Torbay (England)

Advantages: plenty to do, loads of nightlife, excellent beaches, nice parks
Disadvantages: hotel accomodation is expensive compared to abroad

...One such place is the Torbay area – or as they like to call it ‘the English Riviera’. Well, never having been to the French Riviera, I can’t really compare the two, but Torquay especially has plenty going for it. We stayed in Torquay (if you add in Paignton to the equation you pretty much have the ‘Torbay’ area although Paignton is a little more for the ‘older set’) for a couple of days last week. We ...
...it would be good, bearing in mind the lovely weather we’ve been having, to stay for a couple of days before it started, so checked in to a hotel in Torquay. We did the same thing three years ago and had a nice time in the evenings as there is plenty of nightlife – mainly geared towards the younger, clubbier types, but some very nice and reasonably priced restaurants. Torquay itself has a regular Summer season at the town’s seafront ... Read review

Advantages: Nice climate (for UK) Good beaches
Disadvantages: Gets very busy

...Torquay and the rest of Torbay is superb. Torquay has several de luxe hotels including the 5 star Imperial Hotel, numerous 2/3 star hotels and numerous spotlessly clean and homely bed and breakfast establishments. Brixham also boasts of several good hotels and guest houses and Paignton is replete with clean and freshly painted guest houses and small hotels. You can great fish and chips in Torquay - and at nearby Paignton and Brixham- other traditional ...
...have a very wide choice of sophisticated bistros, Continental, Middle Eastern and Oriental restaurants. The shopping centre in Torquay is also excellent and there are a number of classy,specialist shops. There is plenty to see and do in Torquay ranging from lively Summer Shows, elegant discos,friendly pubs, live bands performing in the larger hotels, the model village at Babacombe and lovely Cockington. At the latter there are gift shops, pony ... Read review

Advantages: Adult and child friendly, plenty to do on and off site.
Disadvantages: you're not allowed to live there and could do with a later licence for the bar.

...in the middle distance, Hoburne Torbay holiday park could almost be in the Mediterranean. It’s very easy to see why Torbay is called the English Riviera! The panoramic views from the recently refurbished holiday park clubhouse are probably some of the best in Torbay made all the more pleasant by the occasional glimpse of a steam train from the South Devon Railway as it chugs on its way. The sense of space is everywhere, in the touring park amongst ...
...Like the English Riviera, Hoburne Torbay holiday park offers something for everyone, day and night. From a dip in the pool to meeting friends for coffee; from catching the kids at play with sammy seahorse to a game of bingo or 5 a- side football; from watching live entertainment to watching the sun set over Torbay. Taking it easy has never been easier than on a holiday at Hoburne Torbay holiday park. The excellent indoor and outdoor facilities of ... Read review

Advantages: Something for everyone
Disadvantages: Can't think of any!

The English Riviera is the aptly named area on the south coast consisting of the three resorts of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham set around a huge sheltered bay. I say aptly named, because the climate here is so warm there are palm trees growing along the promenade. Torquay is a typical seaside resort with ten beautiful beaches many with the Blue Flag award for cleanliness. There are theatres, cinemas, a leisure club, a pier and all the other traditional ...
...indoor beach at The Riviera Centre with a fun pool, water shutes and a wave pool. There’s also a gym, sauna and soft play area for the children. Torquay’s oldest building is Torre Abbey, which houses a superb collection of paintings and antiques. One place you MUST visit while you’re staying at Torquay is the model village at Babbacombe, which is a couple of miles north of Torquay itself. This place is amazing. You can visit in ... Read review

Advantages: Decent weather
Disadvantages: Ageing Population, No University, Perhaps Not enough shops

Torbay (aka the English riviera)is a bay made up of 3 towns; Torquay, Paignton and Brixham with populations of 60000, 40000 and 20000 respectively. If you visit in the summer Torbay is a particularly sunny destination however it experiences alot of rain and wind as it is on the coast. The coastline in Torbay is particularly scenic with some great jumping cliffs in torquay, while the best beaches are probably in Paignton such as Preston,Paignton ...
...In the general area around Torbay you can also have excellent family days out at River Dart country park and Woodlands fun park. All along Torbays seafront you can find some excellent fish and chips. There are plenty of old pubs and a wide selction of Restaurants and Hotels. For a hotel paignton seafront is a nice spot and I would reccomend the Palace hotel or the Redcliffe hotel. Paignton has a multiplex cinema but most evenings are best spent ... Read review