{"id":1546,"date":"2019-11-25T12:09:45","date_gmt":"2019-11-25T12:09:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/?p=1546"},"modified":"2021-05-27T20:06:23","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T19:06:23","slug":"torquay-in-five-minutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/torquay-in-five-minutes\/","title":{"rendered":"Torquay – The Five Minute Spare Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Torquay is a seaside and resort town in Devon, southwest England<\/a>. It lies 18 miles (29 km) south of the county town of Exeter<\/a> and 28 miles (45 km) north-east of Plymouth<\/a> to the north of Tor Bay. Torquay is also co-joined with the neighbouring town of Paignton. Renowned for its extremely temperate climate, when compared to most of the UK, the town has been dubbed \u2018the English Riviera\u2019. The population of Torquay at the last UK Census in 2011 was recorded as 65,245.<\/p>\n

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With it’s continental ‘feel’ Torquay is often dubbed the ‘English Riviera’<\/p><\/div>\n

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Torquay – A Fleeting History<\/h3>\n

There is no evidence of either Roman or Viking settlement in the Torquay area, though they are known to have been active in the area. The first substantial building to be built in Torquay was Torre Abbey, a Premonstratensian monastery, which was founded in 1196. Torquay’s took its name from its location, which was originally at the quay of the ancient village of Torre. In turn, Torre takes its name from the word \u2018tor\u2019, meaning small hill or mound, which was created close to the town by the spoil from the mining of iron ore. The name of the town was originally spelt \u2018Torrequay\u2019, then \u2018Torkay\u2019, later \u2018Torkey\u2019, and later still \u2018Tor Quay\u2019, before finally becoming Torquay.<\/p>\n

Torquay remained a minor settlement until the Napoleonic wars when Torbay was utilised as a sheltered haven by Royal Navy vessels protecting the South coast. Both crew members and visiting relatives began to stay around the Torquay area. However, the biggest visitor bonus came from the well-heeled, when they decided on Torquay as a holiday destination as an alternative to continental Europe, which they could no longer travel to due to the war.\u00a0 With a relatively mild, pleasing climate and scenic landscape, the town began to attract visitors in great numbers. Those with the financial means would come to convalesce after illness or would simply come to escape the much colder harsher winters of the North of England. Subsequently, the population of Torquay grew from only 838 in 1801 to 11,474 in 1851. By this time there were around 2,000 hotel bedrooms available in the town.<\/p>\n

Here comes the Train<\/h3>\n

In 1848, the Great Western Railway was extended as far Torre, which saw the railway station open on 18 December. The railway was instrumental in Torquay\u2019s further expansion, with the improved connectivity resulting in more growth in terms of both visitors and population. On 2 August 1859, a second and more central Torquay railway station opened. The town became increasingly popular amongst the rich and privileged, even attracting Russian nobility. Members of the ruling Russian Romanoff family built themselves a holiday home, named the Villa Syracusa (now The Headland Hotel), in the town.<\/p>\n

In 1870, Sir Lawrence Palk III was responsible for building the present-day outer harbour which soon became popular with the yachting fraternity. The new 900 ft Haldon Pier facility was extensively used for the importing of coal and wool from Australia. The new complex also included baths and an assembly room. In 1883, both the Spa and Harbour were acquired by Torquay Local Board from the Palk estates on the death of Sir Lawrence, who had been ennobled as Lord Haldon in 1880.<\/p>\n

In 1872, after the growth of the preceding decades, Torquay was granted borough status. While still largely regarded as a convalescence retreat, the town began to encourage summer visitors. In 1902 the first advertising campaign to market Torquay as a holiday destination for summer visitors was initiated.<\/p>\n

In 1890, writer Agatha Christie<\/a> was born in the town, living at Ashfield during her early years. In 1899, Torquay United FC was founded, eventually joining the English Football League in 1927. In 1907, electric street trams were introduced into the town, operated by Torquay Tramways. In 1911, the line was extended to Paignton but soon after the operation ran into financial difficulties. Torquay trams ran for the last time in 1934.<\/p>\n

WWI<\/h3>\n

During World War I, a number of military hospitals were sited in Torquay, with many survivors from the Battle of Gallipoli been recuperated in the town. In September 1915 King George V and Queen Mary visited. After the war, the Great Western Railway launched an advertising campaign to attract more tourists to the town, which helped it grow to become a major south coast resort.<\/p>\n

During World War II Torquay was regarded as \u2018safe\u2019 town, and consequently played host to evacuees from the London area. However, the town did suffer minor bomb damage during the war, mainly from the Luftwaffe dumping leftover bombs from the \u2018blitz\u2019 on Plymouth<\/a>. In the weeks and months leading up to the D-Day landings of June 1944, the town billeted more than 23,000 US Army personnel before they left to storm the beaches of Normandy.<\/p>\n

In 1948 the water sports events of the London Summer Olympic Games were held in Torbay. The Olympic flame was brought from London and burned for the duration at the gardens of Torre Abbey.<\/p>\n

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Torquay – The Modern Era<\/h3>\n
\"Babbacombe

Torquay is famed for its scenic landscape – Babbacombe Bay<\/p><\/div>\n

In the 1960s, a number of residential high-rise blocks of flats were constructed above the Rock Walk cliffs and harbour, giving Torquay a somewhat continental feel. The late 1960s and early 1970s saw a dramatic price decrease in the cost of foreign holidays, making them affordable to the masses. Torquay, along with the rest of the UK\u2019s tourist resorts, found it hard to compete with their continental counterparts, since they could offer cheap accommodation, food and drink, as well as guaranteed sun.<\/p>\n

In the late 1980s, Fleet Street was rebuilt as the Fleet Walk shopping centre which has street-level shops and an upper-level shopping deck. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, new pubs and night clubs opened around the harbour, making it a mecca those wishing to party the night away.<\/p>\n

Since the beginning of the 21st century, Torquay has in particular seen an increase in foreign visitors and is now a major destination for foreign exchange students who come to the town to learn English in summer schools. And, in the last decade, given that much of Europe has now become relatively expensive, there is a general trend by UK residents towards holidaying once again on home soil, to the benefit of Torquay.<\/p>\n

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Getting To Torquay<\/h2>\n

By Train<\/h3>\n

There are two railway stations to choose from with both services being operated by the Great Western Railway. The main terminus is Torquay railway station, which is situated close to the coast and near Torre Abbey Sands. Torre railway station is situated adjacent to the main road leading to Newton Abbot. Not all trains stop at Torre Station. Passengers from Cornwall and Plymouth need to change trains at Newton Abbot. The line between Torquay and Exeter is considered one of the most scenic in the country.<\/p>\n

By Car<\/h3>\n

Torquay is connected to the UK motorway network by the A380, which leads to the A38 and then to the M5, at Exeter. The A3022 branches from the A380, leading into the town\u2019s seafront along Newton Road and then Avenue Road, and then continuing on to Paignton. The scenic A379 runs past the harbour to the Babbacombe and St Marychurch areas of the town, then running northwards along the coast to Teignmouth.<\/p>\n

By Bus<\/h3>\n

National Express operates a regular bus service from many parts of the UK, although tickets must be booked in advance. Megabus operates a limited-service between Torquay and Bristol<\/a> and Torquay and London<\/a>. Again, tickets must be bought before the journey. Stagecoach South West offers local regular bus services between Torquay and Paignton, Totnes and Plymouth<\/a>. Similar local services are also available to Torquay from Exeter<\/a>, Dawlish and Teignmouth.<\/p>\n

By Plane<\/h3>\n

The nearest airport to Torquay is Exeter<\/a> International Airport, a distance of 26 miles. By car, expect the journey to take around 40 minutes.<\/p>\n

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Famous People who lived in Torquay<\/h3>\n

Some of the most famous people born in Torquay include:<\/p>\n

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  • Sir Richard Francis Burton – explorer, geographer, writer, soldier: 1821 \u2013 1890<\/li>\n
  • Percy Fawcett – archaeologist and explorer: 1867 \u2013 1925 (missing)<\/li>\n
  • Agatha Christie – world-famous, best-selling crime novelist: 1890 – 1976<\/li>\n
  • Peter Cook \u2013 renowned writer and humourist: 1937 \u2013 1995<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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    Legendary crime fiction writer Agatha Christie was born in Torquay<\/p><\/div>\n

    Did you know?<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • The water sports events of the 1948 London Summer Olympics were held in Torquay.<\/li>\n
    • Retired Naval officer and WW II veteran, Donald Sinclair, who ran the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay was the reported inspiration for John Cleese\u2019s madcap character Basil Fawlty. The 1970\u2019s sitcom ‘Fawlty Towers’ is often cited as Britain\u2019s most loved comedy series.<\/li>\n
    • Charles Darwin, the famed naturalist and author, lived at Meadfoot House, Hesketh Crescent while convalescing in the town.<\/li>\n
    • Oscar Wilde’s notorious homosexual affair with ‘Bosie’ (Lord Alfred Douglas) began in Torquay.<\/li>\n
    • Napoleon captured after the Battle of Waterloo, spent 2 days in July 1815 onboard HMS Bellerophon, anchored in Torbay. On first sighting of the area, he reputedly commented: “Quel Bon Pays” (“what a lovely country”).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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      Things to see and do in Torquay!<\/h3>\n

      Just some of the great places to see and things to do in and around Torquay include:<\/p>\n

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      • Torre Abbey \u2013 cited as the best-preserved monastic site in the southwest of England<\/li>\n
      • Babbacombe Model Village \u2013 over 400 buildings and 13,000 figures, all superbly crafted<\/li>\n
      • Kents Cavern \u2013 ancient caves complex revealing signs of human habitation going back 45,000 years.<\/li>\n
      • Bygones \u2013 various displays and exhibitions of interesting artefacts from the early Victorian era through to 20th century under one roof<\/li>\n
      • Cockington County Park \u2013 Olde world village, with thatched cottages and a manor house, set in 450 acres of parkland.<\/li>\n
      • Living Coast – Britain\u2019s only coastal zoo has a wealth of birds, sea life and aquatic mammals<\/li>\n
      • Oddicombe Beach \u2013 often rated as the area\u2019s best beach, it lies at the bottom of towering red breccia cliffs.<\/li>\n
      • Babbacombe Cliff Railway \u2013 220m journey that runs up\/down the towering breccia cliffs during summer<\/li>\n
      • Torquay Museum \u2013 an eclectic collection of artefacts and memorabilia from both the local area and foreign shores<\/li>\n
      • South West Coast Path \u2013 part of a 630 miles National Trail that takes in Devon and Cornwall<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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        Where to stay in Torquay?<\/h3>\n

        You can take your pick from a wide range of accommodation options in Torquay. With prices to suit every pocket when you can choose from some fantastic hotels, B & Bs, Guesthouses, traditional inns, self-catering accommodation, holiday parks or campsites. For two adults sharing (or as indicated), a broad estimate of prices for the various types of ready accommodation are;<\/p>\n

        Campsites: \u00a330 pppn<\/p>\n

        B & B\/Guesthouses: \u00a360 – \u00a380<\/p>\n

        Standard Hotels\/Inns \u00a380 – \u00a3100<\/p>\n

        3\/4\/5 Star Hotels \u00a3100 – \u00a3200<\/p>\n

        The Torquay Quiz<\/h2>\n

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