Arguably the most popular & visited of the three Torbay towns, that describe themselves as the “English Rivera”.

Torquay has some good beaches to enjoy and also offers the standard English seaside experience of tea rooms and sea-side amusement arcades.

A holiday in Torquay should include a visit to the jubilant harbour area, littered with nice restaurants, pubs and other convenience eateries. It can get quite lively at night time.

Something special: Barcelo Imperial Torquay Hotel – Torquay, England Hotels & Resorts, Park Hill Road: “Delightful Torbay, Torquay has been one of the top UK holiday destinations since Victorian times and the Barcelo Imperial Hotel is ideally located overlooking the bay.

What To Do In Torquay:

• Highly acclaimed variety shows for all the family to enjoy are staged practically throughout the year at the Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay, South Devon. Enjoy best value entertainment at the theatre that boasts the longest running summer season in the country.
• 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.
• 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).
• 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

The lively harbour and international marina are focal points in the town, but you will find that everyone will be kept busy with bustling pavement cafés, quality shops and beautiful beaches.”

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 & 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.

Real Adventures offers a range of Torquay accommodation.

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.

A great way of discovering the area in a leisurely fashion is to go on an escorted train trip which encompasses  Torquay, a journey on the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway, Dartmouth, a river Cruise to Totnes and an outing to the Eden Project. It lasts 4 days and you can find out more here.