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
- Lovely day out - We decided on a steam train and boat ride day. The train was lovely, and the boat ride was a lot of fun with an entertaining guide, which one of my teenage daughters found hilarious!
- Steam train - Great little day out - highly recommended. The boat trip up the dart was very good with the captain guiding us and the steam train was great for kids too.
- Fantastic visit - We chose to do the steam train and river cruise and it was fantastic. The staff were very helpful. After using the ferry to cross the river we went to find somewhere to have a snack before getting onto the cruise. The commentary was brilliant and we were pointed out different landmarks throughout the cruise. Thank you Dartmouth Steam Railway.