Visiting Paignton for the First Time

Short answer: Paignton is the family end of Torbay and makes no apology for it — flat red sand, a free pier full of arcades, and a long level promenade. It is the easiest of the three bay towns to arrive at, and the steam railway to Dartmouth starts here.

What Paignton is

Torbay is three towns, and Paignton is the middle one — the family seaside resort, where Torquay is the more grown-up harbour town and Brixham the working fishing port. Flat red sand, a Victorian pier, arcades and a promenade you can walk the length of. It knows what it is.

It is flat, which matters

Torquay is built on hills and Brixham is squeezed into a steep harbour. Paignton is flat, with parking along the front and the tide staying fairly close — so it is the easiest of the three with small children, a buggy or anyone who struggles with gradients.

The things to do

• Paignton Sands — the main beach, with the pier in the middle.
• The pier — free to walk onto, with arcades and dinosaur mini golf.
• Paignton Zoo — around 80 acres, and most visitors stay four to five hours.
• The Dartmouth Steam Railway — along the coast to Kingswear, then the ferry to Dartmouth.
• Fairy Cove — a hidden cove behind the harbour most visitors never find.

Getting here

Paignton has a mainline station a short walk from the seafront, which makes it one of the easiest Devon seaside towns to reach without a car. Torquay and Brixham are both a short bus or drive round the bay.

Where to eat

Harbour Light is the best-rated pub in Paignton, right on the harbour. The Boathouse at Preston Sands has a sun-trap beer garden across the bay. Costero Lounge is bright and comfortable, with strong gluten-free and vegan options.

With a dog

Fairy Cove takes dogs all year; Paignton Beach South from 1 October. The zoo does not take dogs, but its Primley Park nature reserve nearby does.