About Torbay - The English Riviera

Torbay is one of Britain’s most popular holiday areas, and it’s easy to see why.

You can enjoy more sun than almost anywhere else in Britain on long, sandy beaches and swim or take a boat trip along 22 miles of coast.

Torbay’s towns range from a quaint fishing port to a vibrant harbour filled with yachts and surrounded by cafes and shops.

Our beautiful coastline is complemented by the surrounding lush, green countryside filled with typically English villages, and the rocky wilderness of Dartmoor, world heritage site of Stonehenge and the surfing coasts of Cornwall are within easy reach.

The Torbay area first gained a reputation as a destination for relaxation during the Napoleonic Wars in the late 18th century. Its 'romantic' location and fantastic weather conditions were praised by families of naval officers stationed in the bay.

It was the Victorians, however, that coined the phrase the 'English Riviera', likening the area to the south of France.

Torbay has a warm, sunny climate and sub-tropical plants and the famous Torbay Palm add to the Mediterranean feel. The sea has always been the focus of the towns and these days the busy waterfronts are a hive of activity as both working boats and pleasure craft come and go.