All you need to know about Torquay

Torquay is a town in Devon, England, located 18 miles from Exeter and 28 miles from Plymouth. It lies on the southwestern coast of England, where it looks out to a fishing port, and adjoins the neighbouring Paington. The town has a population of more than 65,000, and the predominant language spoken is English.

Torquay has been around since Palaeolithic times. Traces of early man were discovered there and are said to date back as far as 40,000 years. The name Torquay is an amalgamation of Torre and quay. Torre is the ancient village that Torqay used to be, and the quay part of the word refers to its waterside location.

Torquay was, at one stage, occupied by the Romans and later served as a sheltered anchorage during the Napoleonic wars. The town’s economy was originally centred on fishing and agriculture, but is now focused more on tourism.

Today, Torquay is a fashionable seaside resort with fun sights and attractions. It was famously the setting for the comedy series, Fawlty Towers, and is especially popular in summer. It has a palm-lined seafront and charming red cliffs, and is known attract both families and party goers.

Popular attractions include Babbacombe Theatre, Kents Cavern and Babbacombe Model Village – which is great for children. Other sites worth seeing are Cockington Country Park and Meadfoot Beach. Torquay has a history of hosting sailing events and regattas, the tradition of which was started in the 19th century. The town also hosts various other sporting events.

The town has a total of two train stations – Torquay railway station and Torre railway station. It connects to the UK motorway network via the A380, which means it’s easy to reach by car. There are several buses that run through Torquay include the number 12 and X46. The number 12 bus runs from Brixham to Newton Abbott and X46 connects Exeter and Paignton.

Complete your trip to Torquay with a stay in a SilverDoor serviced apartment.