The English Riviera - 3* Torquay

It may face the English channel, rather than the Med, but the coast around Torquay has long been dubbed the English Riviera - famous for palm trees, piers and russet-red cliffs. At first glance, Torquay itself is the quintessential English seaside resort with a mild microclimate and an azure circle of bay. Lovely to visit at any time of the year, Torquay enjoys a wonderfully mild climate and higher than average UK temperatures. It's even warm enough for palm trees to flourish all year round. The Torbay Palm has become the symbol of the English Riviera and has thrived in the area since it was brought over from New Zealand in 1820. NEW excursion for 2026 - tranquil Buckfast Abbey & Gardens with a steam heritage train ride aboard the South Devon Railway (NB not 4 day tour in May)Highlights
- Hotel for 3, 4, 5 or 6 nights in Torquay with breakfast & dinner- Visit to Devon Coast - Brixham & Dartmouth (All Tours)- Free time in Torquay (All Tours)- Buckfast Abbey & Gardens with entrance to The Monastic Way Exhibition (not 4 day Tour)- Return ride on the South Devon Railway Buckfastleigh - Totnes return (not 4 day tour)- Visit to Plymouth (included for 7 day tour only)- Tea/coffee after dinner- Use of leisure facilities- Entertainment (some nights)\n

Your Itinerary
DAY 1 - After joining your holiday coach to the south coast enjoy an en-route stop for refreshments. Arrive at your resort hotel in Torquay late afternoon to check in for your 3, 4, 5 or 6-night stay. DBB\n\nDAY 2 - 3 (4, 5 or 6) At leisure in Torquay with one, two or three included excursions and one or two free days in Torquay (depending on holiday duration)\n\nEnjoy a day at leisure in Torquay on the magnificent 'English Riviera' with its palm-lined seafront and russet-red cliffs - perfect for a promenade. There is a good smattering of cafes and restaurants as well as the Torquay Museum (closed Monday & Tuesday 10.00 - 16.00 - entrance approx. £10 pp in 20205), full of local history and artefacts with a gallery dedicated to Agatha Christie, the 'Queen of Crime' born in Torquay in 1890.\n\nINCLUDED EXCURSIONS\nDEVON COAST - BRIXHAM & DARTMOUTH (ALL TOURS)\nAlong the famous Devon coastline to Brixham. This resort is primarily a fishing port within Torbay and has a long and rich history. In the lee of Berry Head, famous for its Napoleonic connections, its lighthouse and magnificent limestone cliffs, Brixham remains a popular resort with a rich maritime history and plenty of activities for the young and old alike. Then onto Dartmouth, another beautiful and well-preserved old port. As an area of outstanding natural beauty in South Devon, Dartmouth is truly beautiful and the River Dart provides many photographic delights, as does the town itself.\n\nBUCKFAST ABBEY & SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY (NOT 4 DAY TOUR)\nFull English breakfast this morning before boarding the coach for your included excursion to experience serenity and inspiration at Buckfast Abbey. Nestled in a valley on the edge of Dartmoor on the River Dart, the Abbey is home to a working community of Benedictine monks. It boasts a fascinating history and was founded by King Canute in 1018 and was at the heart of the community until Catholic monasteries were dissolved by King Henry VIII. It fell into disrepair until 1882 when a group of French monks came to live on the site and painstakingly rebuilt the magnificent building you see today. Entrance is included to The Monastic Way Exhibition, an immersive presentation of Benedictine monastic life, from its origins to the present day. You will also find a gift shop, restaurant and beautiful themed gardens (Lavender, Physic, Sensory, and Millennium).\n\nThis afternoon step aboard a world of nostalgia at the South Devon Railway, where heritage steam trains gently meander alongside the river Dart through glorious Devon scenery. Head to charming Buckfastleigh station with its attractive gardens and historic locomotives to enjoy a scenic steam train ride to Totnes Riverside Station and back against the backdrop of Dartrmoor and the beautiful Devon Hills. NB May be operated by diesel engine if steam is unavailable on the day. Return to Torquay later this afternoon.\n\nOPTIONAL EXCURSION (6 DAY TOUR ONLY / INCLUDED FOR 7 DAY TOUR)\nMARITIME CITY OF PLYMOUTH\nBoard your coach today for your excursion to Plymouth, Devon's fabulous port city. It's known for its maritime heritage and the history-rich Barbican district with narrow, cobbled streets and Plymouth Hoe - a cafe-dotted, wide, grassy headland offering captivating views of a boat-studded bay. Sutton Harbour is home to the National Marine Aquarium, where sharks and rays glide in a deep tank. (Admission not included - approx £26 pp in 2025)) Also in the harbour are several marinas and a fish market, the Plymouth Fisheries. The Mayflower Steps are where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for the New World in 1620. You may like to visit the Mayflower Museum (open 10.00 - 16.00 entrance approx £4pp in 2025)\n\nReturn Day - After breakfast, it's time to return homewards breaking the journey at a suitable stop for refreshments. Arrive back at your local joining points this evening3* Headland Hotel & Spa
\n\n\nThis elegant 3* Torquay hotel is situated in one of the most beautiful parts of Torquay on the English Riviera, sitting majestically on the headland looking out to sea. It is set in two acres of magnificent ground and offers stunning views across Torbay with numerous coastal walks nearby. \n\nThe Hotel has 78 en-suite rooms each equipped with beverage making facilities & flat screen TV. There is free Wi-Fi in the public areas and there is a lift to most floors. \n\nThere is also a Sauna, Mini Gym, Gallery Lounge and Sea View Terrace as well as the spacious and elegant Romanoff Restaurant. Disabled facilities are also available.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n