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Major city · United Kingdom

Paignton

Give Paignton 2 nights as a Torbay base: beach and pier are free, the zoo and the steam railway each eat half a day, and Torquay or Brixham is 20–30 min by bus.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Paignton is the family end of Torbay: a sandy beach, a pleasure pier, a zoo and the Dartmouth Steam Railway, all within a 20-minute walk of the station. It is smaller and cheaper than Torquay and quieter than Brixham. Two nights covers the town; three or four lets you add the coast path, Greenway and a day on the water. A car helps for Greenway and the South Hams, but the Riviera Line and Stagecoach buses cover the bay without one.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Jul–Aug school holidays (crowds, peak room rates); Nov–Feb (many attractions shut)
Airports
EXT · BRS · LHR
Nights
2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Paignton999 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Police non-urgent101
  • NHS non-urgent111

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Paignton, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • BeerPint of beer£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi across town£6–10 (≈ US$8–14)
  • Metro or bus rideBus fare within Torbay£2–3 (≈ US$3–4) (check)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week£10–20 (≈ US$14–30)
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per room£110 (≈ US$150)
  • Mid-range bedGuesthouse or hotel double room, a night, per room£110 (≈ US$150)
  • High-end bedGuesthouse or hotel double room, a night, per room£200 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £90 (≈ US$120) · High £170 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Paignton ZooPaignton Pier and beachDartmouth Steam RailwayGoodrington SandsAgatha Christie's Greenway
Airports
EXT Exeter (About 45 min by train to Paignton via Exeter St Davids; check connections.) · BRS Bristol (About 2 h by road; rail via Exeter takes longer.) · LHR London Heathrow (About 3 h 30 min by rail via London Paddington and Exeter; check times.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    9°C (48°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    9°C (48°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    11°C (52°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    13°C (55°F)

  5. May

    Best

    16°C (61°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  7. Jul

    Care

    21°C (70°F)

  8. Aug

    Care

    21°C (70°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    15°C (59°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    12°C (54°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    10°C (50°F)

Best: May–Jun, Sep. Mixed: Jul–Aug. Avoid: Nov–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (21°C (70°F)), coolest Feb (3°C (37°F) low), wettest Jan (15 rain days), driest Jun (9). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Paignton: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

9°C (48°F)

4°C (39°F)

15 rd

Feb

9°C (48°F)

3°C (37°F)

12 rd

Mar

11°C (52°F)

4°C (39°F)

12 rd

Apr

13°C (55°F)

5°C (41°F)

10 rd

May

16°C (61°F)

8°C (46°F)

10 rd

Jun

19°C (66°F)

11°C (52°F)

9 rd

Jul

21°C (70°F)

13°C (55°F)

9 rd

Aug

21°C (70°F)

13°C (55°F)

10 rd

Sep

19°C (66°F)

11°C (52°F)

10 rd

Oct

15°C (59°F)

9°C (48°F)

13 rd

Nov

12°C (54°F)

6°C (43°F)

14 rd

Dec

10°C (50°F)

4°C (39°F)

15 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre, beach, pier and station are walkable in 20 minutes. Stagecoach 12 links Newton Abbot, Torquay, Paignton and Brixham; the 80 runs to Totnes and Plymouth. The Riviera Line train serves Exeter, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and Torquay. Buses are the practical way between the three Torbay towns.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Torquaygo

Door to door: 20–30 min

Stagecoach 12 bus, or train on the Riviera Line

Beaches, harbour and the Agatha Christie connections.

Brixham

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Stagecoach 12 bus

Fishing harbour and fish restaurants; go for lunch.

Dartmouthgo

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Dartmouth Steam Railway to Kingswear, then the ferry

Ferry to Dartmouth is included in the railway ticket; check the 2026 fare and timetable.

Totnes

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Stagecoach 80 bus, or train via Newton Abbot

Market town with a castle and independent shops.

Teignmouth

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Riviera Line train

Easy half-day on the coast.

Dawlish

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Riviera Line train

The sea-wall railway ride is the point of the trip.

Kingsbridge

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Bus or car via Totnes

Better as a South Hams day with a car.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Seafront and Esplanade

Hotels and guesthouses facing the beach and pier; 5–10 min walk to the station.

Goodrington Sands

Quieter, near the waterpark and the Inn on the Quay; 25–30 min walk or a short bus ride from the centre.

Town centre and Torbay Road

Cheapest beds and the bus and rail stations; a few minutes from the beach.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–75 (≈ US$60–100) excl. bed
Mid
£75–130 (≈ US$100–180) excl. bed
High
£130 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Guesthouse or hotel double room1 × 2 nights × £110£220
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × £90£360
Dartmouth Steam Railway return, adult2 × £23 · check£45
Paignton Zoo adult ticket2 × £20 · check£40
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £15£30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£70
Trip total≈ £191 per person per day, bed included£765≈ US$1,100

2026 estimate in pounds; travel to Paignton excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Fish and chips£10–16 (≈ US$14–25)
Pint of beer£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
Bus fare within Torbay£2–3 (≈ US$3–4) (check)
Taxi across town£6–10 (≈ US$8–14)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week£10–20 (≈ US$14–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A low-risk seaside town; the real issues are summer crowds, cold water and the usual night-time behaviour around the seafront bars.
  • Seafront parking and beach car parks fill by mid-morning in summer; arrive early or use the train.
  • Greenway car parking must be booked in advance and it is not directly on a bus route; there are walking routes.
  • Some attractions and guesthouses close or run weekends only from November to March: check before you travel.
  • Swim between the red and yellow flags where lifeguards patrol in summer; the sea is cold even in August.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999
Police non-urgent
101
NHS non-urgent
111

Pocket card

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PaigntonPaignton

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Police non-urgent101
  • NHS non-urgent111

Embassy

No embassies in Paignton; the US consulate-general is in London, and most countries keep embassies in London.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Paignton → Torquay, bus 12: about £2–3 (≈ US$3–4), 20–30 min (check)
  • Paignton → Dartmouth, steam railway plus ferry: about £22.50 (≈ US$30) adult return, 1 h 30 min (check)
  • Paignton → Exeter, train: about £8–12 (≈ US$11–16), 45–60 min (check)

Say or show

  • Single / return to Torquay, please — Single / return to Torquay, please
  • Two fish and chips, please — Two fish and chips, please
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the beach? — Where is the beach?
  • Is this seat free? — Is this seat free?
  • Thanks very much — Thanks very much

Tipping: 10–12.5% in restaurants if no service charge is added; not expected in pubs.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Paignton. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Jul–Aug school holidays (crowds, peak room rates); Nov–Feb (many attractions shut) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for EXT and the Riviera Line: last trains field-checked, taxi fallback.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Esplanade and pier, Goodrington, the zoo, the harbour.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (zoo, steam railway, Greenway, Kirkham House) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Summer and storm-day fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources