Things to Do in Teignmouth, Devon

Teignmouth is a seaside town on the south coast of Devon, at the mouth of the River Teign. With sandy beaches, a Victorian pier, a working harbour and easy access to coastal walks, it is a good choice for a day trip or traditional seaside break.

This guide covers some of the best things to do in Teignmouth, along with places to eat, where to stay and ideas for exploring the surrounding coast.

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Things to Do in Teignmouth

Teignmouth Beach

The main beach in Teignmouth is quite long, stretching from the mouth of the River Teign up the coast towards the red cliffs near Dawlish. There is space to spread out and enjoy the seaside, including spotting the local wildlife. The beaches are a popular spot for watersports enthusiasts, including kayakers.

The Victorian Grand Pier

A fun thing to do in Teignmouth is to visit the pier and enjoy the views and arcade machines. They built the iconic Victorian Grand Pier over 150 years ago. The pier has an amusement arcade and fantastic views back towards the town or out at sea. A great place to relax and watch the world go by.

The pier is great fun to visit with family or on your own and enjoy the amusements for a treat. They have a variety of machines to play, including the ever-popular penny games.

The Dog-Friendly Back Beach

The Back Beach doesn’t face out to sea; however, it faces the river and harbour area. Boat trips and the ferry across the river set off from the back beach area, too. The Back Beach is also dog-friendly year-round, ideal for people who take their dogs on holiday. The beach is a magnificent spot for fishing, too. There are a few pubs overlooking the Back Beach, including Ye Olde Jolly Sailor.

Lifeboat Station

Near to the Back Beach in the working harbour on the River Teign is the lifeboat station. The station’s B-class inshore lifeboat is in the original 1862 boathouse. The local lifeboat volunteers carry out around 40 rescues every year. You can visit the lifeboat station typically from Easter until mid-October. It’s a fascinating place to visit and find out about the RNLI. However, they are always on standby, so at any time, they could get called out.

Explore The Harbour

As with many towns and villages on the coast, Teignmouth also has a working harbour with lots of activity to observe. Harbours always fascinate me, so I love to mooch around, grab a beer and watch what’s going on. The boats are fishing-related, some for leisure purposes, and there is a ferry to cross the river.

Hiking & Coast Walks

There are many hiking options of varying lengths in the area. These include hikes to Dawlish, Labrador Bay, or the shortest local route to Shaldon across the river. Komoot, the app, has many hiking ideas in the area and is a great resource for planning your own routes.

The South West Coast Path passes through Teignmouth. Thus making the town a significant starting point for walking a shorter section of the route. You could head east towards Dawlish, Exmouth and as far as Dorset, or hike west towards Torbay and Cornwall.

Teignmouth Lighthouse

At the end of the Den Promenade, towards the mouth of the river, is the lighthouse. They built the lighthouse in the early 1840s; however, it came into service in 1845. It is still in use today and is also a Grade II listed building.

Pubs & Restaurants

Teignmouth has lots of restaurants, pubs, and eateries serving fresh local food. There are also the usual seaside resort takeaways, snack shacks and, of course, British fish and chip shops. One thoroughly enjoyable restaurant is Bronx Bar & Cue. It is a great bar for meat lovers. I particularly enjoyed feasting on their ribs. The Quay Inn, which faces the river at the Back Beach, was also good for a beer with a view.

Boat Trips

Departing from the Fish Quay in Teignmouth are Devon Sea Safaris boat trips. These give you a chance to explore the South Devon coastline and see some marine wildlife. This includes the possibility of spotting seals, coastal birds, dolphins, whales and porpoises. Devon Sea Safari offers a variety of tour types, from 1-hour to private charter trips.

Where to Stay?

There are lots of guest houses and hotels in the grand Georgian buildings in the town centre, which are great to stay in. Many offer a bed-and-breakfast service, which is perfect for travellers like me. Out of town, there are a few holiday parks where you can rent chalets or caravans for a week or a fortnight away. There are also many dog-friendly options. The easiest way to find places that suit your needs is on the Booking.com website.

How To Get Here?

The town is simple to get to, as it’s on the main railway line in the county. Depending on your timing, you may need to change in Exeter St Davids when travelling from the rest of the UK. For drivers, it’s pretty simple: the M5 is nearby, and then they go via major roads into the town. Unfortunately, the National Express coaches don’t go directly to Teignmouth. However, you could catch a coach to Exeter and then use the local bus services.

Is Teignmouth Worth Visiting?

For a staycation by the sea or just a day trip, Teignmouth is worth a visit. The town is delightful, and the local scenery is great. It’s an easy day trip on the train from other towns on the south coast of Devon. The town kept me very entertained on my visits, and there, as usual, was more to see and do.