What is there to do and see in Torquay?

Torquay

Torquay is known as the English Riviera and is said to feel distinctively Mediterranean. This is due to the pleasant temperature it often benefits from, sandy beaches and Torbay’s Palm trees.

Where is Torquay

Torquay is part of Torbay, which also includes Paignton and Brixham. Torquay is found in Devon which is in the South West of England in the United Kingdom.

Where we stayed in Torquay

We stayed at the Torquay Travelodge for 3 nights, which is about 1 mile from the seafront. We knew if we had walked enough already that day, the train station was only 50 yards from the hotel, so we could catch a train back to the hotel if we didn’t fancy the walk back. Plus, there was a bus stop just outside the hotel.

Check out the factsheet, review and video of the Torquay Travelodge at EarsAndIdeas.com

Video – https://youtu.be/59sX9WvnHeo

Travelodge Torquay Hotel – Book Now

Our time in Torquay

Oh, my goodness, I loved our time in Torquay. We were lucky with the September weather.

The UK can be a fabulously beautiful place, especially when the weather is kind.

We arrived at the Torquay Travelodge at midday on Friday 3^rd September 2021. We had paid an extra £10 allowing us to check-in at midday. We parked the car, checked in and freshened up, then headed off to explore Torquay.

We turned to the right out of the Travelodge and headed towards Union Street, which is one of the main shopping streets in Torquay. After popping in a few shops, we continued to Torquay Harbour.

Our first port of call near the Harbour was a lovely restaurant called Offshore. Here we enjoyed a fabulous lunch with a table giving us a perfect view for people watching and a view of the harbour.

After lunch, we continued to explore Torquay by heading to the right of the restaurant along the front, past the Pavilion Gardens, the Riviera Wheel and the Princess Theatre.

We continued quite a way along the front before turning back as we reached the Best Western Hotel. Throughout our day we regularly stopped and chilled on a bench just enjoying our surroundings.

We chose to take a different route back to the Travelodge, taking the road just past the Premier Inn, wow it was a steep walk!!!

By the time we got back to the Travelodge we had managed to walk over 10K, much of which was up or downhill!! Luckily the promenade is flat!!! We were pretty exhausted, so we ate in the Travelodge that evening.

The following day we headed to Paignton which we will cover in a separate blog. I didn’t love it as much as Torquay, so we only stayed there a few hours. For the remainder of the Saturday, we went back to Torquay and explored to the left of the harbour.

We then sought out somewhere to eat our evening meal. Along by the pier was a fabulous restaurant called Pier Point. Oh, my goodness, I had a roasted vegetable pitta, I am very much a meat eater and this is one of the few times I have eaten out and chosen a non-meat dish, but it was amazing!!!

After our meal we took a seat on the pier and watched the sunset and the lights around us come on.

In the distance, the Queen Victoria cruise ship was docked and as it got dark her amazing lights also brightened the horizon.

Torquay is such a perfect place.

On the Sunday we headed to Brixham, which I also loved. There will be a separate factsheet and video about Brixham.

Then on the Monday, although we had paid to keep our Travelodge room till 2pm, we decided to go to Paignton Zoo, which was a lovely place. There will also be a separate factsheet and video about Paignton Zoo.

I really can’t wait to go back to Torquay in the future, it is well worth the long drive from where we live.

Suggested place to eat in Torquay

Offshore Restaurant

• We enjoyed a lovely lunch here with a fabulous view of the harbour.
• Check out our Torquay video for more information.
• Offshore Bar & Restaurant | Live Music | Food | Private Parties | Events (offshoretorquay.co.uk)

Pier Point Restaurant

• Oh, my goodness I ate an amazing roasted vegetable pitta here with awesome views of the Torquay coastline.
• Check out our Torquay video for more information.
• Pier Point Bar and Restaurant (pier-point.co.uk)

Transportation in Torquay

Buses

As our Travelodge was a mile from the coastline and about another half a mile from the harbour, we decided we would make use of the buses on this trip.

You have both standard buses and open topped Stagecoach buses in Torquay. The number 12 bus stops right opposite the hotel. It then goes into Torquay stopping at the harbour, then into Paignton and ends in Brixham.

Bus Routes in Torbay ~ Visitor Information (visitor-information.co.uk)

• No 12 bus
  • The service starts from around 6am (just before 8am on a Sunday)
  • Then continues till about 11pm every day.
  • Every 15 minutes
  • No 12 bus timetable from 04/04/2021
• The Golden Hop 122 Open top bus
  • Connects Babbacombe, St Marychurch, Torquay Harbour and Paignton
  • It also stops at Hoburne’s Devon Bay Holiday Park
  • 7 day a week service.
  • The service starts just after 9am every day
  • Then continues till between 5 and 6pm
  • Every 30 minutes
  • No 122 Golden Hop open topped bus.pdf
• Ticket
  • Day rider includes both of the above routes and more
    • £3.50 child, £5.00 adult, £10.00 group of up to 5 people travelling together.

Trains

Alternatively, if you are staying at the Travelodge or in the vicinity, there is a train station within a few minutes’ walk, Torre Train station.

What is there to do and see in Torquay?

Torquay Harbour

• Tor Bay Harbour – Home (tor-bay-harbour.co.uk)

Torquay International Marina

• Torquay Marina – Marina in Devon – MDL Marinas

Cockington Country Park

• Country Park in Devon – Cockington Country Park, Torquay, South Devon | Cockington Court

Birthplace of Agatha Christie

Palm Trees

Ferries to Brixham and Paignton

Torquay’s Dinosaur World

• Torquay’s Dinosaur World, Torquay, Devon, UK (torquaysdinosaurworld.co.uk)

Princess Gardens

• Princess Gardens – Torbay Council

Torquay Museum

• South Devon and Torbay History Attraction | Torquay Museum | Torquay Museum

Kents Caverns

• Prehistoric Cave | Day Out Torquay | Devon | Kents Cavern Ltd (kents-cavern.co.uk)

English Riviera Wheel

• Situated within the Pavilion Gardens
• Home – English Riviera Wheel

WeFerry / Fun Fish Trips

• Excellent Boat Trips | Round Robins | Day Cruises | Fishing & Wildlife – WeFerry

The Real Crime Museum

• The Real Crime Museum – Museum (business.site)

Living Coasts

• Living Coasts

Torquay Land Train

Jungle Journey Adventure Golf

• Jungle Journey Adventure Crazy Golf in Torquay | Kids & Office Parties

Pirates Bay Adventure Golf

• Pirates Bay Adventure Golf Course | Crazy Golf | Family Day Out | Parties (piratesbaygolf.co.uk)

Torquay Beach

Torquay Pier

Bygones Torquay

• Includes an authentic life-sized Victorian Street
• Explore a world of British history – Bygones, Torquay

Torre Abbey

• Torre Abbey (torre-abbey.org.uk)

Harbour amusements

Torquay Pavilion

AMF Bowling Torquay

• Book ten pin bowling at Torquay (amf-bowling.co.uk)

Western Lady Ferry

• Home | western-lady (westernladyferry.com)

Princess Theatre

GeoPlay Park

• Geoplay Park – Torbay Council

Escape Rooms

South West Coastal Park

Royal Terrace Gardens

What is there to do close to Torquay

Babbacombe

• Babbacombe Model Village
  • The level of detail is described as mindblowing.
  • On the gate price is AD £13.90, Child (3-14) £11.50
  • Babbacombe Model Village Postcode TQ1 3LA
  • Number 22 bus from Torquay seafront train station.
  • A Torquay Top Attraction (model-village.co.uk)
• Babbacombe Cliff Railway
  • Babbacombe Cliff Railway – To the Seaside & Back Since 1926
• Babbacombe Theatre
  • Welcome | Babbacombe Theatre (babbacombe-theatre.com)

Paignton

• Paignton Zoo
  • We spent a fabulous day here, watch out for a fact sheet and video coming soon.
  • Paignton Zoo – A Wild Day Out For The Whole Family

• Seaside Town
• Splashdown water park
  • Splashdown Quaywest – the UK’s largest all outdoor waterpark · Splashdown (splashdownwaterparks.co.uk)
• Pleasure Pier

Coming soon is a factsheet at EarsAndIdeas.com

There will also be a video on YouTube at Ears and Ideas

Dartmouth

• Dartmouth Steam Railway
  • Dartmouth Steam Railway And River Boat Company (dartmouthrailriver.co.uk)
• Dartmouth Day Cruise
  • Dartmouth Steam Railway And River Boat Company (dartmouthrailriver.co.uk)

Coming soon is a factsheet at EarsAndIdeas.com

There will also be a video on YouTube at Ears and Ideas

Brixham

• Traditional Harbour Town
• Drakes Golden Hind Replica
• Outdoor seawater swimming pool

Coming soon is a factsheet at EarsAndIdeas.com

There will also be a video on YouTube at Ears and Ideas

Can you get discounts for activities in Torquay?

It is always worth checking if there are vouchers or cash back available for activities you might want to do during your trip.

Tesco Clubcard deals

If you are new to Tesco Clubcard deals, I have written an article to help you. I use my vouchers for a mixture of hotel stays and Hoseason Holiday discounts. How your grocery shopping can help pay for your travels! – Ears and Ideas

Quidco

As above if you are new to Quidco, I have written an article. But basically, if you are a member (free and paid memberships) just by going through their site you can get cashback. I have received almost £500 from the past few years. Save Money On Your Next Trip – Ears and Ideas

TopCashBack

The final one I would suggest you check out is TopCashBack, again I have written an article if you’re new to this site, it works in the same way as Quidco. Want to get your next trip cheaper? – Ears and Ideas

It is also worth checking if there are vouchers or cash back available for accommodation you might want to do during your trip.

All information was correct and links were active when the post was written in September of 2021.