Torquay holidays

How to reach Torquay

• Flight time: The closest major airport to Torquay is Exeter Airport, which is about 30 miles away. Flights to Exeter from London take around 1 hour, while flights from other major UK cities like Manchester and Edinburgh take approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.

• Transfer time: From Exeter Airport, bus #56 goes to Exeter St Davids station, and from there it’s an onward train to Torquay; the total journey time is around 90 minutes. There’s also bus #X46 which runs a fast service between Exeter and Torquay.

• Price: Travelling by train, the total cost (a bus to Exeter St Davids station and then the train to Torquay) is about £15. A direct taxi ride from Exeter Airport to Torquay costs around £60.

Weather and best time to visit Torquay

• March to May: Spring is a lovely time to visit Torquay. The weather is mild, with average temperatures ranging from 8°C to 15°C and around 6 to 8 hours of sunshine each day, although rain is not uncommon. This is also a good time to walk the coast path minus the crowds.

• June to August: This is peak season for holidays to Torquay and the town is invariably packed with holidaymakers. Therefore be sure to book ahead any accommodation, as well as any activities and excursions you might like to do. Temperatures average between 16°C and 22°C but are often much higher.

• September to November: Crowds begin to thin and the beaches quieten, as do the town’s attractions, which makes this the most appealing time of the year to visit. Temperatures gradually cool from 18°C to around 10°C as autumn draws on.

• December to February: While cooler and wetter, with temperatures between 5°C and 10°C, winter in Torquay can be just as enjoyable – it’s a good time to pay a visit to the galleries, followed by a pint in one of the town’s many convivial pubs.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: English is the primary language, although you will hear the gentle lilt of the Devonian accent around town.

• Local habits and customs: Torquay is well used to hosting large numbers of visitors, and a warm welcome is usually guaranteed by the locals.

• Health and safety: The town is very safe, but take the usual precautions to protect your belongings, especially on crowded beaches.

• Currency: The currency is the British Pound Sterling (£). ATMs are widely available, and credit/debit cards are accepted almost everywhere.

• Getting around: Torquay is not large, so walking is easily doable – in fact, it’s a delight – but there is a reliable bus service if required. Single tickets cost around £2.50, with a day pass costing about £4.50.

• Time zone: GMT, switching to British Summer Time from late March to late October.

Best things to do in Torquay

Lovingly nicknamed the “English Riviera”, Torquay, with its picturesque marina and tiered seafront, wide open beaches, and a terrific cast of attractions – both overground and underground – is a delight.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Babbacombe Cliff Railway: The much-loved Cliff Railway is a chance to see the sea in all its spectacular glory, its parallel tracks reaching heights of 700ft. However, if you’ve a fear of said heights, you just might want to reconsider.

• Hope’s Nose: Just beyond a hilly residential area full of creamy villas on quietly elegant streets, and acres of subtropical greenery, the Nose offers fabulous, far-reaching sea views.

The best districts

• Harbourside: It may be the busiest part of town, but there’s no denying the charm of the harbourside, a great spot for leisurely wanderings day or night.

• Wellswood: Fancy getting off the tourist track? Head to this bijou neighbourhood flush with boutique shops, independent cafes and upscale restaurants.

Interactive museums

• Torquay Museum: The pick of this down-to-earth but very absorbing miscellany of objects relating to the area is part of a human jawbone said to be Europe’s oldest securely dated modern human fragment, around 41,000 years old.

Parks and gardens

• Princess Gardens: If you prefer flowerbeds to beaches, make for this expansive, exotic garden located in the centre of town, providing pretty views of Torquay’s seafront.

• Cockington Country Park: This stunning country park surrounding the picture-perfect Cockington Village is filled with woodland walks and lakes, making it ideal picnicking territory.

Historical monuments

• Torre Abbey: Although only the gatehouse, tithe barn, chapterhouse and tower have survived, Torre Abbey retains a palpable sense of its 12th-century history.

• Kents Cavern: One of Europe’s most important Stone Age sites, this ancient subterranean wonder shows signs of human habitation stretching back some 500,000 years – illuminating (and, thankfully, illuminated) guided tours help make sense of it all.

Day trips in the area

• Dartmoor National Park: Southern England’s greatest wilderness has everything that the outdoor enthusiast could wish for – not just walking, but riding, caving, kayaking and climbing.

• Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve: A sandy spit jutting into the estuary holds this stunning reserve, harbouring a range of wildfowl and wading birds as well as a huge variety of flowering plants, mosses, liverworts and lichens.

• Totnes: Historic atmosphere with a New Age veneer makes this riverside town a compelling stop.

Activities for families in Torquay

Beach pursuits aside, Torquay has some tremendous family-friendly attractions, from a spectacular subterranean adventure to a fascinating, teeny-tiny model village.

• Aquariums and zoos: Just a short drive away, Paignton Zoo accommodates over 80 acres divided into savanna, forest, wetland, tropical forest and desert zones, all with hands-on displays for the little ones. The croc-swamp is cool too.

• Interactive museums: For an educational, but far from dry, day out, the Torquay Museum does a great job of being all things to all people, from its interactive galleries with exhilarating Lego builds to the life and times of much-loved local author Agatha Christie.

• Beaches: What’s not to love about a day on the beach? Abbey Sands, extending below the main promenade, is the handiest of the local beaches, but better for families is the pebble-and-sand, Blue Flag Meadfoot Beach, traditionally the more “select” of Torquay’s beaches, where Agatha Christie bathed in her youth.

• Other: They say that the best things come in small packages and they really do at the wonderful Babbacombe Model Village, home to no less than 413 miniature buildings spanning over four acres of award-winning gardens. And don’t miss the wickedly funny presentations which will have the whole family in fits.

Free things to do in Torquay

Holidays to Torquay needn’t cost much, and if you look hard enough there are plenty of attractions that won’t cost you a penny.

• Free events: The big one in these parts is the English Riviera Airshow in June, which, as well as spectacular flying displays, has static displays and live music – a cracking weekend all told.

• Free museums: The Torquay Museum offers free entry on certain days, showcasing the region’s compelling history, including displays on the town’s favourite daughter, Agatha Christie.

• Explore Torquay by public transport: Buses are an excellent way to get around and see the sights cheaply; for example, route 12 offers a scenic ride along the coast, with tickets costing around £2.50 for a single journey.

Nature and outdoor activities in Torquay

Torquay holidays offer the prospect of some fantastic outdoorsy experiences, although hiking should be high on the agenda thanks to the nearby Dartmoor National Park.

• Hiking and walking: Whilst there are some terrific local walks, including a section of the South West Coast Path from Torquay to Brixham, for truly epic walking, it has to be Dartmoor where solitude and untrammelled nature are the biggest lures for walkers on southern England’s greatest expanse of wilderness.

• Cycling: Channel your inner Chris Hoy or Laura Kenny at the brilliant Torbay Velopark, the only outdoor closed-road circuit in Devon and Cornwall.

• Water sports: Unsurprisingly, the coastline around Torquay offers all kinds of opportunities for water-based fun, be it kayaking, paddleboarding or sailing. Feeling more adventurous? Try coasteering off the nearby cliffs.

• Boat trips: Apart from the daily excursions to Brixham, trips from Torquay harbour include cruises to Dartmouth – plus there are all manner of wildlife cruises.

Local dishes in Torquay

The town’s food scene has always been strong, and there has invariably been a Michelin-starred restaurant here at one time or another. But the joys also lie in the simpler pleasures, like a Devon cream tea.

Some typical dishes

• Devon Cream Tea: The most important thing to remember when sampling this waist-expanding delight is that the cream is spread on each half of the scone, then the jam is dolloped on top; it’s the opposite in Cornwall.

• Devon Pasties: Not dissimilar to the Cornish pasty, those here are filled with beef, potatoes, onions and swede, all wrapped in a delicious pastry. And as anyone in Devon will delight in telling you – the first pasty was created here!

Fish and seafood dishes

• Brixham Crab: Caught just a few miles away, Brixham crab is renowned for its sweet flavour – and, quite honestly, nothing beats a sandwich stuffed full of fresh crab.

• Scallops: Fresh, locally sourced scallops are something else here, especially when pan-seared and smothered in garlic butter.

Sweets and desserts

• Clotted Cream Fudge: A rich and creamy fudge made with clotted cream from Devon’s dairies, this is the perfect sweet treat or souvenir to take home. Also worth sampling (though you can’t take it home) is Devonshire Ice Cream, produced using the region’s rich milk and cream.

Local drinks

• Devon Cider: Devon is renowned for its cider, made from apples grown in local orchards and which is generally either sweet or dry. Scrumpy, meanwhile, is a traditional, unfiltered cider known for its robust flavour.

• Local Ales: Torquay’s pubs offer a selection of local ales, including those from nearby breweries like Bays Brewery. Try a pint of Devon Dumpling or Topsail for a true taste of the region.