Torquay



Torquay (pronounced "Tor-kee") is a town on the coast of the English Riviera and South Devon region of Devon. Since the 19th century, it has been a fashionable seaside resort in the English Riviera. The town sits on the shore of the English Channel, on the southern edge of Torbay, an east facing bay that is part of the larger Lyme Bay.

Understand
Torquay's advantages as a seaside resort and destination are obvious, with 9 sandy beaches and extremely high standards of water quality (holder of 3 European Blue Flags, more than any other English resort). Torbay enjoys a warm micro-climate that allows palm-like trees to grow readily, though these are not true palms but rather Cordyline australis - Cabbage Tree.

Torquay is infamous as the setting of Fawlty Towers, the hotel owned by Basil and Sybil Fawlty in the classic 1970s British television comedy. The TV show was inspired by the now closed Gleneagles Hotel which the cast stayed at while filming Monty Python's Flying Circus.

The coastal area of Torbay which includes Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, was given the nickname 'English Riviera' because of the large amount of sandy beaches and the relatively warm climate compared to the rest of the country. Officially known as Torbay, it is almost completely made up of tourist resorts and small fishing communities. It is in a natural east-facing harbour.

In 2011, it was home to 65,000 people.

Torquay is also known for being the place where explorer Percy Fawcett was born.

Visitor information

 * English Riviera visitor information

By plane
Exeter is the closest airport, but seldom the most convenient as it's lost its flights to London.

By road
Torquay is connected to the UK motorway network by the A380, which traces the outskirts of the town as Hellevoetsluis Way and Hamelin Way, leading to the A38 and then on to the M5 at Exeter. The A3022 branches from the A380, leading into Torquay as Riviera Way, to the seafront as Newton Road and then Avenue Road, and then on to Paignton as Torbay Road. The A379 runs past the harbour to the Babbacombe and St Marychurch areas of Torquay, and then north along the coast to Teignmouth.

By train
Torquay is on the scenic Riviera Line. Trains run every 30 min from Exmouth, looping round the estuary and taking 55 min from Exeter (3 stations) via Starcross, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and Torre, and continuing from Torquay to Paignton. There's occasionally a through-service but usually you change at Exeter for Bristol, West Midlands, Manchester Piccadilly and London Paddington.

is on the coast near Torre Abbey. There's a staffed ticket office, machines and a coffee shop. Plusbus tickets are available.

is one mile north along the road to Newton Abbot. The frequent Exmouth-Exeter-Paignton trains stop here but not the long-distance services.

By bus
Torquay is the terminus of the Gold service which runs from Plymouth, Totnes, and Paignton, and terminates at the harbour. This can be a useful way to reach Torquay from the west since it means you do not need to change trains at Newton Abbot.

Get around
Two bus routes operated by Stagecoach Devon pass through Torquay — the 'Bayline' number 12 service between Newton Abbot and Brixham, and the X46 service between Exeter and Paignton — while other routes operate within the town.

See




Do

 * Football: Torquay United were relegated in 2023 and now play soccer in the National League South, the sixth tier. Their home ground is Plainmoor, capacity 6200 with half seated, a mile north of the seafront.
 * Football: Torquay United were relegated in 2023 and now play soccer in the National League South, the sixth tier. Their home ground is Plainmoor, capacity 6200 with half seated, a mile north of the seafront.
 * Football: Torquay United were relegated in 2023 and now play soccer in the National League South, the sixth tier. Their home ground is Plainmoor, capacity 6200 with half seated, a mile north of the seafront.

Beaches
Torquay is also set along a coastline renowned for its 9 main beaches. The high standards of water quality and beach facilities mean that many carry coveted awards. Torquay's beaches and coves are stretched out along the palm-lined coast:

Buy
Union Square and Fleet Walk shopping centres are near to the Harbour. They offer a wide range of high street shops, ranging from independent boutiques to large chain stores.

The Willows, a few miles from the centre, offers a retail park with a large Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury's, Next and electronics stores.

Eat
Chefs in the area are spoilt for choice when it comes to locally sourced seafood and meat. The cuisine has a distinctive West Country flavour. Adventurous diners can take a culinary journey around the world, sampling everything from French, Italian and Spanish, to Indian, Thai, Moroccan, Mexican and Lebanese cuisine.

Accolades like AA Rosettes, Michelin Stars and Les Routiers can be found, while even several of the fish and chip shops are award-winning. From restaurants with stunning views across the emerald bay to country pubs offering hearty fare, Torquay has it covered.

Drink
There are numerous pubs, clubs and bars close to the harbourside, ranging from traditional English pubs to classy wine bars.

Sleep
Torquay is well supplied with bed and breakfast (B&B) and self-catered accommodation. The Tourist Information Centre is a good source of quality information about accommodation and Torquay in general.

Connect
As of Sep 2023, Torquay and its approach roads have 4G from EE and O2, and 5G from Three and Vodafone.

Go next

 * Paignton – A coastal town which has lots of tourist attractions.
 * Brixham – A small fishing town, reachable by ferry.
 * Totnes – A small market town.