Hello! Are you on the hunt for the perfect spot for a family break or a (semi-)civilised getaway with mates? Keen for somewhere with lovely beach options, great cafes and restaurants, and a dash of historical intrigue – but that doesn't involve leaving the UK? May we present: Torquay.
This famed English seaside town is set along Devon's coastline, which is so pretty it's been nicknamed the 'English Riviera', and has plenty on offer to keep you busy, come rain or shine. As let's admit, beaches or not... this is England, after all.
Here's the Cosmopolitan guide of where to stay, what to eat and fun things to do in Torquay:
Where to stay in Torquay
Number 46
We all know that chasing the British sunshine is akin to playing Whack-A-Mole, so where better to stay than in a gorgeous, freshly renovated townhouse that's both a short walk to a beach and boasts a cinema room and pool table should a rainy day strike? Number 46, hosted by Unique Holiday Stays (which is full of quirky, chic listings around the UK and beyond btw), comfortably sleeps up to twelve guests and will have you covered, whatever the weather.
The dog friendly former B&B has being lovingly modernised and now has a sleek boho feel, oodles of communal space and even provides the option of having a hot tub installed for the duration of your stay for an additional charge. Number 46 is the perfect spot for a memorable weekend full of laughter, long dinners, board games, Insta-worthy pics and more, be it with family or friends. We loved our stay there and because the rooms are all beaut, there'll be no fighting over who gets which one.
Book your stay at Number 46 on Unique Holiday Stays here, prices start from £385 per night
Where to eat and drink in Torquay
Burridge's
We fell in love with this cool and quirky hipster café that's situated right by Torquay's harbour (a must see during your stay). Not only does it have an authentic Devon cream tea offering (when in Rome Torquay, right?), but banging cheese toasties, a chicken naanwich (yep, that's a sandwich made with naan bread), brunch options and a tonne of vegan scoff. You can also buy jars of hot sauce and chutneys that have been made by the owners of Burridge's, and skate-inspired merch. Oh, also the cake selection is *chef's kiss*.
Check out Burridge's on Instagram
Saltwater Fish & Chips
So, Saltwater Fish & Chips. Where to begin? I guess if we want to keep it short and sweet, we could say that when we visited this harbour-side fish restaurant and takeaway, we witnessed a long-time vegetarian devour one of their award-winning battered cod and chips, breaking their anti-fish modus apparatus for the first time in five years. And yes, they raved about it afterwards. It's not been dubbed 'the best fish and chips in Torquay' for nothing...
Check out Saltwater Fish & Chips on Instagram
Babbacombe Bay Cafe
This sweet brunch and afternoon tea spot sits right by Babbacombe Cliff, close to the sandy beach below, a short walk from Bygones museum (see below for more on that) and is just around the corner from Oscar Wilde's old house (keep an eye out for the blue plaque on your post-food stroll). The maple and sesame-glazed halloumi was a real crowd pleaser on our table. Stun-ning!
Check out Babbacombe Bay Cafe on Instagram
The Hole in the Wall
Who doesn't love a pub that's dripping in character? The Hole in the Wall is close to 500 years old and can be traced all the way back to 1540, where it was favoured by pirates and locals alike. These days it pulls in a mixed crowd of all ages, who are keen to check out its selection of ales, traditional pub grub and traditional cider. Come for the cobbled floors and low beamed ceilings, stay for the live music.
See here for more on The Hole in the Wall
What to do in Torquay
Check out one of the many beautiful beaches
From Abbey Sands (which, if you do visit, has a great little cafe-bar called Soak that offers not only coffee and cocktails, but paddleboarding) to Oddicombe, there's a plethora of gorgeous sandy spots – both big and small – to choose from. Grab your sunnies, your pals and don't forget the SPF!
Walk the Agatha Christie Mile
Torquay is the birthplace of iconic crime writer, Agatha Christie, and as such is littered with places that were special and significant to her, with many having served as inspiration for her novels. The mile-long, twelve-stop trail is easy to walk and features signage detailing the likes of Beacon Cove (where she once nearly drowned whilst trying to help her nephew) and Torre Abbey Museum (which features a garden of poisonous plants in her honour). To get yourself in the mood for your trip, why not read Christie's novel And Then There Were None, set in the local area?
Find out more information about the Agatha Christie Mile
Visit the Bygones museum
This quaint family-owned museum and cafe will leave you feeling like you've stepped back in time. Inside, you can walk around a replica Victorian street lined with shops and a recreated family home, all of which are stuffed to the rafters with over 2,000 genuine artefacts, from toys that were played with more than two hundred years ago, to books that were read way back when, ancient jars of confectionary, pharmaceutical products with old school packaging and a whole lot more. It's a perfect time capsule of British history.
PS: The museum is situated in Babbacombe which has a quaint village feel to it and is also where Oscar Wilde once lived (spot the blue plaque outside his old house when you take a stroll!).
One adult ticket to Bygones costs £12.50, children's tickets cost £8.50 (under-3s go free)
Hire a hot tub
For an additional fee of £200, we added a hot tub to our stay at Number 46 – and it fast became the highlight of our weekend. Sure, we all left looking like walking prunes. But we were happy, rejuvenated walking prunes, who'd had the greatest bank holiday weekend.
Find out more about Hot Tub Tom which services the South West of England
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
