Things to Do in Torbay, Torquay, Brixham & Paignton

There are lots of things to do in Torbay, thus it is a wonderful holiday destination. The English Riviera, or Torbay, is on the south coast of Devon and includes the towns of Torquay, Paignton & Brixham. All three towns are in close proximity, and Paignton and Torquay seem to blend into one big holiday town. Brixham is just up the coast heading west and easy to reach by bus, ferry or a long but pleasant walk.

The English Riviera is a popular spot for those on holiday in the UK or for day trips for those in the West Country.

Places in the English Riviera & Torbay

The English Riviera in Devon consists of three primary places; Torquay, Paignton & Brixham. These are all seaside resorts in their own right and also all have harbours. Each has many options for things to do so you won’t get bored.

Torquay a Lovely Seaside Town

The town of Torquay is the central hub of The English Riviera. Torquay has a beach, a marina and also is a great foodie destination. There are many things to do and activities for holidaymakers to enjoy, from the usual seaside fare to watersports.

Torquay has a lovely marina where the ferry departs from. Here you can see lots of interesting boats, including yachts. The town has an abundance of great restaurants to dine out in. One such restaurant is The Elephant, that has fantastic reviews of their locally sourced food.

Brixham A Quaint Fishing Port in The English Riviera

Brixham is the smaller of the three towns, however it has a beautiful fishing harbour. As a result, the local seafood restaurants serve some great quality fish and crab. The town is very picturesque, with a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Gallion, The Golden Hind, as a centrepiece. Brixham is a nice place for a staycation holiday or a long weekend away.

It is a pretty fishing town with lots of things to see or do. It is also a great place to enjoy fresh seafood. Brixham has a tidal harbour with an array of boats including those for fishing, leisure and even a historic tall ship that doubles up as a museum.

The town is a great place for a day trip from Torbay and has regular ferry trips from Paignton and Torquay. These are a great ride with stunning views of the local coastline. There is also a bus service from along the coast. This is a rather pleasant trip too.

The nearest railway station is in Torquay for those that travel by rail, including travellers using the Interrail pass.

On my visit, I caught the bus from Paignton in the English Riviera, which was a fantastic trip in a small bus through some stunning countryside. To get back to the train station, I hopped on the Ferry from Brixham to Torquay, which travelled via Paignton. This was a splendid journey with fantastic views of the local coastline.

Paignton is a Fantastic Place for a Beach Holiday

Paignton is a hot spot for tourists and those enjoying a staycation. It has a nice marina, harbour and beaches to enjoy and all the usual English seaside features. It is a popular holiday destination and there are lots of options for places to stay.

The harbour has some pleasant restaurants overlooking the sea, some that even serve local seafood. There are also amusement arcades in the town and is generally a fun place to visit.

What to See and Things to Do in Torbay

There are many leisure activities and tourist attractions to see in the towns of the English Riviera and further afield locally. The seaside and countryside of the area means there are lots of active things to do.

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Take a Ferry Ride Between the Torbay Towns

There is a ferry service that runs between the three towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. The trip is a very nice journey and well worth the entrance fee. This ferry runs between March and October, thus not available if visiting for a winter holiday. The return fair is quite cheap and only costs £3.50, which is available from ticket kiosks in all three harbours.

Do Some fishing on an Organised Trip

There are opportunities to do all sorts of sea fishing in Torbay, including some regular fishing trips or fishing off the sea walls. There are regular mackerel fishing trips from each harbour. These usually last for two hours and you get to keep what you catch.

FunfishTrips do a few options for fishing trips from their Torquay base. The first being the humble two hour mackerel fishing trip where you get to keep the catch and are suitable for beginners. They also do an interesting Catch and Cook Experience. Where you go fishing and also learn to prepare and cook what you catch on the onboard barbeque. Fish often caught here include mackerel, pollock and whiting.

Boat Trips Along The Devon Coast

There are options for boat trips along the coast, including the ferries, trips to Dartmouth or charters for further afield. Funfish Trips offers a variety of boat Trips & Excursions in & around the picturesque English Riviera. Options include hour long wildlife sea cruises to see what lives locally. On this safari, you will see a variety of seabirds, grey seals and occasionally some dolphins. They also offer an evening cruise with fish & chips, an ideal option to wind down and maybe even see the beautiful sunset.

Enjoy a day out in Brixham

This is a beautiful fishing harbour with lots of things to see, including the local crab industry at work. This is a great place to enjoy a meal that includes local crab from posh restaurants to seafood vendors on the streets. The harbour is beautiful and has a museum which is a replica galleon to explore. The harbour has a Tudor galleon, a statue of William of Orange and Rockfish are the principal things to see.

Visit Torquay Marina

The marina in Torquay is a beautiful place to sit and watch the world go by, including many boats coming and going. There are lots of different boats moored up on the jetties here and are a great place to get the camera out. The ferry also departs here for trips to the other harbours in Torbay. There are a few restaurants and bars nearby which allow you to sit and relax while enjoying the stunning scenery. The Offshore Bar and Restaurant has the prime position in the marina, they are a cafe-bar and restaurant that specialise in fresh seafood.

Explore Local Churches

There are a few nice churches in this area of Devon, including St. John the Apostle Church in Torquay. This church is visible from the sea and is rather nice. St. John the Apostle Church is a Grade I listed building and dates back to 1823. However, they built the current building between 1861 and 1873, finally being consecrated in 1864.

Explore Paignton Harbour

The harbour or quay in Paignton is a lovely place to explore with lots to see, including catching the ferry. It is a working harbour, thus is a great place to sit and watch what’s going on. There are restaurants, cafes and pubs with views of the quay as well. I found this part of Paignton to be more enjoyable and less busy with tourists.

Walk on the South-West Coast Path

The South-West Coast Path is a long distance walking route that follows the coast of South West England, including Torbay. There are many options for hikes in the vicinity and continuing further afield along the Devon coastline.

Brixham is on the South-West Coast Path following the coastline both ways, so is an excellent spot for a walk or hike. The views above the town are special, as are those looking over towards Torbay. The South-West Coast Path is a long-distance path that follows the coast from Dorset to North Devon.

Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company

A great fun day out in Paignton is visiting and enjoying a steam train journey at the Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company. The most interesting trip is to travel on the steam train along the railway tracks from Paignton to Kingswear. You then cross the River Dart on our foot passenger ferry to Dartmouth. In Dartmouth you can board a boat for an hour long River Cruise around the River Dart and estuary.

The cruise takes you past the mouth of the river. Then past Kingswear, Dartmouth Castle, Dittisham village, Britannia Royal Naval College, and Greenway House. Greenway House was the home of the author Agatha Christie. After the cruise, you can explore the beautiful town of Dartmouth, finally getting a steam train back to Paignton. This is a great day out for solo travellers, couples, or larger groups.

Explore Brixham Harbour

The harbour area is fantastic to walk around or enjoy sitting and watching the world go by. There’s lots to see, including the action on the fishing docks or boats coming and going. There are plenty of touristy type shops in the area and takeaways selling fish and chips. The harbour has a Tudor galleon, a statue of William of Orange and Rockfish as the principal things to see.

Visit The Golden Hind a Great Tourist Attraction

The centrepiece of Brixham is the replica Tudor Galleon, The Golden Hind, moored up in the harbour. This is a full-size replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Galleon, where you can learn lots about the ship’s and era’s history.

Visit Berry Head Nature Reserve

Berry Head National Nature Reserve is located just around the coast after a pleasant hike. The nature reserve is on a picturesque peninsula with nature trails, local wildlife, an active lighthouse & a visitor centre.

Have fun on one of the Brixham beaches

Brixham has 2 main beaches, one beyond the breakwater to the west called Breakwater Beach. This is a smaller beach with public toilets and a nice cafe. It is a popular spot for open-water swimmers and divers. Visitors can also enjoy the walk along the breakwater from here. It’s a long one being half a mile long.

This is a smaller beach with public toilets and a nice cafe. It is a popular spot for open-water swimmers and divers. Visitors can also enjoy the walk along the breakwater from here. It’s a long one being half a mile. To the East are two small beaches, Fishcombe Cove and Churston Cove. Churston Cove is nice, with a sand and shingle beach, cliffs and woodland surround it on the hill.

Enjoy Some Fresh Local Crab

Crab rolls and sandwiches are popular here. They land it fresh daily and many outlets selling this delicious treat. The docks have many crab pots around, as it is a very active, crabbing town. For fun, you can purchase crab lines to catch small shore crabs from the harbour walls. This is great fun for children or adults alike.

Peruse the Brixham Heritage Museum

The Brixham Heritage Museum specialises in the local history of this part of Devon. They founded it in 1958 and they are housed in a former police station. Brixham Heritage Museum shows visitors all about the seaside town’s history and culture. The museum also has a feature on the author Agatha Christie who has links to the town.

Where to Stay in Torbay?

There are many options for places to stay in the English Riviera, from luxury hotels to small B&B options. My preference is the cheaper bed-and-breakfast places, which more often than not serve big hearty full English breakfasts. There are also many options for self-catering cottages or chalets in nearby holiday parks. You can find many options on the Booking.com website.

The Torbay Hotel

The Torbay Hotel is near to the marina and Rock Walk, one of the most popular locations in Torquay. It has views across the bay, a sun terrace, and two bars to help guests enjoy their time away.

Tor Park Hotel

The Tor Park hotel is near to Torquay railway station, thus is easy to get to using public transport and to explore the rest of the region on your holiday. All the hotel rooms have a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, a desk and a kettle. They have an onsite restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The hotel also has a terrace for dining.

Pubs & Restaurants in The English Riviera

There are many options for dining out, including pubs and restaurants, some of which serve outstanding food. Torbay has many options for this, from fine seafood restaurants to some traditional pubs. There are also many fish and chip restaurants in the area, a traditional option in many UK seaside holiday towns.

Harbour Light in Paignton

Harbour light at Paignton Harbour is a fantastic spot for lunch, a beer or a meal out. Their menu ranges from traditional pub grub favourites to an interesting specials board. This is a fantastic place to visit and enjoy the views of the quay or up the coast.

Rockfish For Seafood in Brixham

Rockfish is on the Quay and is a seafood restaurant, takeaway and fishmonger all rolled into one. They house the restaurant in the modern building and have quite the reputation for great food. The Rockfish is possibly the closest restaurant to the source of fish in the UK. The award-winning seafood restaurant is actually in the fish market overlooking the boats as they land their catch.

Crown & Anchor

Also nearby is the Crown & Anchor, a traditional pub that serves great battered fish chips. The pub has both indoor and outdoor seating and has a superb choice of beer.

Old Market House

Towards the Galleon is the Old Market House, a two-storey restaurant. The Old Market House is a popular place with diners and those enjoying a drink overlooking the harbour.

Is Torbay Worth Visiting For Holiday or Day Trip?

Torbay is a popular holiday resort with lots of things to do. There are many activities to do and fantastic places to dine out. Each of the three towns is distinct, thus an English riviera holiday is like visiting three places at once.

Fishing trips from Torbay are also enjoyable and great if you are staying in self-catering accommodation. The best way to get about is on the Ferry between the towns of Paignton, Brixham & Torquay.

My favourite is the town of Brixham, a beautiful fishing port and a great day trip from nearby towns. For seafood lovers, eating out here is a must as it is so so fresh.