Things To Do In Paignton

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Paignton Lions Fun Day And Family Dog Show

Our Community Fun Day and Dog Show is now in its 4th year and has been hugely successful to date so…

Walking in Agatha Christie’s footsteps

This event is part of the English Riviera Walking Festival. This breath taking route takes guests…

Sleeping Beauty

Paignton Panto Productions are back on our stage with the fabulous Sleeping Beauty! Prepare to be…

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…

Stairway To The Stars

Stairway to the Stars is a national talent competition open to Juniors aged 10 – 16 years and…

Aaaarrrr you with us shipmates?

This event is part of the English Riviera Walking Festival. The Brixham pirate festival has become…

Murder Mystery Afternoon Tea

The Mâori Murder Mystery’ – Join Moonstone Theatre Company to help them solve a mystery, whilst…

Agatha Christie At The Palace

Bijou Theatre Productions has gained a great reputation for its association with the ‘Queen of…

Children's Week

FREE children's entertainment and family fun all on Paignton Green. Pay us a visit and enjoy the…

The Sound of the Sixties with The Zoots

The Zoots are coming back to Paignton and they‘re bringing the Sounds of the Sixties! “The Zoots…

Jive Talkin’ perform the Bee Gees

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

Razzamataz Torbay - School of Razz

Local Performing Arts school summer showcase where students ages 6-18 perform a mixture of dance,…

Marldon Apple Pie Fair

The Marldon Apple Pie Fair has been going since 1888 in memory of local farmer, George Hill, who…

Train of Lights

The Christmas Train of Lights is now the must-see event in the South West festive calendar and of…

Disney's Little Mermaid Jnr

2pm and 6pm

The Counterfeit Seventies

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

Too Much Too Young

Pack your bags and get ready to board the Night boat to Cairo as we celebrate the iconic story of…

Murder at the Manor

‘Murder at the Manor’ – Join Moonstone Theatre Company to help them solve a mystery, whilst…

Three Men in a Boat

After the huge success of Old Herbaceous, GSP productions are back with a rip-roaring barrel of…

Bird songs – the dusk chorus

This event is part of the English Riviera Walking Festival. Clennon Lakes are the most important…

The Mersey Beatles

60th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF ‘A HARD DAY’S NIGHT’ The Mersey Beatles – the world’s favourite…

Paignton Open for Single Handed Dinghies (POSH)

Incorporating RS Vareo National Championship 10th-12th May POSH24 is being run on Saturday 11th &…

Agatha Christie's A Murder is Announced

An announcement in the local paper states the time and place of an imminent murder. What follows…

Murder on the Riviera Express

Amateur sleuths are invited to join us for a unique murder mystery experience aboard the very train…

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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