Things To Do In Paignton

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The Nutcracker Ballet

Ballet Theatre UK bring to life one of Tchaikovsky’s most famous and popular compositions, The…

Dubs at the Beach

Dubs at the Beach (DATB) is a one day Volkswagen show that takes place along a designated area of…

Torbay Sea Angling Festival

Welcome to the Torbay Sea Angling Festival The long established event attracts well over 3,250…

Rave On: The Ultimate 50s and 60s Experience

Charting the meteoric rise of Rock and Roll, Rave On is a thrilling tour through music’s most…

Family Yoga

Family Yoga is a fun and engaging yoga class to connect with Nature in a perfect setting…

The Counterfeit Seventies

Having toured extensively with The Counterfeit Sixties show they now bring you their unique…

Jive Talkin’ perform the Bee Gees

Renowned as the original and very best Bee Gees tribute show, and THE ONLY Bee Gees tribute show…

High Jinx Show

The High Jinx show is back on tour for 2025 with another jam packed show filled with amazing magic,…

Windrush - Taste of the Caribbean

In June 1948, hundreds of Caribbean men, women, and children arrived in London on a ship called the…

Death Of A Suffragette

An original classic whodunnit. In February 1935 an historian was working on a new book about the…

Viva La Vida - The Greatest Hits of Coldplay

For over 25 years COLDPLAY have been recognised as quite simply one of the biggest bands of the…

Tenors Unlimited

Tenors Unlimited are excited to announce their new show ‘Great Songs Tour’. The dynamic duo – Paul…

Reginald D Hunter - Paignton Comedy Club

Chuckl. proudly presents Paignton Comedy Club. This is stand-up at its best! Featuring Reginald D…

UNESCO Global Geopark sea grass bed kayak tour

Embark on a captivating sea grass kayak tour in the English Riviera Geopark, guided by a passionate…

Lucky Seven Club - A Midsummer Mayhem

Roll up! Roll up! The South West’s finest purveyors of burlesque and cabaret, The Lucky 7 Club, are…

Paignton Comedy Club

The Palace Theatre proudly presents Paignton Comedy Club. When it comes to stand up comedy join us…

Sherlock's Excellent Adventure

Our Star Theatre Company present their acclaimed comedy, following sell-out runs at Brighton and…

Alfie Moore: A Face for Radio

Somewhere in a parallel universe little Alfie’s natural comedic performance skills were recognised…

Lucky Seven Club - Spooktacular Soiree

A decadent night of top international freaky deaky burlesque performances with a hell raisin’ after…

Torbay Half Marathon & 10k

Welcome to the Torbay Half Marathon and 10k on the English Riviera. Be part of something special as…

Celebrating the Geopark Through Shanty Singing

The Out of Tunas are a local Shanty Band uniquely influenced by the Geopark's History and Heritage.…

The 80s Movie Mixtape

The 80s Movie Mixtape is a concert experience like no other! Join us as we take you on a journey…

The Irish House Party

At last, an Irish music show that has come out of Ireland without the clichés that usually…

Farmer for a Day at Occombe Farm

A whole day of farming fun just for kids! Help our farm rangers with feeding, mucking out and…

Paignton

One of the brightest jewels in the English Riviera’s crown, Paignton has a long stretch of beautiful and easily accessible beachfront with a traditional promenade and green. It’s a superb holiday haven for everyone from fun-seeking families to those looking for romantic and activity breaks. Paignton is part of the UNESCO accredited English Riviera Global Geopark recognising its extraordinary natural beauty and heritage. There's plenty to do here all-year-round with a huge number of indoor and outdoor attractions – and it’s dog friendly too!

Paignton Harbour

Don’t miss Devon’s 18th century Paignton Harbour, a real maritime gem with a bevy of boats, a historic harbour wall plus delightful restaurants and cafes where you can sample the famous local fish or try some tapas. This is England’s Seafood Coast with delicious fresh fish coming in daily from nearby Brixham. Tucked away behind Paignton Harbour is Fairy Cove a hidden Devon beach to discover. You’ll also love the gardens at nearby Roundham Head with its jaw-dropping views and access to Goodrington Sands, another spectacular beach with many family attractions including Splashdown Quaywest and the Seashore Centre.

The Steam Train

Enjoy a day out on the steam train, which takes you on a picturesque voyage of discovery along beautiful coves and beaches, over historic viaducts and along the stunning River Dart to Kingswear. You can cross over to Dartmouth and take a scenic riverboat to visit Agatha Christie’s famous riverside residence at Greenway (now National Trust)

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Things to do in Paignton

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Family Days out

As well as the stunning coastline and beautiful beaches, the English Riviera has endless options for family fun including underground caverns, a magnificent model village, a steam train, a world-class zoo, an historic funicular railway, an 800 year old Abbey, a huge waterpark, a historic pier, Agatha Christie’s famous riverside residence and much more.
Excursions, Day Trips & Tours

The English Riviera is a designated UNESCO Global Geopark in South Devon. It is one of only eight in the UK and 140 in the world. A geopark is an area of globally recognised unique geological interest with fascinating landscape, coastlines and places.
Beaches

The South Devon coastline offers an ever-changing feast of sandy beaches, rocky outcrops, secluded coves, historic viaducts, elevated cliff tops, rockpools and wooded areas. And Devon’s famous English Riviera, a designated UNESCO Global Geopark, is the perfect base to experience it all.
On The Water

The English Riviera is set around a large horseshoe shaped bay and sheltered by the rolling hills of Dartmoor - both of which provides a warm microclimate, and safe, shallow waters. Our long sandy beaches, secluded coves and crystal clear waters create a mediterrean vibe, and mean that water-based activities are the favourite thing to do for both locals and visitors here in Devon's Beautiful Bay.
Animals & Wildlife

If you love animals and wildlife then Devon’s English Riviera has a host of attractions just for you. There are lots of places to explore that will create wonderful memories to take home.
Explore The Coast

The South Devon coastline offers an ever-changing feast of sandy beaches, secluded coves, historic viaducts and wooded areas.
Art & Culture

Beyond the wilds and beauty of Tor Bay’s iconic coastline lies a vibrant arts and culture scene of unique museums, diverse theatres and creative festivals.
Boat Trips & Ferries

Devon’s beautiful English Riviera is set within a sheltered bay with stunning coastal scenery. The rich geological landscape is so unique that it has received international recognition and is a designated UNESCO Global Geopark, one of only 8 in the UK and 140 in the world.

Family Fun

Historic Paignton Pier offers plenty of fun activities for everyone, from the amusement arcade to the choice of rides and unrivalled views of the bay. Children will love the free Geoplay Park with special features for toddlers and juniors to explore and enjoy. Visit world-renowned Paignton Zoo with its acres of gardens, huge numbers of exotic species and wet weather options including covered boardwalks, reptile tropics, desert glasshouse, undercover bird show, indoor play areas and spacious restaurant. Don’t miss nearby Occombe Farm with its animals, nature trail, café and farm shop. Torbay Velopark offers safe family cycling with bike, helmet and baby trailer hire on offer.

Parks and Gardens

Youngs Park at nearby Goodrington is a natural habitat for swans, geese and wild birds and is perfect for family picnics with children of all ages plus the family dog. Enjoy the Boating Lake (where model boat enthusiasts are often seen launching their treasures), have a go at crazy golf and enjoy some delightful walks in the parkland and up into the terraced Rock Walk Gardens, which are lit up at dusk.

Relaxing and Walking

One of the many joys of Paignton is that it’s so easy to get around with the beautiful sandy beaches, the promenade and the green an easy stroll along flat paths. The stunning South West Coast Path stretches for miles in both directions so walkers can enjoy the wonderful scenery and breathtaking views all the way to Brixham or Torquay and beyond. Why not plan a fascinating walk along England’s Seafood Coast?

Watersports

Goodrington Sands in Paignton is one of the best beaches on Devon’s English Riviera. The half-mile long sands with its crystal clear waters are perfect for indulging your passion for water sports. The coastline is simply idyllic to explore in a kayak or on a paddleboard and there’s water skiing, wakeboarding, coasteering and scuba diving available too. Paignton Sailing Club offers dinghy sailing with a selection of RYA courses from beginners to more advanced sailing with spinnakers. Boat trips abound and unforgettable cruises are available to Torquay, Brixham and Dartmouth plus fishing trips, wildlife cruises and evening cruises.

Evenings Out

When the sun goes down, Paignton buzzes with activity. Why not take in one of the superb shows for all ages at the historic Palace Theatre? You can choose from award-winning restaurants, bars and cafés, many with stunning sea views and there are plenty of choices for families, friends or a romantic evening. You’ll find a huge choice of movies to watch at the state-of-the-art Vue Cinema complex and there are events galore in Paignton to keep everyone entertained. Check out the year-round calendar of great festivals including the vibrant Paignton Festival, Children’s Week, English Riviera Air Show, Paignton Regatta, Occombe Festival and many more.

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The official tourism website for the English Riviera

This Official Tourism Website is managed by the English Riviera BID Company Ltd.

Company number 10237792

Registered address 5 Vaughan Parade, Torquay, Devon, England, TQ2 5JG.

Telephone 01803 211211 enquiries@englishrivierabid.co.uk

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