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 and Goodrington beach where there are also greens by each beach. Quaywest which is next to goodrington beach makes a great day out with Britains largest waterslides, go karts, arcades, donuts(...mmm), an excellent restaurant/pub (inn on the quay) and the beach.
Paignton is home to one of the best Zoo's in the country (which featured in the BBC series - zookeepers), its a fantastic zoo with all the animals you could want.
Torquays cultural sites include Torre abbey, The Palace Theatre and Babbacombe model village.
If you want to look at a more old fashioned and historical area, check out brixham which has World War II bunkers overlooking the coastline in preparation for any NAZI invasion. Brixham little harbour holds a replica of the Golden Hind (of Sir Francis Drake).
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 in Torquay town which has quite a good nightlife, not too crowded and of a nice size you can start in Riley's Sports club to relax and play snooker/poole or go to one of the many pubs and of course the better nightclubs include Clair's and venue or alternatively hideaway if your more into rock.
In terms of shopping Torquay has an okay town centre but you may want too take a half hour drive to Exeter or hour drive to Plymouth for a day of shopping.
Overall torbay is a good all-round tourist destination if your looking to stay in the UK, with something to offer everyone, that said it lacks some of the culture of taking your holiday in a foreign country.
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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.
unichorn 05.11.2002 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Torbay (England)
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.
unichorn 05.11.2002 ·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Torbay (England)
Jun 22nd, 2003
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