The English Riviera

• The English Riviera
• History of the English Riviera
• What the English Riviera has to offer
• Beaches
• On the water
• Animals
• History
• Culture & Entertainment
• Nightlife

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.

The three Riviera towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham surround the natural, sheltered Bay which forms an ideal suntrap and boasts many Blue Flag beaches

Each town lends its own individual character to a holiday, so whether it is for a relaxing break enjoying local food, an action-packed visit out on the waves, or a fun-filled family trip, the English Riviera offers something for everyone. The three towns have a combined population of approximately 120,000 and the resort attracts 1.5 million visitors every year

Torquay is the main town of Torbay. It has a sophisticated charm with white villas, superb coastal scenery and excellent beaches, such as Oddicombe and Meadfoot. Well-kept gardens sit alongside new developments such as Fleet Walk and the Riviera International Centre. Many visitors enjoy walking around Torquay soaking up the atmosphere. It's also the best town for shopping

Brixham is a picturesque fishing town at the southern end of Torbay. Life here revolves around the busy harbour, where fish are unloaded and pleasure boats make tours of the coast. There are stalls selling freshly-caught seafood, and restaurants and pubs serving fresh fish cooked in traditional recipes

Paignton has colourful gardens, pretty coastal lights and plenty of special activities. Paignton has a long seafront with a popular pier, an old harbour, a water park, great beaches and a steam railway. In summer the wide-open area known as Paignton Green holds special events, including a Children's Festival in August, funfairs and firework displays. The town has a lively centre with interesting shops and nightlife. Most shops can be found by walking along Winner Street, through Palace Avenue, along Victoria Street and down Torbay Road to the seafront.

Torbay has 22 miles of coast with stunning beaches. Four beaches at Oddicombe (Torquay), Meadfoot (Torquay), Broadsands (Paignton) and Breakwater Beach (Brixham) were awarded the European Blue Flag award for excellent facilities and top water quality in 2009.

The largest beach in Paignton is the long, sandy beach next to the town centre. The beach is next to a large green space and has lots of kiosks and cafes by the beach and amusements on the pier. You can hire deckchairs and pedaloes on the beach.

Just along the coast, and right below the Hunters' Lodge residence, Goodrington Sands is a popular beach for families, with the Seashore Centre, Splashdown at Quaywest Waterpark, Youngs Park and Inn on the Quay all right behind the beach. There are lots of rock pools at low tide.

In Torquay, Oddicombe Beach is famous for the cliff railway, which descends 73m to the beach.

If you prefer to get out on the water rather than relax on the beach, Ski West at Goodrington offers water-skiing and wakeboarding. There are also lots of sight-seeing and fishing trips available from the harbours at Torquay Paignton & Brixham, including 'Round Robin' circular trips by bus train and boat.

For more fun in the water, Paignton is fortunate to have Britain's biggest water park at Quaywest. There are 9 water slides, from a terrifying 20m plunge on the Devil's Drop, to more relaxing ring- and mat-slides. There are also swimming pools at Torbay Leisure Centre in Paignton and the English Riviera Centre in Torquay.

Natural history enthusiasts should have a look at Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts. Paignton Zoo is one of the largest in Britain, and houses over 250 species of creatures. You can walk with penguins at Living Coasts, the zoo's sister attraction in Torquay, which focuses on coastal animals, plants and birds.

Torbay has historic sites stretching back thousands of years. Kents Cavern, in Torquay, was home to humans between 30,000 and 40,000 years ago. It is a fascinating place to visit, and offers tours of the extensive caves every day. Also in Torquay is Torre Abbey, founded in 1196. It is the largest art gallery in Devon. Babbacombe Model Village is more modern, but has entertained visitors for several decades.

Between Torquay and Paignton lies Cockington, a time-warp village. It has a historic forge, picture-postcard cottages, horse and carriage rides, a court and church, tea rooms, thatched pub, and walks through lakes and woods to Cockington Court.

Paignton was once home to the Singer family, of sewing-machine fame, who built Oldway Mansion. This is now owned by Torbay Council, and you can take tours of the house (free) and enjoy the gardens. There are also several tennis courts and a croquet lawn. Much smaller is Kirkham House, a mediaeval survival just off Cecil Road in Paignton.

Brixham harbour is home to a replica of the Golden Hind, the ship in which Sir Francis Drake sailed round the world in the 1570s. On the coast outside Brixham lies Berry Head, the site of a major fort built to defend Torbay from attack by Napoleon. It is now a major national nature reserve.

You can follow in Hercule Poirot's footsteps by taking the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway from Paignton Queen's Park (next to the National Rail Station) to Kingswear. Steam trains run from April to October up to nine times a day.

Torbay has two cinemas, the Apollo next to the beach in Paignton and the Central Cinema in the centre of Torquay. Both show the latest films.

The bay has five theatres: The Babbacombe Theatre in Torquay specialises in variety shows. The Little Theatre in Torquay is an old church and hosts a wide range of plays and concerts from the local amateur dramatic society. The Princess Theatre, on Torquay's seafront, is the largest theatre in Torbay and offers a year-long programme of professional large-scale productions. From West End musicals to concerts and a full summer season, the Princess offers something for everyone. Over in Paignton, the Palace Theatre, in Palace Avenue, offers a range of locally-produced shows and concerts. The Brixham Theatre is open occasionally for a range of performances.

Torbay has plenty of clubs and bars with entertainment in the evenings. Torquay is the centre of Torbay's nightlife, but Paignton has several venues geared towards live music and family entertainment.

The harbourside in Torquay is the main focus for clubs. Shiraz is a relaxed café with outside seating. Mambo is a popular and lively night spot with three different zones: the ground floor features party DJs, the first floor specialises in popular tunes and the top floor hosts R&B and Hip Hop. You can also find R&B and Dance DJs at the Bohemia Nightclub. Torquay's biggest night club is The Venue which, like Pure, offers middle of the road music to a young audience.

Green Ginger is a modern bar with a dance floor, while the Hole in the Wall, in Park Lane, regularly offers traditional live music in a pub bar and the Apple and Parrot cider bar also has live music.

On the road from the harbourside to Paignton along the seafront you can find Café Mojo, with live music and DJs. Nearby in Belgrave Road is Club Rainbow, which offers singers, groups and discos. Candyfloss, above Meadfoot beach in Rock Road, is a gay club.

Paignton's main venues are its pubs. The Spinning Wheel on Esplanade Road is a very popular pub with live music every evening, and the nearby Inn on the Green is also popular and also has nightly live music. The Isaac Merrit pub, on Torquay Road offers a range of beers in a warm, friendly environment. If you want to party, Torbay Road is the place to be, with bars and clubs offering a lively insight into English nightlife.