterranean or Florida!
The swaying palm trees, busy harbour and international marina are reminiscent of the Mediterranean.
The pier, promenade and marina area are well worth an afternoon of wandering with stops for the odd ice cream, coffee, lunch or dinner. You will also find a walk up the steps of Royal Terrace Gardens to delight in the amazing sea views across the bay to be well worth the effort (admittedly, not that much effort!). The view is also truly glorious at night with the lights reflecting onto the sea and looking across the Bay to the lights of both Paignton and Brixham.
It may face the English Channel, rather than the Med, but the coast around Torquay has long been dubbed the English Riviera; famous for palm trees, piers and russet-red cliffs. At first glance, Torquay itself is the quintessential English seaside resort. But a mild microclimate and a large azure bay have also drawn a smarter set and Torquay now competes with foodie-hub Dartmouth for fine eateries.
What to do in Torquay
Power boat championships, sailing regattas, art &cultural events and Agatha Christie heritage - Torquay has it all.
The area also boasts unique attractions that range from Stone Age caves to a surreal model village. Add an Agatha Christie connection, fishing boats and steam trains (connection by bus to Paignton), and it all adds up to some grand days out beside the sea. There is a huge choice of festivals and events, no matter the season.
Torquay has a superb marina and is a great place to enjoy watersports, sailing, jet-skiing and windsurfing. Walk along the coastal path, or search for a souvenir of your holiday from Torquay’s interesting variety of shops.
You will find a variety of superb hotels and a wide choice of places to eat, from pavement cafes and pubs, to high class restaurants and Torquay’s theatres offer great entertainment all year round. There is a lively nightlife with a mixture of pubs, bars, cocktail bars and night clubs for all night owls.
For the kid in us all you can take an historic ferry trip across the Bay to Brixham, a cruise around the coastline to Dartmouth (and return by either boat or steam train!) or discover Torre Abbey and its centuries of history. The Abbey also boasts a beautiful garden and grounds.In a nutshell, an awful lot to see and do!
Parking at Torquay
Beacon Quay car park and Harbour car park are both within easy walking distance of Torquay harbourside. These two car parks are owned by Torbay Council, so charges apply.
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Reviews
- Sights and smells - Cannot beat the smell and sound of a steam locomotive, a very scenic ride firstly along the beach, then along the river Dart. A couple of hours in Dartmouth then all aboard for trip back.
- A thoroughly enjoyable day out - I was very impressed with the organisation, it was always very clear where we were supposed to go and what time we were supposed to be somewhere - would happily do it again.
- What a great trip! - A lovely time was had on this trip on the train itself and then river boat - we had the river trip on the paddler which was just perfect - a coal fired train and a coal fired boat! Enjoy.