- Great for a seaside family holiday
- Take a trip on a steam train to Dartmouth
- Visit the award winning Paignton Zoo
Paignton has a wide range of great activities fo children of all ages, from penny arcades on the pier to the zoo – recently ranked as one of the Daily Telegraph’s top 50 days out. The beaches at Preston, Paignton centre and Goodrington offer good sandcastle building conditions while the more adventurous can discover hidden beaches along this stretch of coast.
The centre has level access to the seafront or explore the harbour to find restaurants and the chance to try some watersports. Above the harbour lies Roundham Point where gardens provide a panoramic view of The English Riviera with Torquay to the left and Brixham to the right.
Food and Drink
You choose from a diverse range of restaurants in Paignton, from The Boathouse on Preston Beach, the Ganges in The town centre for an curry, or Casey’s American Diner. There are many cosy pubs in the surrounding countryside too, such as the Blagdon Inn on the road to Totnes and the Church House Inn at Marldon.
Also worth seeking out is The River Shack in Stoke Gabriel on the banks of the River Dart. This peaceful haven looks out over the river and the Mill Pool, serving complete with top quality local food and drink.
Back in the centre, there are a number of family friendly pubs on the sea front such as the Flagship and the Inn on the Quay at Goodrington.
Family Attractions
Paignton prides itself on being a family friendly resort. The three beaches – Preston, Paignton itself and Goodrington – are sandy expanses with a good range of amenities. The central green is home to a multiplex cinema, crazy golf and the pier with rides and amusements.
The Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway departs from the centre of town, while Paignton Zoo is a mile or so from the centre. Over at Goodrington Park, there is a boating lake, go-karts and Quaywest Waterpark.
Shopping
The centre of Paignton includes a number of high street names such as WHSmith, Boots and Tesco Metro, along with a typical variety of shops to cover most needs. Morrisons and Sainsburys supermarkets can be found on the outskirts.
Also in the area worth checking out is Totnes and China Blue, Dartington Cider Press just beyond, and the major shopping centres of Plymouth and Exeter, both of which have had major new shopping redevelopments in recent years, within an hours drive.
History and Heritage
The history of Paignton is surprising, given it’s family focus. Goodrington was home to a naval hospital supporting the Napoleonic Wars in the 1800’s to the small fishing harbour. The town became established as a Victorian seaside resort when Brunel’s railway arrived in 1858.
Oldway Mansion is a particularly impressive house built for Isaac Singer of the sewing machine fames and now home to 17 acres of attractive gardens.
Beaches
There are three principle beaches in Paignton, Preston, Paignton and Goodrington, all of which are sandy and of a good size with amenities including beach cafes, lifeguard posts, toilets and pedalo hire on Goodrington.
For the more adventurous, the coastline to either side of Paignton includes a number of coves to explore, such Hollicombe Beach to the north and Churston and Elberry Coves to the south. Broadsands Beach is also popular with plentiful parking and coastal walks with impressive bay views.
Events and Entertainment
The Apollo Multiplex cinema on Paignton Esplanade screens all the lastest blockbusters while the Palace Theatre, set back from the seafront, have regular performances throughout the year.
Paignton Regatta and Torbay Children’s Week are major events in August where the seafront is host to a wide range of activities and entertainment.
Activities
If you are looking for excitement, experince Waterskiing and and Wakeboarding with Skiwest on Goodrington beach. Just behind the beach lies Torbay Leisure Centre where you can swim and play a number of racquet sports.
Also in the area, the nearest golf courses are at Churston and Torquay, whilst sea fishing is popular along the coast – visit torbayfishing.com for more information.
Travel
The train station at Paignton links into the national network from Newton Abbot straight into the centre of the town. Otherwise Paignton is around 2 hours from Bristol down the M5.
Exeter and Plymouth Airports are the nearest, both with car hire available locally and an hour’s drive from Paignton.