Paignton

Garfield Road

Paignton a popular seaside town on the coast of Torbay in Devon. Together with Torquay and Brixham it forms Torbay, also known as the English Riviera.

Paigntons seafront is home to Paignton Pier, a 780-foot (240 m) long structure opened in 1879. It was designed by George Soudon Bridgman, the local architect who also designed the original Oldway Mansion.

Paignton Pier features a wide range of arcade machines and a fabuolous mini-golf course at the end of the pier.

Regatta Week during early August is the peak holiday season, there is a funfair on Paignton Green, along with a large fireworks display. Later in August is Children's Week, which includes a wide range of events and competitions. The Festival Theatre is a multiscreen Vue cinema (handy for a rainy day!).

Tourist attractions include Paignton Zoo and the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway, which operates heritage steam trains from Paignton to Kingswear, from where a ferry can be taken across the River Dart to Dartmouth.

Paignton beach and the Preston Sands are popular sandy beaches and also used for water sports including kite surfing and dinghy sailing.

Hollicombe beach, situated at Paignton's northern boundary with Torquay, features a geological stratotype at its northern end, known as the "Corbyn's Head Member", Elberry Cove is used by jetski enthusiasts, while Saltern Cove is a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its distinctive geology.

Recently opened Mercure and ibis Styles Paignton hotels, and the fantastic Costero Lounge are all worth a look.