One of the nicest seaside resorts anywhere in England in my book has to be Torquay, which some refer to as the English Riviera. It is not difficult to see why praise is bestowed upon this ’’Queen of Watering Places’’. For this gorgeous town has a lovely position and often gets the best of the English weather-there are even palm trees to be seen along the sea front. Then in the 19 th and 20 th centuries the resort attracted a lot of well to do people including the American born Isaac Singer, the sewing machine magnate, and the brilliant crime writer Agatha Christie.
It is surrounding by utterly beautiful countryside and the town itself has great natural beauty. There are several nice beaches and the harbour is very picturesque, bustling and great for good photographs.Clustered around are some fascinating shops, amusement centers, kiosks and all the traditional fun one associates with the English seaside. The accommodation picture in Torquay is superb. It has several de luxe hotels including the 5 star Imperial Hotel, numerous 2/3 star hotels and numerous spotlessly clean and homely bed and breakfast establishments. You can great fish and chips in Torquay - and at nearby Paignton and Brixham- other traditional English food, such as steak and kidney pie, and you also have a very wide choice of sophisticated bistros, Continental, Middle Eastern and Oriental restaurants. Indian visitors will be pleased to know that there are a number of Indian restaurants in the town and most of them serve fairly authentic, if pricey, Indian cuisine.
The shopping centre in Torquay is also excellent and there are a number of classy, specialist shops. There is plenty to see and do in Torquay ranging from lively Summer Shows, elegant discos, friendly pubs, live bands performing in the larger hotels, the model village at Babacombe and lovely Cockington. At the latter there are gift shops, pony rides and absolutely idyllic thatched-roofed cottages to browse. There are also several themed attractions to explore. Torquay is also a wonderful base for exploring the delights of South Devon including the capital city of Exeter, with Paignton and Brixham on the doorstep and lovely Dartmouth not very far away. It is well worth a visit !