English Riviera

Plan your Devon holidays in the beautiful English Riviera and you’ll find everything is on your doorstep – regardless of what your interests may be. From stunning coastline and award-winning beaches to a wealth of visitor attractions and some great value accommodation, the English Riviera has all the ingredients for a fabulous holiday, any time of year.

Beaches and the Geopark

Torquay offers nostalgic Devon holidays with a contemporary twist. Fringed by palm trees and boasting a number of award-winning and dog friendly beaches, you’ve got all the necessary ingredients for a traditional beach holiday for all the family.

However, if you want something a little out of the ordinary, then why not experience the English Riviera Geopark, formed over a staggering 400 million years? This stretch of stunning coastline is recognised by UNESCO as a Global Geopark, and here you can not only get to grips with a unique environment, but also enjoy a host of unusual sporting events that have everything from gentle challenges for beginners to greater hurdles for the more hardcore contingent. There’s great value packages to try, such as Mussels by Moonlight, Coasteering, Canoeing the Coves and you can even 'Catch and Cook' your own dinner under the watchfuleye of the sous-chef from the Michelin-starred Elephant Restaurant – one of many exquisite places to dine in the area

New for 2012 is the very special Geoplay Park – a family-friendly location that has been specifically designed to introduce children of all ages to the English Riviera’s fascinating geological history. Find out where the dinosaurs roamed and how our ancient ancestors lived thousands of years ago!

Zoos and Rockpools

Alternatively, you could take a trip to Babbacombe. If you want beautiful vistas and stunning panoramas, Babbacombe has the highest cliff-top promenade in England, offering stunning views of South Devon. But if you’d rather immerse yourself in what the coastline has to offer, you can learn to scuba dive or just keep an eye out for the seals and dolphins that are frequent visitors to these shores.

Nearby Paignton is famous for its zoo, but there are other things to be enjoyed by all the family. With a number of exceptionally safe and award-winning beaches in the area, kids can enjoy the educational and fascinating aspects of rock-pooling and crabbing. There’s even a Marine Life Centre on Goodrington Sands for those who want to learn a bit more about what they’ve caught. And, being near the sea, you can even soak up some of its history with a visit to Brixham and see the life-size replica of the Golden Hind or check out the nearby Napoleonic forts.

Days out and Night life

But it’s not all days out in Devon. The English Riviera has some of the hottest nightspots, bars and restaurants in the region. Whether you’re after a few drinks and a bit of a boogie or the full fine-dining experience, the local clubs, pubs and restaurants are sure to have just what you’re looking for.

With so much to do and see, you want the best accommodation in Devon for your needs and your budget. Thankfully, there are plenty of places to stay in Devon, ranging from family-friendly B&Bs to luxury hotels. But they all have that warm, West Country welcome in common, giving you that ‘home from home’ feeling. If you want to tie in what you want to do with where you want to stay, check out our interactive Devon map or simply browse this website for further information.