Activities in Torquay

Formed during the Ice Age, Kents Cavern is a large series of ancient caves a short distance from Torquay’s town centre. Made of rocks nearly 400 million years old, the caves have been a natural habitat for early man, with some bone fragments dating back over 37,000 years. The cave system has been open to the public for over a century, with an array of guided tours, kids activities including cave painting and the stone age trail, a woodland trail and the Firestone restaurant and gift shop. The caves are open daily from 9am with tours running at around four times a day.

Open Monday to Saturday, Torquay Museum is an interactive, family-friendly attraction that covers 400 million years of local history and a short walk from our Torquay hotel. Covering archaeology, geology and – uniquely – Agatha Christie, the museum has some impressive centrepieces including one of the world’s oldest human fossils, an Egyptian mummified boy and an in-depth Agatha Christie gallery that explores the life of the famous crime writer born in Torquay.

Step back in time at Bygones, a brilliantly recreated Victorian street full of replica stores, a model railway and even a wartime trench. A family-run attraction for nearly 40 years located near Oddicombe Beach, Bygones is a three-floor celebration of Victorian life, with living history exhibits including a sweet shop, blacksmith, a working kitchen and dentists – although you might not want to sit down for some work, as the only painkiller on offer back then was a shot of whisky. The top floor has a café for snacks, drinks and afternoon tea while the on-site shop is almost worth a visit on its own as it’s packed with pop culture memorabilia, games and novelty gifts.

An aquatic zoo, Living Coasts on Torquay seafront is a year-round attraction home to a wide range of penguins, seals and otters plus a large range of sea birds and tropical fish. As well as plenty of viewing stations, including some panoramic underground areas, there are several feeding and Q&A sessions during the day as well as the popular Living Coasts Cafe which boasts impressive views across the Bay.

Whether you know your Triceratops from your Brachiosaurus or your knowledge of dinosaurs stems purely from Jurassic Park, you’ll find plenty to entertain and educate you at Torquay’s Dinosaur World. An indoor and interactive attraction just a short distance along Rock Walk from our Torquay Seafront hotel, you can marvel at a full-size dinosaur model, scale replicas and historic fossils, with plenty for kids to do and see including the arts and crafts room and fossil excavation zone.

Spread over 450 acres, Cockington Country Park is a mix of neat gardens, open grassland and some impressive wooded areas several miles east of Torquay. As well as a large network of cycle paths, bridleways and footpaths, it’s easy to explore the park’s attractions including three picture-perfect lakes, the impressive Manor House and its craft centre and the thatched-roof village with several cafés and shops.

The largest outdoor waterpark in the UK, Splashdown Quaywest Waterpark might be nearer Paignton, but the 3-mile journey is well worth it. With eight white-water rides, a vast array of flumes and designated zones for toddlers and under sevens, the waterpark is the perfect place to enjoy the summer sun. As you’d imagine, it’s largely a summer-based attraction, but it does open at weekends in April and May before closing at the end of August each year.