THINGS TO DO

Paignton

The old part of the town has a lovely church close to the Bishops Tower which formed part of a 14th century palace owned by the Bishop of Exeter. The Victorian town centre is pedestrianised and has a mix of the usual high street named shops as well as many individual local traders. Take time out to have a cream tea or a meal at one of the many tea shops or restaurants. Visit Victoria Park, a short level walk away and relax in the gardens overlooking the attractive ponds while children can play in the park and have ice cream from the cafe.

Paignton Cinema

The multi-plex cinema showing all the current movies is only two minutes walk away.

Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway

The Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway is a short walk away. Enjoy a nostalgic steam train journey along the lovely coastline to Kingswear on the River Dart and experience some fantastic scenery. Try the special Round Robin which includes a steam train ride to Kingswear, a ferry crossing to Dartmouth, a trip along the River Dart to Totnes and an open top bus ride back to Paignton.

Superb beaches, Splashdown Quay West with heated water, flume rides, swimming pool, sunbathing terrace and toddler splash lagoon. Have fun on the lake with the Swan pedaloes and bumper boats or simply relax on the green or the beach.

Torquay with its harbour side cafe culture, marina, shops and theatre is a short bus/train/car ride away. Why not call in to The Grand Hotel for morning/afternoon tea, read the papers or simply look at the view from the lounge. Living Coasts, part of Paignton Zoo, is great for the kids and has a terrace area accessed from the cafe which has fantastic views over the bay to Brixham. Torquay is also the location of Torre Abbey a preserved monastery, historic house and garden.However, this is closed until 2015 for refurbishment.

Dartmouth is a natural safe haven for boats of all sizes and is steeped in history. Dartmouth is the home of the British Naval College where members of the Royal family were in attendance. Take a boat trip down the River Dart to Totnes where you will be entertained by the humorous commentary given by the ship's Captain. The home where Sir Walter Raleigh used to live can be seen from The Dart. Browse the many shops and the weekly market mostly provided by local traders. Take a seat in the gardens, eat an ice cream and watch the boats go by. A small boat ride to the mouth of The Dart takes you to the 600 year old castle which used to protect the entrance to the river from intruders, and there is also the nearby church and tearoom.

A short bus/car ride away or if you want a change you can take a ferry. Well worth a visit for its picturesque harbour with its replica of The Golden Hind. Brixham is home to many artists and is one of the largest fishing ports in England. Stroll round its Marina and pay a visit to the quaint shops and fish restaurants. We recommend No15 as a nice place to eat.

The popular Model Village can be visited all year round with special events at Christmas including a 3-D film show. Be transported back over 100 years with a visit to Bygones which includes a 28 foot model railway, WW1 Trench and Militaria Displays. The Cliff railway opened in 1926 and descends 240 ft from Babbacombe Downs to the beach. If a Devon Cream Tea is what you want then we can recommend Angels on the Downs - fantastic! Kents Cavern prehistoric caves is a protected National Monument offering guided tours, cafe and children's activities.

Less than 3 miles away is Cockington, a lovely village which is a mile inland from the sea where you can have a ride on a pony and trap, see thatched cottages, walk round the country park, visit the Drum Inn pub or the old Hall where there are a number of craft shops and a cafe or simply have a picnic overlooking the cricket pitch.

A market town located 7 miles from Paignton with its weekly markets and regular horse racing. Decoy Park is a good place to take the kids and kayaks can be hired and sailed on the lake. Tuckers Maltings is a traditional working malt house open to the public with guided tours and a free sample of the local brew at the end!

Totnes is accessible by bus, train and car or you can take a ferry boat from Kingswear along the River Dart to the Totnes historic steamer quay. It is the second oldest borough in England with an ancient Guildhall and Church, a Norman Castle and the North and East Gates. The town is an architectural feast to those interested in historic buildings, with fine examples of properties dating back to Norman, Medieval and Tudor times. For today's shoppers it has lots of independent local retailers on both sides of the main street.

Take a scenic train ride from Paignton to the centre of this lovely Cathedral city. Apart from the shops why not arrange to tour Exeter's medieval underground passages, have a guided tour of the Cathedral, see the world's longest stretch of uninterrupted vaulting and explore Exeter's hidden secrets on a free guided walk.

Reachable by bus, train or car Plymouth is 30 miles away with plenty of things to see and do. There is Plymouth Gin Distillery with over 200 years of distilling and Smeaton's Tower Lighthouse which was built in 1759 and was originally located on Eddystone reef and now stands on The Ho. Go back in time to Drake's Plymouth and see how a merchant or sea captain might have lived in the Elizabethan house or spend time round the large marina and harbour cafes.