What to do in Torquay

Activities, attractions and tours

Torquay showing night scenes, boating and a coastal town
Babbacombe Model Village and Gardens showing a park and flowers
Torquay showing rocky coastline, a beach and general coastal views
Torquay featuring general coastal views, a marina and a bay or harbour
Torquay

Torquay Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Torquay has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Torquay is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Torquay to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Torquay Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Torquay.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Torquay attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

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Top places to visit

1. Princess Theatre

Attending a show at the Princess Theatre is a favorite activity for many regular visitors to the seafront resort town of Torquay. Expect to see everything from famous musicals to live music acts to stand-up comedy shows and even burlesque. Choose from shows targeted at a wide variety of audiences, and find something to please all age groups.
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See a stand-up show, musical or other live production at this much-loved coastal theater, located close to many of Torquay’s most popular attractions.

2. Babbacombe Beach

Relax and soak up the sun on the shingle sands of Babbacombe Beach. Take the 1920s Babbacombe Cliff Railway to the top of the cliffs and walk along the highest promenade in England. Fish from the breakwater, take a sailboat out on the waves or scuba dive beneath them.
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Babbacombe Beach featuring kayaking or canoeing and general coastal views

3. Torre Abbey Sands

Relax with other vacationers on Torre Abbey Sands, Torquay’s main beach. Try windsurfing on the waves or rent watercraft such as paddleboats and kayaks. Enjoy the surrounding parkland or take a short walk to one of Torquay’s other attractions.
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Abbey Sands which includes swimming, a coastal town and a beach

4. Meadfoot Beach

Meadfoot Beach is located a little further away from the action at Torquay Harbour than some of the area’s other beaches. This means it is often slightly more peaceful, especially if you visit during a weekday. Bring the whole family along for a day of relaxation and fun, try your hand at water sports, and take the time to enjoy a pleasant walk inspired by a famous crime writer.
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Walk along a scenic coastal path from Torquay Harbour to reach this well-maintained beach, a favorite with water sports fans.

5. Torre Abbey

Learn about the history of Torre Abbey and the roles it has played throughout English history. See historic paintings by famous artists, with collections ranging from battle scenes and marine landscapes to images of the pre-industrial British countryside and historical portraits. Wander the beautiful gardens and admire a wide variety of exotic plants.
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Torre Abbey which includes heritage architecture

6. Babbacombe Model Village and Gardens

Explore the miniature world of Babbacombe Model Village and Gardens that recreates buildings with a wide variety of architectural styles, along with famous British landmarks such as the Shard and Stonehenge. Find the tiny residents, from the animated ‘Arry to the fire-breathing dragon on the castle. Wander through the award-winning gardens or catch a 4-D film in the special effects cinema.
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Babbacombe Model Village and Gardens showing outdoor art, a small town or village and a park

7. Inner Harbour

The Inner Harbour is the area of Torquay Harbour where yacht-owners looking for long-term berth moor their boats. Set against the pretty backdrop of the strip, with its lovely historic buildings, the Inner Harbour looks like it could have come straight off a postcard. Go for a walk here to enjoy the sights and sounds of the harbor, then take the time to explore the other attractions in the area.
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Admire the beautiful yachts moored in this picturesque harbor, which sits within easy walking distance of many of Torquay’s main attractions.

8. Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves

Explore the rusty red tunnels and caves at Kents Cavern. See cave paintings and fossils of Ice Age animals. View an exhibit on the Kents Cavern jawbone, which is 41,000 years old. Take children on a woodland trail quest and let them play in an archeological dig area, then relax with a Devonshire cream tea in the café.
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Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves featuring caves

Recommended things to do in Torquay

Number of things to do
19
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
Wooden Duck Painting or Pottery Painting: CA $10
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Torquay

Discover the most popular places to visit in Torquay

Princess Theatre

Princess Theatre

See a stand-up show, musical or other live production at this much-loved coastal theater, located close to many of Torquay’s most popular attractions.

Princess Theatre
Babbacombe Beach featuring kayaking or canoeing and general coastal views

Babbacombe Beach

This unspoiled cove was once the home of fishermen and smugglers. Now it’s a popular beach on the English Riviera coastline.

Babbacombe Beach
Abbey Sands which includes swimming, a coastal town and a beach

Torre Abbey Sands

Torquay’s most popular beach is a great spot for watersports or relaxing, all just a moment from the town center.

Torre Abbey Sands
Meadfoot Beach

Meadfoot Beach

Walk along a scenic coastal path from Torquay Harbour to reach this well-maintained beach, a favorite with water sports fans.

Meadfoot Beach
Cockington Country Park

Cockington Country Park

Explore the great outdoors at Cockington Country Park, a lovely green space in Torquay. Wander the beautiful beaches and seaside in this relaxing area.

Cockington Country Park
Torre Abbey which includes heritage architecture

Torre Abbey

The best-preserved medieval monastery in Devon and Cornwall is now a popular art gallery, with specialist exhibits exploring 19th-century paintings.

Torre Abbey
Babbacombe Model Village and Gardens showing outdoor art, a small town or village and a park

Babbacombe Model Village and Gardens

Visit this miniature world, which has been growing since 1963. See buildings, people and animals recreated with a touch of British humor.

Babbacombe Model Village and Gardens
Inner Harbour

Inner Harbour

Admire the beautiful yachts moored in this picturesque harbor, which sits within easy walking distance of many of Torquay’s main attractions.

Inner Harbour
Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves featuring caves

Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves

Duck under stalactites, wander through tunnels and learn about in the oldest human dwelling in Britain.

Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves

Explore areas of Torquay

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Torquay City Centre

4.5/5(10 area reviews)

Torquay City Centre is a destination visitors seek out for is great bars, beautiful seaside views, and captivating waterfront views. You might also want to check out attractions like Princess Theatre or Torquay Marina while you're exploring the neighborhood.

Torquay City Centre
Babbacombe Model Village and Gardens featuring a park

Babbacombe

Marvel at the beautiful red cliffs, clear sea views and pretty beaches of this district filled with natural beauty and top tourist attractions.

Babbacombe

 

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Day trip destinations from Torquay

Newton Abbot

Newton Abbot

Photo "Stokeinteignhead" by Derek Harper (CC BY-SA) / Cropped from original
Photo by Derek Harper (CC BY-SA)

Stokeinteignhead