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History & Heritage

The beautiful English Riviera has a fascinating history and is a very exciting location for the heritage enthusiast.

Torre Abbey and the Spanish Barn

Wonderful Torre Abbey on Torquay’s seafront is over 800 years old; you can visit its fine gatehouse, abbot’s tower and undercrofts as well as its beautiful works of art. The Abbey’s adjacent Spanish Barn was famously used to house prisoners captured from the Spanish Armada.

Torquay, Paignton & Brixham in the Napoleonic Wars

During the Napoleonic Wars the rich elite could no longer visit continental Europe and turned their attention to the warm, sheltered waters of the English Riviera. Brixham’s Berry Head National Nature Reserve still has well preserved Napoleonic forts from this period when it stood as an impressive guardian at the southern entrance to the Bay. The views here are quite spectacular with the sea on three sides.

Torquay - An Elegant Winter Resort

Torquay developed as an all year round holiday and health resort in the 19th century due to its mild winter climate and clean sea air. In 1833 Princess Victoria visited Torquay for the first time and Victoria Parade was named in honour of the place where she first stepped ashore. In the early 20th century Torquay changed from being simply a winter resort and became a popular summer destination attracting people from far and wide.

Torquay and Brixham in WWII

Early in 1944, the first of thousands of US Army personnel arrived in Torquay preparing for the buildup of forces in Southern England that would ultimately result in the launch of Operation Overlord, the springboard for the Allied invasion of German-occupied Western Europe. The two concrete slipways at Beacon Quay in Torquay Harbour were constructed for the embarkation of American troops. The outer harbour slipway at Brixham was also used for this purpose. The US Coastguard requisitioned Agatha Christie’s legendary holiday home Greenway (now National Trust) near Brixham leaving a now-famous mural behind as evidence of their visit.

Torquay and Brixham – Historic Sailing

Sailing and yachting have a long and illustrious history here on Devon’s glorious English Riviera with big international racing events and a host of championships talking place every year. Torbay Royal Regatta was the very first yachting regatta in the country to gain royal patronage. It celebrated its 200th Anniversary in 2013 and is still hugely popular every August. In 1948 Olympic sailing events took place in Tor Bay.

Famous People Who Stayed

You can find over 50 blue plaques highlighting some of the Bay’s most well known former residents and visitors. Famous authors include Flora Thompson, author of the Lark Rise to Candleford trilogy, Charles Kingsley, who penned the Water Babies plus Rudyard Kipling and poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning who came for the resort’s famous sea air. One of the country’s best loved and most popular hymns Abide With Me was written at the Berry Head Hotel in Brixham by the Reverend Henry Lyte and Charles Darwin stayed in Torquay. Engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel has a long association with the area with four blue plaques celebrating his life and local links. Scientist Oliver Heaviside, renowned in the field of electromagnetic theory, is recognised in Paignton. Paignton was also the home of sewing machine magnate Isaac Singer, at Oldway Mansion. There’s a plaque to Oscar Wilde at Babbacombe Cliff where he stayed whilst writing some of his famous works. Renowned architect Edwin Lutyens designed the Drum Inn at Cockington and there is a plaque on the door in his memory.

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Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

Ashfield

Address

Barton Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 4DP

Telephone
0844 474 2233

holiday@englishriviera.co.uk

Torquay

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

A Blue Plaque on Barton Road, Torquay, marks the spot of Ashfield, Agatha Christie's childhood home.

Type

Type:

Historic Site

More Details
Dates

Global Geopark - Babbacombe

Address

Bababcombe, Devon, TQ1 3LN

Telephone
08444742233

Bababcombe

Dates

In 2007 the English Riviera was designated a Global Geopark and is one of just 7 sites in the UK and Ireland to hold this special status.

Type

Type:

Environmental Attraction

More Details

Visit Website

Web Site
Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
Cockington Court

Address

Cockington Court, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 6XA

Telephone
01803 607230

Torquay

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

At the heart of Cockington Village lies Cockington Court, a manor house with roots into history, surrounded by acres of stunning country park. Today, the court prides itself in being a centre of creativity.
Providing a vibrant events programme and…

Type

Type:

Arts Centre
Key Features

Groups
Parking & Transport

Parking On Site
More Details

Visit Website

Web Site
Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
Agatha Christie Mile

Address

Torquay Seafront, (starting points: Grand or Imperial Hotels), Torquay, Devon, TQ2 6NT

Telephone
01803 211211

holiday@englishriviera.co.uk

Torquay

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

Drift back into the style and opulence of the Jazz Age as you retrace the steps of the world’s best-selling author along Torquay’s seafront.

Type

Type:

Sightseeing
Accessibility

Accessible to Wheelchair Users
More Details
Artizan Gallery

Address

7 Lucius Street, Torquay, TQ2 5UW

Telephone
01803 428626

info@artizangallery.co.uk

Torquay

Artizan is an independent, fine art gallery situated on the English Riviera's stunning coastline dedicated to celebrating the work of South Devon artists and championing the contemporary artistic talent as well as the established cultural heritage…

Type

Type:

Gallery

More Details

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Web Site
Rose Garden - Cockington

Address

Rear of Cockington Court, Cockington Village, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 6XA

Torquay

Behind the Manor House within Cockington Country Park, you will find the peaceful Tudor Rose Garden and the Walled Art Garden (managed by TDA), which is currently undergoing a transformation into an additional attraction and inspiring creative…

Type

Type:

Historic Garden

More Details
Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
Fairy Cove

Address

Paignton, Devon, TQ4 6DG

Telephone
01803 207975

beaches@torbay.gov.uk

Paignton

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

Fairy Cove is a little magical beach to the South of Paignton Sands, just over the Harbour wall, which is popular with families. Comprising red sand and shingle with impressive red sandstone cliffs at the back.

Type

Type:

Beach
Establishment Features

Dogs-Accepted
More Details

Visit Website

Web Site
Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
Oldway Gardens

Address

Torquay Road, PAIGNTON, Devon, TQ3 2TF

oldwaygardens@gmail.com

PAIGNTON

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

Oldway gardens are beautiful grade ll heritage gardens to found in Paignton in the heart of the English Riviera. The gardens and Oldway Mansion are often referred to as the Jewel in the Crown of Torbay. This 17 acre garden, which is open to the…

Type

Type:

Garden
Establishment Features

Dogs-Accepted
More Details

Visit Website

Web Site
Dates

Global Geopark - Brixham

Address

Brixham, Devon, TQ5 9AJ

Telephone
0844 474 2233

Brixham

Dates

In 2007 the English Riviera was designated a Global Geopark and is one of just 7 sites in the UK and Ireland to hold this special status.

Type

Type:

Environmental Attraction

More Details

Visit Website

Web Site

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History & Heritage

Torre Abbey and the Spanish Barn

Torquay, Paignton & Brixham in the Napoleonic Wars

Torquay - An Elegant Winter Resort

Torquay and Brixham in WWII

Torquay and Brixham – Historic Sailing

Famous People Who Stayed

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