The English Riviera resort towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham lie, like a be-jewelled necklace, around one of the most beautiful bays in England.  The resort is a top destination for visitors from around the country and indeed the world and its history as a popular resort stretches back centuries.

Today the resort continues to attract, entertain and rejuvenate a wide range of visitors who choose their holiday to suit – the sophisticated continental style of Torquay, the lively seaside fun of Paignton or the colourful maritime character of Brixham.

The area’s most famous resident was no doubt Agatha Christie, the most published novelist of all time.  Over 2 billion of her books have been sold and it is said that she is outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare!  Torquay’s Agatha Christie Mile, the Agatha Christie Gallery in Torquay Museum and Greenway, her South Devon riverside home, all make the area a sought after destination for her worldwide fans.

The 21st century is seeing rejuvenated interest in this popular resort with top restaurants achieving coveted Michelin Stars and substantial investment underway in the resorts top Hotels including the Imperial Hotel, Palace Hotel and not forgetting Hotel Gleneagles where John Cleese once found the inspiration for the world’s most famous hotelier, Basil Fawlty.  Peter de Savary is the latest hotelier to invest in Torquay having recently announced exciting plans for an upmarket hotel on one of the coast’s beauty spots.

The beautiful coast line features 20 beaches and coves and the highest concentration of Blue Flag beaches in England.  The 20 mile coast path is part of the South West Coast Path and is complemented by many miles of country rambles and beautiful nature reserves.

Famed for its fantastically warm micro-climate for centuries, the English Riviera never fails to live up to this reputation with the warm atmosphere and verdant foliage of a sub tropical resort.  Throughout the parks and gardens and dotted along the esplanades and avenues, thousands of “Torbay Palms” will assure you that this is indeed a resort like no other.  This fascinating flora doesn’t stop at the water’s edge as the English Riviera even has an underwater nature reserve with corals and seahorses.

A popular destination for a wide range of sporting and activity holidays, the English Riviera boasts some of the best sailing waters around the British coast.  With over 50 sailing events in the Bay each year the summer season is filled with colourful sails, friendly competitive banter and the popping of champions’ champagne corks.   Highlights in the watersports calendar include the Brixham Annual Heritage Race in May, the three towns’ annual summer regattas and regular visits from cruise ships, international rallies and tall ships.  With 16 square miles of sheltered waters it’s a perfect place to learn to sail, waterski, kite surf or scuba.  Along the 20 miles of coast there are 12 slipways, two marinas and a wide range of watersport activities on offer.  The brand new Torquay Waterfront now offers boat users world class facilities and a warm quayside welcome for visitors strolling along to see the boats, shop or just sit and watch the world go by.

As a long established year-round resort, visitors will always find a fantastic range of activities on offer and amazing attractions to visit such as the world class Paignton Zoo and the truly unique Kents Cavern with the earliest evidence of man in Europe.  Away from the coast, Devon’s delightful rolling countryside holds many treasures to explore from pretty market towns to the striking beauty of Dartmoor.  South Devon is famed for its food and boasts a very high concentration of organic food producers.  Few visitors will miss the chance to savour the fruits of the sea, landed in the bustling port of Brixham.

With nearly 400 quality assured accommodation providers to choose from English Riviera customers will find the ideal holiday, a warm welcome and many reasons to come back again and again.

For more information on visiting Torbay, visit the English Riviera website by clicking here.