Paignton Beach Cottages

Paignton Beach Cottages and the English Riviera

Nearby towns and villages

Nearby Torquay is just along the coast and gives you a larger town setting, with a marina, harbour, shops, restaurants and more evening options. It has a busier feel than Paignton and is useful for days when you want a wider choice of places to eat, waterfront walks or attractions. Babbacombe and St Marychurch are also nearby, offering a quieter clifftop area with gardens, cafés and views across the bay.

Brixham lies to the south and feels quite different from both Paignton and Torquay. It is centred around its fishing harbour, with seafood, boat trips, marina walks and access to Berry Head. Inland, Totnes is a good option for independent shops, riverside walks and a change from the seafront, while Dartmouth is within reach for a harbour-town day out on the River Dart.

Nearby beaches

Paignton Beach is the main beach in town, with sand, a pier, promenade and plenty of facilities nearby. It is one of the easiest beaches in Torbay for families because the seafront, food, toilets, amusements and transport links are all close together. The beach is better suited to relaxed seaside days than remote coastal scenery, which is exactly why many people choose it.

Goodrington Sands is close by and is another popular family beach, with a park, boating lake, beach huts and attractions nearby. Preston Sands sits between Paignton and Torquay and offers a smaller, slightly quieter beach option with a promenade and easy access. For a different feel, Broadsands and Elberry Cove are further south towards Brixham, giving you more choice within a short journey.

Points of interest and things to do

Paignton Pier and the seafront are the obvious starting points for a stay in town. The pier, green, amusements, cafés and promenade make it easy to fill time without much planning, especially with children. Paignton Zoo is one of the area’s main attractions and is useful for a day away from the beach. Food is also a big part of a Torbay stay, so it is worth looking up English Riviera sea view restaurants if you want a meal with coastal views during your trip.

The Dartmouth Steam Railway runs from Paignton towards Kingswear, giving you a simple way to link the town with the River Dart and Dartmouth. Goodrington Park, Splashdown Quaywest and the coast path around Roundham Head add more options close to town. Paignton is a practical base if you want a classic seaside holiday with beaches, family attractions and easy trips around Torbay.