The English Riviera beckons

Surrounded by stunning coast and countryside, the towns of Torquay, Babbacombe, Paignton and Brixham offer fantastic all year round holidays for everyone, from couples to families, who want their holiday pound to go that little bit further.

The English Riviera may be most famous for its award-winning beaches and exotic palm trees, but it has much more to offer than just seaside holidays.

It has more attractions than any other resort in the UK and is also a Global Geopark.

If getting out on the water is what you love to do, there is a great selection of boat trips and when you arrive back on dry land, there is tasty local food and fresh fish to enjoy.

Torquay is the birthplace of crime writer Agatha Christie, and the whole resort is the location for a packed programme of all year events and festivals including the annual Agatha Christie Festival.

As one of the country’s most popular holiday destinations, there’s no shortage of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets ranging from luxury hotels to charming bed and breakfasts and quality self catering establishments.

Torquay Torquay has been one of the UK’s top holiday destinations since Victorian Times when the gentry promenaded, bathing huts were wheeled down the beaches and anyone who was anyone had an attractive villa overlooking the sea.

It was the Victorians who first used the Riviera name to describe their favourite resort and their legacy remains to this day with sparkling white villas perched on the verdant hilltops, beautiful gardens around the seafront and elegant Victorian facades along the main streets.

Torquay’s famous seven hills provide the backdrop to a waterfront scene that matches anything you’ll find on the French Riviera.

Torquay’s waterfront is the focus of life in the town.

Here you’ll find the palm-lined promenade, seafront gardens, a lively harbour and an international marina.

Yet within minutes of the town centre there are beautiful beaches easily accessible on foot, road or water.

There is an abundance of pavement cafes, pubs, restaurants and nightlife, good quality shops and a host of attractions to suit every interest.

Babbacombe Babbacombe is everything that a great British seaside resort should be – with fabulous views, lots to do and tons of family-friendly accommodation.

Babbacombe Downs has the highest cliff top promenade in England, and on a clear day you can see right across to Portland Bill in Dorset.

If you’ve got a good head for heights, Babbacombe Cliff Railway is a great way to get down the cliff to Oddicombe Beach, and you can often spot dolphins and seals playing offshore at nearby Babbacombe Beach.

This is also one of the South West’s leading diver training centres where you can take your PADI open water certificate (Divers Down is a good place to hire equipment and organise courses.) Away from the beaches, Babbacombe Model Village is a must-see attraction for kids and grown-ups alike while Babbacombe Theatre on the cliff top has variety shows and comedy all year round.

If you fancy a classic plate of fish and chips, check out the award-winning Hanbury’s, where they serve freshly-caught Brixham fish and the fattest, chunkiest homemade chips.

Whether you’re looking for relaxation or thrills and spills by the beach you can’t go wrong with a visit to Babbacombe on the English Riviera, South Devon’s beautiful bay.

Paignton The lively seafront of Paignton and that of nearby Goodrington offer a host of attractions from the waterslides of Quaywest to crazy golf on Paignton Green.

During the summer months you will find the area hosts many festivals and fairs, in addition to the many yearly exhibitions and events which are held on the green.

If you crave peace and relaxation, you can pick a spot on one of the secluded beaches, inlets and coves that stretch along the coast towards Brixham.

Away from the shores, there's no shortage of things to do and visitors are spoilt for choice!

Take the steam train along the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway to Kingswear, visit the endangered species at Paignton Zoo, or indulge in some history at the 500-year-old Kirkham House or at Oldway Mansion, once home of Isaac Singer, of Singer sewing machine fame.

An evening stroll along the seafront, under the soft light of the beach front illuminations, is a perfect way to wrap up your day.

With all the essential ingredients for a magical family holiday, Paignton is the ideal seaside resort.

Brixham Recently the star of its own TV show, Fish Town, Brixham has been the centre of the area’s fishing industry for centuries. You can find out more about the town’s maritime past at the Brixham Heritage Museum – or taste the local catch in one of the town’s cafés or restaurants.

Another of Brixham’s maritime attractions is a life-size replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hind. You can go on board and take a peek back in time to find out what it was like aboard a galleon in Sir Francis Drakes’ time.

Brixham is home to several festivals including Fishstock, the Heritage Festival, Trawler Races, Brixham Pirate and Shanty Festival (which holds the World Record for a mile of pirates), Pirate Days, a regatta and Brixham Hapnin. Just in case you think it’s all about fish, the summer Cowtown festival celebrates the town’s agricultural side.

For nature lovers, nearby Berry Head is a National Nature Reserve and gateway site for the UNESCO-supported English Riviera Global Geopark, while the South West Coast Path offers breath-taking walks. If you want to learn more check out the Geopark Discovery Packages and other Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust Events.

Nearby Breakwater Beach has a cupboard full of awards, including the Breakwater Beach Blue Flag, Quality Coast Award, and is a Marine Conservation Society Good Beach Guide Recommended Beach.