Things To Do In Paignton

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Swing From Paris

Swing from Paris are an all-string jazz quartet of violin (Fenner Curtis), guitars (Andy Bowen and…

Torbay Steam Fair

Torbay Steam Fair in South Devon provides three days of attractions for the whole family and has…

An Audience at the Palace

Monthly talks with interesting folk on fabulous subjects! A time to socialise, discuss and learn…

Shiver Me Timbers

Take on the Shiver Me Timbers 8 mile trail event along the Coast Path in Torbay. Your hunt for the…

Torbay Dance Festival

Open Dance Festival 7 April to 14 April 2026 inc Adjudicator is Angela Whittle This Festival does…

Riviera Classic Car Show

With the current layout the show is more a part of the Paignton Festival than ever. The display of…

Paignton Harbour Market

Stalls will vary but normally include local produce, arts and crafts, pottery, jewellery etc…

Paignton Open for Single Handed Dinghies (POSH)

Paignton Open for Single Handers (POSH) was founded in 2012 as a replacement for our Spring Regatta…

Sound and Vision - A Tribute to David Bowie

Fasten your seatbelts – the Starman is here! ‘Sound & Vision – A tribute to David Bowie’ was…

NEW - A Coastal Sensory Journey

THIS EVENT IS PART OF THE ENGLISH RIVIERA WALKING FESTIVAL Awaken your senses and build a deeper…

ITCA (Topper) South West Traveller

ITCA (Topper) South West Traveller - Dinghy racing, approximately 130 boats launching from the…

Jive Talkin’ perform the Bee Gees

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

The Doobie Experience

The Doobie Experience is the UK’s ultimate tribute to the legendary Doobie Brothers, delivering a…

The Festival Players present Agatha Christie’s Verdict

As part of this year's Agatha Christie Festival, audiences are invited to experience a rare…

Dom Joly: The Trigger Happy TV – Live! 25th-anniversary tour

It’s been twenty-five years since Trigger Happy TV burst onto our screens, transforming the hidden…

Genesis Connected

Celebrating the music of Genesis and the biggest selling acts connected: Peter Gabriel, Phil…

Fleetwood Mac and Tom Petty Legacy Show

Europe’s only tribute to Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Two…

Terry Pratchett- Fantasy day

Celebrate the incredible work of Terry Pratchett at Paignton Library's fantasy themed day. Join the…

Evening with Peter Cox

Go West - We Close Our Eyes... And Other Stories An Intimate Evening with singer, Peter Cox Go West…

An Evening With Jimmy Tarbuck

JIMMY TARBUCK OBE, one of the most popular household names from the golden era of British stand up,…

An Intimate Evening with Trevor Horn

From Seal to Frankie Goes to Hollywood, from ABC to Yes, from Grace Jones to Belle and Sebastian,…

Paignton Motorbike Day

In Association with Torbay Armed Forces Weekend, sponsored by Torbay Veterans Breakfast Club and…

Stay and Rave: Hello Kitty Cat

Join us at Paignton Library for a fun children's party. Popular party music, dress up and play…

Arrival – The Hits Of ABBA

50 years since ABBA’s iconic ‘Arrival’ Album first lit up the charts, the multi-award-winning show…

Things to do in Paignton

Paignton has plenty to do all-year-round with a huge number of indoor and outdoor attractions – and it’s dog friendly too! 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.

Family Friendly Paignton Attractions

Paignton is a great place to base yourself if you have little ones. With a long stretch of beach on your doorstep its a great place to spend the afternoon making sandcastles or searching in rockpools. When the beach fun ends, discover a great day out at Paignton Zoo, or keep the kids entertained at Paignton Pier. There's the Geopark play area, a Cinema, Crazy Pirate Golf and so much more. Don’t miss Torbay Velopark offering safe family cycling with bike, helmet and baby trailer hire.

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).

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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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.

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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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Highlights

Things to do in Paignton

Family Friendly Paignton Attractions

Paignton Harbour

The Steam Train

Parks and Gardens

Relaxing and Walking

Watersports

Evenings Out

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