Family-Friendly

Things to Do

So much to see and do, all in one beautiful place — fun for toddlers, teens and everyone in between.

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It’s easy keeping youngsters amused when there’s so much to see and do, all in one beautiful place. The English Riviera Geopark has plenty of family-friendly activities to suit all ages and budgets. Toddlers, teens and everyone in between will be able to have fun while they explore this extraordinary place.

  • A woman and two young girls relaxing by the water on a rocky shore. The woman is sitting and holding the hand of one girl, while the second girl is lying on her stomach, wearing sandals. The scene features an ocean with sailboats, a cloudy sky, and coastal buildings in the background.

    Hit the beach

    Torre Abbey Sands, Preston Sands, Goodrington Beach and Broadsands are sandy and sheltered with shallow waters, perfect for paddling. Goodrington has a playground and seasonal amusements nearby, including the UK’s largest all-outdoor waterpark, Splashdown Quaywest.

  • A beach with pinkish sand, large rocks along the shoreline, and calm ocean waters under a clear blue sky. Green trees and houses are visible on a hillside in the background.

    Ride the rails

    Head to Babbacombe Downs for incredible views over Torbay and a good view of Babbacombe Cliffs, one of the Geopark’s 32 GeoSites. The famous Babbacombe Cliff Railway (a funicular) takes passengers up and down the steep hill to Oddicombe Beach — ideal for weary little legs.

  • Close-up of a green insect, possibly a dragonfly, perched on pink and white flowering plant with blurred green background.

    Get back to nature

    Berry Head Nature Reserve is home to rare plants and insects, as well as a guillemot colony. Keep an eye out for the small blue butterfly, orchids and the white rock-rose — and, if you’re lucky, dolphins and porpoises out to sea. You can also explore the remains of two Napoleonic forts, a lighthouse, a quarry and a bird hide. Take care with young children: there are no railings at the cliff edges.

  • Close-up of rocks and coral at a shoreline with water in the background.

    Go rockpooling

    Get up close to the creatures beneath the waves. Top spots include Hollicombe Beach near Paignton, Corbyn Head beach in Torquay and Shoalstone Beach in Brixham. Look out for common starfish, blennies and velvet swimming crabs — and don’t forget the Geopark Seaside Code.

  • Group of people standing outdoors near a body of water, engaged in conversation on a cloudy day.

    Go on a coastal adventure

    Got teens to entertain? They’ll love coasteering — traversing a rocky coastline at sea level on foot or by swimming, scaling cliffs, leaping from ledges and swimming through caves. Guided Geopark coasteering tours are run by Reach Outdoors and Rock Solid Coasteering.

  • A boat named Dart Venturer with many passengers on board, sailing on a body of water under a partly cloudy sky.

    Take the ferry

    The seasonal Western Lady Ferry takes passengers between Torquay and Brixham. The 30-minute crossing is a great way to see the whole of the Geopark’s coastline from the sea — lucky passengers might spot porpoises or one of Torbay’s resident seals.

  • Two people stand on a boat or dock, looking at a coastal landscape with cliffs, rocky formations, and water. The sky is partly cloudy with sunlight shining through.

    Go on a cruise

    Paignton Pleasure Cruises is a well-established family-run firm offering ferry connections and specialist cruise trips across the Geopark’s waters and up and down the river Dart.

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  • A group of people inside a large, rocky cave lit with warm, orange lighting, some of whom are taking photographs or looking around.

    Delve underground

    Kents Cavern is a prehistoric cave network and one of the most important Stone Age sites in Europe, with a record of human occupation going back 500,000 years. Open for guided tours all year.

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  • Exterior view of the Brixham Heritage Museum building made of red brick with stone accents, featuring multiple small windows and a sign displaying its name in large blue letters.

    Step back in time

    Brixham Heritage Museum’s collection includes more than 10,000 objects and displays relating to the area’s geology and Neolithic past, with school visits, family activities and guided tours.

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  • A man and a woman walking hand in hand along a garden path with colorful flowers, trees, and greenery surrounding them.

    Visit Torre Abbey

    The Geopark’s most important building in heritage terms — a museum, art gallery and Ancient Scheduled Monument set within 18 acres of gardens, with the Living Fossil Trail to follow.

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  • Close-up of a child's hands coloring on a paper with orange, pink, and green crayons. The background has bright yellow and white polka dot fabric.

    Rainy-day fun

    Download the Geopark colouring sheets, or sing along to the Geoquest songs and films — free to enjoy at home.

    Educational Resources