The Paignton Holiday Guide
Around & About in Torbay

The holiday resort of Torbay
"Perfect for a self catering holiday on the English Riviera."

Torbay Attractions

There are three main towns around the bay: Torquay in the north, Paignton in the centre, and Brixham in the south. Renowned for its healthful climate, the bay earned the nickname of the English Riviera.

Tor Bay itself is a fine natural harbour and home to a host of maritime events all year round, and due to the mild climate Torbay Palm trees are a common sight along the coast.

Torbay Webcam BBC Travel News

Inn on the Quay

The Inn on the Quay is located right on Goodrington Sands Beach, a family friendly eatery pub which is part of the Brewer´s Fayre chain, with plenty of outside seating.

Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway

Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway from Paignton is the holiday line with steam trains running for seven miles in Great Western tradition along the spectacular Torbay coast to Goodrington, then Churston and through the wooded slopes bordering the Dart estuary to Kingswear.

Paignton Zoo

Paignton Zoo is on the boarder between Goodrington and Paignton and is home to thousands of amazing animals and plants. Visit the desert, cross the savannah, explore the forest and trek through the tropics. Use your senses to discover the wild world: look around, listen out - you will even need your sense of smell! It is a great day out for everyone. Through our website we hope to offer everything you may wish to know about visiting the Zoo, as well as a wealth of information about our habitats and animals.

Quaywest

Quaywest is a Waterpark that hosts eight slides; two kiddies pool areas, a swimming pool and various food/retail outlets at Goodrington Sands Beach. Quaywest Waterpark is situated on the beach at Goodrington Sands and includes 8 slides & flumes, swimming pool and childrens toddler play areas, with the water heated to 80° you can relax on the gentle Surf Lagoon or experience the exhilarating Screamer or the Wild Kamikaze. There is so much for everyone to enjoy from tube slides, body slides, triple drop slides & freefall slides.

Torbay Leisure

Torbay Leisure Centre is situated just by Goodrington Sands Beach on the Dartmouth Road, it has a 33.3m indoor swimming pool, fitness gym, sports hall, all weather astro-turf pitch, supervised children's play area, sauna, steam room, spa, sunbed area and relaxation lounge, also there is a Café-Bar on the ground floor opposite the main Reception where you can get a soothing coffee, cold beer or for those hungry visitors a healthy option meal.

English Riviera Geopark Website

English Riviera Geopark welcomes you to a landscape of dramatic changes, of exploration and discovery. A landscape untouched by glaciation, revealing stories unseen elsewhere in the world. Stories of tropical seas and scorching deserts, raised beaches and drowned forests, hippopotami and mammoth, straight-tusked elephant and sabre-toothed tiger, cave bear and earliest man. The international importance of Torbay´s geology is undeniable, 32 geosites covering a story of 3 geological time periods, all found within a compact area. We hope you enjoy visiting us.

Ski West Watersports

Ski West Watersports is based on Goodrington Sands, Paignton. Explore our website for a comprehensive guide to our outdoor water sports activities. Weather you are on holiday, a local, experienced or a complete novice come along and have some fun.

South West Coast Path

South West Coast Path - You can pick up the coast path to Brixham here at Goodrington Sands Beach, after about 300 metres you come to Saltern Cove, a site of special scientific interest and a local nature reserve, then after about 1.5Km you arrive at Broadsands, a blue flag beach. A short distance on from Broadsands you get to the pretty beach of Elberry Cove, where the path then goes through woods before emerging at the edge of Brixham harbour, with it's imposing breakwater and on into the centre of Brixham.

Sea Shore Centre

Sea Shore Centre - At The Seashore Centre we are trying to unlock the box to reveal this great jewel. The Centre, which is located very close to the beach, Goodrington Sands in Paignton, is equipped with: a Rockpool Zone with seawater tanks displaying marine wildlife - interactive displays about the seashore - a video microscope for examining finds - a classroom space for group sessions.

Go Karts

Go Karts - Experience the fun of racing at our Goodrington track: - 2 seater racer - Family Karts, for smaller children (accompanied by adults) - Grand Prix Karts for the racing novice - "Bullit" for the fast and furious race.

Goodrington Park

is a natural habitat for swans, geese and wild birds. This is ideal picnic area and safe for all the families with children. Being part of the famous Youngs Park and literally a stone´s throw from Goodrington Beach and Quay West, Goodrington Park offers truly all family fun with Bumper Boats, Swan Pedalos, Spanish Cafe, Ice Cream, Drop Slides, Crazy Golf, Junior Quads, Large Boating Lake and beautiful walks.

Helium Balloon

Torquay´s newest attraction for 2008 is a Hi-Flyer helium balloon ride which cost £32,000 to fill with helium gas. On its steel tether it raises 400m above the bay for a 15 minute ride at £14-a-head and will be able to carry up to 120 passengers an hour depending on the weather.

Living Coasts

Living Coasts , Torquay´s Coastal Zoo, is a unique, world class aquatic visitor attraction, focusing on the conservation of coastal and marine life around the globe. It has been developed by Paignton Zoo, with financial support from the South West Regional Development Agency and the European Regional Development fund. Living Coasts is situated right on Torquay's harbourside and is easy to find - just look out for the big net!

Kents Caven

Kents Cavern is one of the most important Palaeolithic caves in Northern Europe and the oldest recognisable human dwelling in Britain. It holds beautiful and spectacular geological formations and significant prehistoric finds, some over 700,000 years old. The area comprising modern Torquay has been inhabited since paleolithic times. Hand axes found in Kents Cavern date to 450,000 years ago. Kents Cavern is situated in the heart of Torquay on the beautiful south coast of Devon.

Babbacombe Model Village

Babbacombe Model Village. Take time out from the hustle and bustle of every day life and feel on top of the world as you see it recreated in miniature. Thousands of miniature buildings, people and vehicles capture the essence of England´s past, present and future. It's not just the humour, nor the animation - it has a life of its own. Come and see for yourself!

Babbacombe Theatre

Babbacombe Theatre. Every thing you need to know about what´s showing and when at the Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay Babbacombe Theatre is situated on the beautiful Babbacombe Downs, in Babbacombe, Torquay; located only 5 minutes away from Torquay´s harbour side. It is easily accessible from other resorts on the English Riviera, Paignton and Brixham, both by car and public transport

Palace Theatre

Palace Theatre. Every thing you need to know about what´s showing and when at the Palace Theatre in Paignton The Palace Theatre has recently been through a major refurbishment and is looking fantastic. We re-opened on 10th April 2007 and kicked off with the SW of England Festival. The last few weeks have seen a packed panto season and we are now looking forward to a successful 2008.

Princess Theatre

Princess Theatre. Every thing you need to know about what´s showing and when at the Princess Theatre, Torquay. The Princess Theatre in Torquay, first opened its doors on Wednesday 7 June 1961. Top of the bill on opening night were Tommy Cooper and Morecambe & Wise. The theatre is a touring house and shows a variety of productions including opera, ballet, concerts, wrestling, ice shows & West End musicals and a Christmas pantomime

The Apollo Cinema

The Apollo Cinema on the sea front at Paignton in Torbay where we successfully combine operational expertise with the latest technology to bring you the very best in entertainment!. The state of the art projectors & Dolby digital/SR Surround Sound systems ensure the movie is delivered to you as the director intended... offering the best in vision and sound experience. There are nine auditoriums showing a variety of different films.

Pirate Golf

Pirate Golf an 18 hole pirate themed adventure golf course on Paignton Green, full of fun and adventure for adults and children alike. Rather than the traditional UK style crazy golf, adventure golf is an American concept where the holes are skill based and the old style luck based windmill type holes are replaced with water obstacles, sand traps, sweeping contours and a whole lot more.... Look out for our holes where you´re putting over the water, or our island green, watch out for the pirates, the marooned shipwreck and many other pirate themed elements.

Compton Castle

Compton Castle is a fortified manor house nestled in a valley in Marldon, Paignton, about five miles west of Torquay, Devon, England. Compton Castle has been a National Trust property since 1951. Built in three periods (1340, 1450 and 1520), Compton Castle has been home to the Gilbert family for most of the intervening period. Members of the Gilbert family still occupy the castle, and administer it for the National Trust. Among the most famous inhabitants one finds Sir Humphrey Gilbert (1539 to 1583), coloniser of Newfoundland and half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh; legend has it that Sir Walter smoked the first pipe of tobacco in Britain while visiting Sir Humphrey. The grounds are noted for a rose and knot garden. In fact, the lush gardens of trees, flowers, rare shrubs, and thick tall grass bring thousands of tourists during the spring and autumn.

Oldway Mansion

Oldway Mansion and its grounds can be visited free of charge by members of the public, and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Torbay. The mansion has a small museum with exhibits that are linked to the building's history, including antique Singer sewing machines. Oldway Mansion is a Grade II listed building.

Occombe Farm Paignton

Occombe Farm Paignton is an organic farm on the edge of Paignton, open to the public and entry is free. It has a 2Km easy-access nature trail, education centre and award-winning farm shop and cafe. Nowhere else in the reigion can you get this close to local wildlife, experience the day-to-day workings of an organic open farm and sample authentic Devon food and drink. All profits from Occombe Farm go towards the conservation work of Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust.

The Golden Hind

The Golden Hind captained by Sir Francis Drake undertook one of the most historic and exciting voyages of all time. Between 1577 and 1580 the Golden Hind circumnavigated the world making vital discoveries before returning home with amazing treasures. This ship now offers an amazing insight into life onboard a 16th century sailing ship and is based in Brixham, Devon the area where Sir Francis Drake lived and worked.

Torbay Lifeboat

Torbay Lifeboat. Welcome to the Torbay Lifeboat Station Web Site. The site, which is maintained by lifeboat station personnel and as such is not an official RNLI Web Site, includes both history and indicative operational information of the service provided to those who spend time along the South Devon Coastline from Teignmouth to Start Point and 50 miles out into the English Channel

Riviera Centre

Riviera Centre Welcome to the Riviera International Centre, Torquay - Waves Leisure Pool - Torquay's indoor Beach, Safe, Clean, Comfortable and Fun. The popular leisure pool features a giant flume and wave machine to add an extra splash of fun.

© The Paignton Holiday Guide - The holiday resorts of Brixham, Paignton & Torquay on the English Riviera - www.paigntonholidays.co.uk