Top 10 things to do in Torquay

1. Babbacombe and Oddicombe Beaches

2.Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves

Created over 2.5 million years ago, Kents Cavern features Britain’s oldest known prehistoric caves. Guided tours through the underground labyrinth of caves reveal the remains of mammoths, sabre-toothed cats, woolly rhinos and more. Witness stunning rock formations and natural caverns, not to mention some of the oldest prehistoric tools discovered in the UK. Afterward, enjoy a bite to eat at Firestone Kitchen or try your hand at cave painting or digging for relics. It’s fun for the whole family!

3. Babbacombe Model Village

Step inside a world of miniature marvels at Babbacombe Model Village but be careful where you step! Among Torquay’s best family-friendly attractions, Babbacombe Model Village offers a nostalgic trip from the 1960s to the present day through the use of miniature animated scenes and British humour. Some of the most popular scenes include Piccadilly Circus, Stonehenge and London’s Shard. Visitors can also enjoy the 4D cinema, a crazy golf course and four acres of award-winning gardens.

4. The English Riviera Wheel

Don’t miss an incredible bird’s-eye view of the English Riviera and Torquay atop the English Riviera Wheel. Situated in the Pavilion Gardens, the English Riviera Wheel offers one-of-a-kind 360-degree views high above the Princess Gardens, Princess Theatre and Torquay Harbour. Each trip takes approximately 12 minutes. You can also enjoy the scenic harbour view while you refuel with refreshments at the wheel’s timber-decked café.

5. Cockington Court and Country Park

About a mile from the Torquay seafront you’ll find Cockington Court, a perennial favourite of visitors due to its sprawling grounds and impressive manor house. Stroll among the sculpture garden, craft studios for potters and glassblowers and the latest exhibits and then take home masterpieces crafted onsite by local artisans. No visit is complete without stopping by the nearby Cockington Country Park, renowned for its rolling countryside, manicured gardens, ornamental lakes and scenic woodlands.

6. Torquay’s Dinosaur World

Torquay’s Dinosaur World is a kitschy attraction that will delight children of all ages going through their dinosaur phase. Located in the picturesque Inner Harbour, Dinosaur World showcases life-size, scaled dinosaurs to make prehistoric history come alive. Learn more about the role of an anthropologist, digging for dinosaur bones and discovering clues about the past. Interactive exhibits allow you to grab a triceratops by its distinctive horns or put your head inside the powerful jaws of a full-size T-rex. Afterward you can stroll along Inner Harbour for souvenir shops, galleries, tea rooms and restaurants.

7. Paignton Zoo

Located in Devon, Paignton Zoo features over 2,000 animals and plants spread across 80 acres of fun. Outdoor play areas, a nature trail, keeper talks and more allow visitors of all ages to learn more about the zoo’s conservation efforts for various endangered species. All of the zoo’s animals, from Asiatic lions to mountain zebras, live in natural-themed exhibits to make them comfortable.

8. Bygones Museum

Are you nostalgic about bygone eras? Reminisce as you view exhibits in Bygones, a three-storey museum found near the Babbacombe Model Village. Stroll down a cobblestone street straight out of the Victorian era or hop aboard a 27-ton steam engine as it roars to life. Visit the shops of yesteryear, including a haberdashery, apothecary and sweet shop, or experience the trenches of World War I firsthand. Observe the colourful post-war packaging and household items of the 1950s and 1960s. There’s something for everyone to appreciate in this museum dedicated to nostalgia through the ages.

9. Torre Abbey

Learn more about medieval and Georgian history and architecture with a visit to Torre Abbey, one of the best-preserved monastic sites in Devon. Interactive exhibits tell the Abbey’s fascinating story at this award-winning attraction welcoming visitors of all ages for over 800 years. Torre Abbey also houses a strong art collection with 600 pieces by prominent artists throughout history, including William Blake, Edward Burne-Jones, William Holman Hunt, William Thrupp, Damien Hirst and Anthony Gormley.

10. Crealy Theme Park & Resort

As the largest theme park in Devon, Crealy Theme Park & Resort features over 60 rides and attractions for an adventurous day out with the family. Cool off on a hot summer’s day on the Tidal Wave Log Flume or splashing through the Soak Zone. Other favourite attractions include The Flying Dutchman, Maximus Rollercoaster, The Twister, Vortex, The Lost World of Atlantis and Dino Jeeps. The park also has live shows, an indoor Adventure Zone with aerial walkways and climbing nets and over 200 farm and zoo animals to observe, including alpacas, goats, emus, ponies, wallabies, meerkats and tortoises.