By The Hosting Company | Your local hosts on the English Riviera
If you are planning a family holiday on the English Riviera, you are in for a treat. Torquay is one of those rare places that genuinely delivers for every age, from toddlers who want nothing more than sand between their toes to older children who need a proper adventure to stay interested. After spending a lot of time getting to know this remarkable corner of Devon, we have put together our honest, local guide to the very best things to do with children in Torquay. Whether the sun is shining or the rain is coming in off the bay, there is always something brilliant to do here.
Beaches: The Heart of Every Torquay Family Holiday
Let’s start with the obvious, because the beaches really are that good.
Torre Abbey Sands is the main town beach and the easiest starting point for families. It’s broad, sandy and calm, with good facilities and cafés right on the seafront. Children can paddle safely in the shallow water while parents watch from the promenade with an ice cream. The beach huts are the quintessential English seaside backdrop and the whole stretch has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere.
For something a little more special, Meadfoot Beach is a short walk around the headland and well worth the effort. It’s quieter, has rockpools to explore along the edges and the sea is noticeably calmer. Children who are interested in what lives under the rocks will be in heaven here.
The most exciting beach experience for families, though, is the trip to Oddicombe Beach via the Babbacombe Cliff Railway. This Victorian funicular has been carrying visitors down the clifftop since 1926 and is an attraction in itself. Children absolutely love the little ride down, and Oddicombe at the bottom is golden, sheltered and backed by woodland. You can hire kayaks from the beach, and the café is excellent. Walk back up through the woods if you are feeling energetic, or simply take the railway back.
Anstey’s Cove, a short drive or walk north of the town, is a more rugged option for older children who are confident in the water. The snorkelling around the limestone rocks is exceptional, and the clear, calm water makes it feel almost Mediterranean on a good day.
Kents Cavern: Torquay’s Most Extraordinary Attraction
If you do one paid attraction in Torquay, make it Kents Cavern. This ancient limestone cave system is one of the most significant prehistoric sites in Britain, with human remains dating back over 40,000 years. It is older than Stonehenge, older than the Egyptian pyramids, and it is right on the edge of Torquay.
The guided tours take you through dramatic chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites that have been forming for hundreds of thousands of years. The guides are brilliant with children, and the torch-lit evening tours are genuinely magical for older kids. Even the most easily bored children tend to be completely captivated. The café at the site serves excellent food including stone-baked flatbreads they cheekily call Stone Age pizza, which children love.
Local tip: Book your tour time slot in advance online, especially in summer. The evening torch-lit tours book up particularly quickly.
Babbacombe Model Village: Better Than You Might Expect
We say this knowing that it sounds like faint praise, but Babbacombe Model Village is genuinely wonderful, and a huge amount of fun for children of all ages. Set across four acres of immaculate miniature gardens, it represents British life in remarkable detail with over 400 models, animated scenes, working lights and a nighttime illuminated trail. Children are entranced by the scale of it, the hidden details and the humour that is woven throughout.
It has been here since 1963 and is one of the most-visited attractions on the English Riviera for good reason. Allow at least two hours and go early in the day if you can.
Torquay Museum: Learning That Doesn’t Feel Like Learning
Torquay Museum on Babbacombe Road is a beautifully done museum that manages to be genuinely engaging for children as well as adults. It covers everything from prehistoric Devon and the Agatha Christie connection to natural history, geology and local maritime life. There are hands-on displays, interactive elements and activity trails that keep younger visitors focused and entertained.
It is a superb wet-weather option and one that often surprises families who wander in expecting something dry and dusty, and find something completely different.
Torre Abbey: History and Gardens in One Place
Torre Abbey is one of the finest historic sites in South Devon, founded in 1196 and now home to a remarkable art collection and the celebrated Agatha Christie Gallery. For families, it offers a wonderful combination of proper history, beautiful gardens to run around in and child-friendly interactive displays and talking portraits that delight younger visitors.
The grounds are free to roam and make a lovely picnic spot in summer. The abbey hosts regular family events throughout the year, particularly during the school holidays, so it is worth checking the programme before you visit.
Waves Leisure Pool: The Rainy Day Saviour
When the Devon weather does what Devon weather sometimes does, Waves Leisure Pool at the Riviera International Centre is the answer. The pool has a unique sloping beach-style entry, water heated to a very comfortable 30 degrees, a wave machine, flumes, toddler slides and a children’s splash area. It is excellent value and the kind of place children want to go back to again and again.
The Aqua Lounge adjacent to the pool has pirate-themed soft play and family dining, so you can make an entire afternoon of it. The Dip ‘n’ Dine pass combines swimming and a meal at a good saving.
Bygones: A Victorian Street Frozen in Time
Bygones in St Marychurch is one of those attractions that is difficult to categorise but very easy to enjoy. Spread across three floors of a converted building, it recreates a full-scale Victorian street complete with period shops, an ironmonger, a sweet shop, vintage arcade machines and a model railway. There is also a militaria collection and a railwayana section that older children and grandparents tend to find equally absorbing.
It is an excellent wet-day option and one of those places that genuinely appeals to children and adults in completely different ways. Allow a couple of hours.
Dinosaur World: Perfect for Younger Dino Fans
For children with a passion for prehistoric creatures, Dinosaur World is a small but excellent indoor attraction packed with life-like models, interactive displays, touch screens and a 30-question quiz that is genuinely challenging. Children who complete the quiz get a Dinosaur Expert Certificate, which causes great excitement. It is compact enough to work as a couple of hours of entertainment rather than a full-day commitment, making it a useful option for filling a morning or afternoon.
Jungle Journey Adventure Golf: Family Competition at Its Best
Jungle Journey Adventure Golf is an 18-hole jungle-themed crazy golf course that winds through tigers, gorillas, chimps and all manner of exotic wildlife. It is the kind of thing that starts as a gentle family activity and quickly becomes extremely competitive, which is part of its charm. It works for all ages from about five upwards, takes around an hour and is great value. Book online to avoid queues in summer.
Cockington Village: A Step Back in Time
Just a mile from the Torquay seafront, Cockington Country Park feels like an entirely different world. Thatched cottages, a working forge, a windmill and 460 acres of country park surround a picture-postcard village that children tend to find genuinely magical. The country park itself is free to explore and has space to run, picnic and walk without feeling crowded. There is a craft courtyard with independent makers and a tearoom that does proper Devon cream teas.
The Torquay Land Train runs from the seafront through to Torre Abbey and can make a great way to travel for younger children whose legs give out after an hour.
Getting Out on the Water
Children who are adventurous on the water will not be short of options. Kayak and paddleboard hire is available from the beach near the harbour, and even younger children can join an introductory session on the calm inner bay. The harbour area also has a range of boat trip operators offering everything from sightseeing cruises around the bay to mackerel fishing trips, which are always a big hit with older children and adults alike.
The seasonal Western Lady Ferry connects Torquay with Brixham across the bay, which makes a wonderful half-day excursion in its own right. Brixham’s harbour, the Golden Hind replica ship and the fresh fish on the quayside are all excellent additions to a family day out.
Rock Pooling and Coastal Exploring
Some of the best family fun in Torquay costs nothing at all. The rockpools at Meadfoot Beach, Anstey’s Cove and around Hope’s Nose headland are outstanding for crab hunting, shrimp spotting and general exploration. Pick up a simple rock pooling guide and net from one of the harbour shops and you have an activity that can genuinely occupy children for hours. The marine conservation zone around Torbay means the rockpools are remarkably biodiverse.
Eating Out with Children
Torquay has come a long way as a food destination and there are plenty of places that cater well for families.
Rockfish on the waterfront is brilliant for fish and chips, has a lovely children’s activity pack and the staff are genuinely welcoming to families. Hanbury’s Famous Fish and Chips on the harbour is the classic choice and always delivers. For ice cream, Moby Dick’s on the marina and Salcombe Dairy (a short drive to its nearest location) are the local favourites. On a sunny day, eating fish and chips at a harbourside table with the boats bobbing in front of you is a quintessential Torquay experience that children remember for years.
When It Rains
Devon weather being what it is, it is worth having a rainy-day plan. Our suggestions:
- Kents Cavern (always atmospheric whatever the weather)
- Waves Leisure Pool (children won’t care about rain once they’re inside)
- Bygones (two hours of Victorian immersion)
- Torquay Museum (surprisingly engaging for all ages)
- Dinosaur World (perfect for younger children)
- The Bunker (bouldering, gaming and escape rooms for older children and teens)
Useful Links
- Kents Cavern — book tours and check times in advance
- Babbacombe Model Village — including evening illuminated trail information
- Babbacombe Cliff Railway — opening times and fares
- Torre Abbey — family events programme and admission
- Torquay Museum — exhibitions and activity trails
- Waves Leisure Pool — session times and Dip ‘n’ Dine passes
- Bygones — opening times and admission
- Dinosaur World — opening days and times
- Jungle Journey Adventure Golf — online booking
- Cockington Country Park — free entry, maps and walking routes
- Golden Hind, Brixham — the replica ship and family tours
- Western Lady Ferry — seasonal timetable for the Torquay to Brixham crossing
- Rockfish Torquay — menus and booking
- The Bunker Torquay — bouldering, gaming and escape rooms
- English Riviera Tourism — comprehensive guide to all attractions, beaches and events across Torbay
A Note from Us at The Hosting Company
We know that family holidays involve a lot of moving parts, and we are here to make yours as easy as possible. If you would like us to pre-book attraction tickets, arrange a kayaking session, reserve a table at Rockfish or organise a fishing trip for the children, just ask. There is no booking fee and no obligation. We simply enjoy helping our guests make the most of this extraordinary part of Devon.
From all of us at The Hosting Company, we hope your Torquay family adventure is everything you are hoping for.
Staying in Torquay? Browse our collection of professionally managed properties at thehostingcompany.uk or get in touch at hello@thehostingcompany.uk.
We can help arrange activities, book restaurants, organise boat trips and take care of the details so you can focus on the holiday.
