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Major city · United Kingdom

Torquay

Give Torquay 2 nights as a base for the English Riviera: beaches and Kents Cavern on day one, Babbacombe and Cockington on day two.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Jul–Aug school holidays (crowded, peak prices)
Airport
EXT
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

Torquay is the main town of the English Riviera, a sheltered east-facing bay in south Devon with sandy beaches, a warm micro-climate and a Victorian resort core around the harbour. It works as a 2-night base for Torbay, with Paignton and Brixham a short bus or ferry ride away. Trains from Exeter take about 55 minutes on the Riviera Line.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

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

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)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£12–20 (≈ US$16–30)
  • BeerPint of beer£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, harbour to Babbacombe£8–12 (≈ US$11–16) (check)
  • Metro or bus rideBus single fare in Torbay£2–3 (≈ US$3–4) (check)
  • Museum or sight ticketAttraction entry (Kents Cavern, model village, Torre Abbey)£8–22 (≈ US$11–30)
  • Budget bedHostel or guest-house bed, a night, per person£30 (≈ US$40)
  • Mid-range bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room£120 (≈ US$160)
  • High-end bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room£220 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £55 (≈ US$75) · Mid £100 (≈ US$140) · High £180 (≈ 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 →

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.

English Riviera resort and harbourKents CavernBabbacombe Model Village and Cliff RailwayAgatha Christie connectionsTorre Abbey
Airports
EXT Exeter Airport (Closest airport, about 45 min by road; limited routes, so most travellers arrive via Bristol, London or by train.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Torquay: 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

4°C

15 rd

Feb

9°C

3°C

12 rd

Mar

11°C

4°C

12 rd

Apr

13°C

5°C

10 rd

May

16°C

8°C

10 rd

Jun

19°C

11°C

9 rd

Jul

21°C

13°C

9 rd

Aug

21°C

13°C

10 rd

Sep

19°C

11°C

10 rd

Oct

15°C

9°C

13 rd

Nov

12°C

6°C

14 rd

Dec

10°C

4°C

15 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

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

Getting around

The centre, harbour and Torre Abbey are walkable, but Torquay's hills are steep: Babbacombe and Meadfoot are a bus or taxi ride. Stagecoach Devon runs the Bayline 12 (Newton Abbot–Torquay–Paignton–Brixham) and the X46 (Exeter–Paignton) through town, with local routes filling the gaps. Trains on the Riviera Line link Torquay, Torre and Paignton; a ferry crosses to Brixham in season.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Paignton

go

Door to door: About 20–30 min

Bayline 12 bus or Riviera Line train from Torquay station

Pier, beach and Paignton Zoo; easy half day.

Brixham

go

Door to door: About 30–45 min

Ferry from Torquay harbour in season, or Bayline 12 bus

Fishing harbour and fish restaurants; ferry is the scenic option.

Totnes

go

Door to door: About 40–55 min

Train from Torquay via Newton Abbot, or the Gold bus

Market town with a castle and independent shops.

Dartmouth

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Train to Paignton then bus 120, or drive the A379

Harbour, castle and steam railway; a full day.

Dawlish

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Riviera Line train towards Exeter

The sea-wall railway ride is the point; stop for the town and beach.

Teignmouth

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Riviera Line train towards Exeter

Small seaside town with a long sandy beach and a back beach.

Kingsbridge

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Drive or bus via Totnes

Better as part of a South Hams trip than a return day out.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Harbour and town centre

Pubs, restaurants and the marina on foot; Torre Abbey Sands beach 5 min away. Best for a first visit without a car.

Babbacombe

Clifftop downs, model village and the cliff railway down to Oddicombe Beach; quieter, 10–15 min by bus or taxi from the harbour.

Meadfoot and Wellswood

Leafy streets above Meadfoot Beach, 15–20 min walk downhill to the harbour; guest houses and small hotels.

Torre and the station area

Around Torquay railway station and Torre Abbey; practical for train arrivals, less atmospheric at night.

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
B&B or hotel double room1 × 2 nights × £120£240
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × £100£400
Riviera Line train Exeter–Torquay, one way2 × £12 · check£24
Bayline day ticket, one day2 × £6 · check£12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £8£16
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£69
Trip total≈ £190 per person per day, bed included£761≈ US$1,100

2026 estimate in pounds; travel to Torquay 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)
Pub main course£12–20 (≈ US$16–30)
Pint of beer£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
Bus single fare in Torbay£2–3 (≈ US$3–4) (check)
Taxi, harbour to Babbacombe£8–12 (≈ US$11–16) (check)
Attraction entry (Kents Cavern, model village, Torre Abbey)£8–22 (≈ US$11–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Torquay is a safe seaside town; the real issues are steep hills, seasonal closures and busy summer parking. Standard UK precautions apply around the harbour at night.
  • Steep hills and narrow pavements: plan bus or taxi for Babbacombe and Meadfoot rather than walking back uphill.
  • Beach water quality is generally high, but check local signage after heavy rain.
  • Summer parking near the harbour fills early; use the car parks and walk.
  • Some seafront venues and attractions run seasonal hours outside Easter–October: check before travelling.

Emergency numbers

NHS non-urgent
111
Police non-urgent
101

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

TorquayTorquay

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Embassy

No embassies in Torquay; the US Embassy is in London and most consulates-general are in London or Bristol. For urgent passport help, contact your embassy in London.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Train Exeter → Torquay, Riviera Line: about £12 (≈ US$16), about 55 min (check)
  • Bayline 12 bus, Torquay → Brixham: about £2–3 (≈ US$3–4) single, about 30–45 min (check)
  • Torquay → Brixham ferry (seasonal): about £5–8 (≈ US$7–11), about 30 min (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Please — Please
  • Excuse me — Excuse me / Sorry
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?

UK emergency numbers work from any phone, including mobiles without credit.

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 Torquay. 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 (crowded, peak prices) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 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 and station transfers for EXT, Torquay and Torre: last train times, taxi fallback and bus fares field-checked.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: harbour and town, Torre Abbey and the station, Babbacombe and Oddicombe, Meadfoot and Wellswood.
  3. Place pages with verified opening hours and last entry (Kents Cavern, Torre Abbey, Torquay Museum, Babbacombe Model Village) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Seasonal fixtures for the ferry, cliff railway and beach facilities so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources