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Torquay Accommodation
William Pengelly (1812-1894), famous scientist who worked on Kents Cavern
Superb deco and 1920s hotel architecture in Torquay. Many have blue plaques
Delightful Cockington Village near Torquay. Arts & crafts and a superb park
Babbacombe Downs, Babbacombe near Torquay, family holiday fun!Torquay Devon Holidays English Riviera Torbay Devon Tourist Information
Torquay's Harbour and Marina is it's central entertainment crux - crammed with cafes, restaurants and nightlife clubs and bars. A Riviera feel indeed. Plenty of dazzling yachts moor in Torquay's marina. The whole effect is aesthetically pleasing, and perfect for relaxing in one of those cafes with friends. A footbridge takes you from the inner harbour across to the many cafes and shops. The elegant Edwardian Pavillion, once an Edwardian Theatre, is now home to a superb selection of shops and a terraced restaurant with views across Torquay's bay.
The Living Coasts recreation of a 'naturalistic coast environment' sits on Torquay Harbour and was set up in conjunction with Paignton Zoo. The African Penguins seemed to have settled in well, with many chicks!
Torquay Museum
On the east side of Torquay harbour sits the Torquay Museum. Agatha Christie fans will not be disappointed, as there's a huge exhibition offering a real Agatha Christie Biography. The selection of Agatha Christie photographs is a must for any Christie fan, note the Torquay photographs with rollerskating on the pier and there's plenty of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot ephemera mostly from the various TV adaptations - Joan Hickson was Christie's favourite Miss Marple.
Check out also some of the many other exhibitions on offer, including The Vivian Gallery for lovers of Victoriana. There's some fascinating Victorian toys on show, including a Dolls House. There's also a selection of Devon pottery from the era, some of which is suitably grotesque and include ceramic sculptures of popular figures of the day, plus pixies and animals.
On the archeology front, check out the Kent's Gallery exhibition, crammed with excavation find from the nearby cave Kent's Cavern which is open to the public. There's also an ancient Egypt gallery, plus a recreation of an old 1860s Devon farmhouse. William Pengelly (1812-1894) lived in Torquay, and was one of the most popular scientists of his day. He was a great speaker, making complex scientific theory accessible and easily understood. His speciality was in cave exploration, and much of his study was undertaken at nearby Kent's Cavern, making links between mans coexistence with extinct flora, and essentially looking at the length of mans existence. Many of Pengelly's finds at Kent Cavern can be viewed in the Archeology Gallery at the Torquay Museum.
The Torquay Museum is open during the summer months Mondays - Saturdays, 10am-5pm, and Sundays 1.30-5pm. In the Winter months the museum is open Mondays to Fridays, 10am-5pm, Saturdays 1.30pm-4pm, closed Sundays. Concessions apply, plus there's some great deals on group and family tickets, and on tickets with a joint visit to Kent's Cavern. All galleries are accessible to disabled visitors, plus there are ample toilets and a cafe on-site.
Kent's Cavern, Torquay
Agatha Christie developed an interest in archeology, her second marriage was to Max Mallowan, an archaeologist and scholar with a renowned reputation. Christ refers to the fascinating archeology in Kents Cavern in her book 'The Man in the Brown Suit' (1924). This Devon cave called Kents Cavern really is one of the most important Palaeolithic caves to be found in Northern Europe, renowned as the oldest recognisable human dwelling in the UK. Visitors can expect to see spectacular geological formations as well as significant prehistoric finds, some of which are over 700,000 years old.
Kents Cavern is a superb and accessible introduction to archeology, and who'd have thought just down the road from seaside holiday haven Torquay. Discover the history of man in Britain which goes back to the Lower Palaeolithic period, or the Stone Age, when homo erectus strutted his/her? stuff. Homo erectus was the first hominid to migrate and survive outside the African continent apparently, before tottering out into Asia and to the edge of Europe about 700,000 years ago - there's some really old stuff going on in this 'ere Kents Cavern. It continues - find out about Australopithecus afarensis, ancestor of homo erectus who lived in Africa and began to make tools! eeek, 2001. Fossils have been found from austalopithecus in Ethiopia, commonly called 'Lucy'. It's heavy stuff, but a trip to Kents Cavern brings the archeology alive.
Kents Cavern is open all year round except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. From March to June it's open from 10am to the last tour time at 4pm; July and August 10am to 4.30pm; September to October 10am to 4pm, and November to February 10am to 3.30pm.
Kents Cavern Ltd, Cavern House, Ilsham Road, Torquay, Devon. TQ1 2JF. Tel for visitor information and bookings: 01803 215136
Babbacombe Model Village, Torquay
There's something surreal and rather kitsch about model villages, but the kids seem to love them. Check out the mini illuminations, UFO and Aquaviva section (personal favourite!). Quirky stuff abouds all serving to ensure a great family Devon day out. Fancy shrinking a friend - yes please, well then get a good photo and take it along to Babbacombe Model Village, Torquay and a craftsman will make a six inch model of them. Superb present that one!
Recent additions to the model village include the Gulliver in Lillitput exhibition, Babbacombe Junction Indoor Model Railway and Behind the Scenes, the making of the model village! Old favourites are there including the mini landscape gardens and there's a licensed cafe/restaurant with terrace on-site.
Babbacombe Model Village has good disability access throughout, due to recent moderations, and there is full wheelchair access. Check the web link to the right for opening hours, as this does vary depending on which part of the model village you're visiting. You can see the model village by day and by night (essential for the illuminations section!). Great fun and the kids will love it!
A local authority owned car park is adjacent to the village, and you'll find Babbacombe Model Village just 2 miles from Torquay Harbour at Babbacombe Model Village, Hampton Avenue, Babbacombe, Torquay, Devon TQ1 3LA, Tel: 01803 315315
More Torquay Attractions
Living Coasts family Aquatic attraction is situated right on the harbour front at Torquay, and is a popular family holiday attraction in Torquay. All kinds of aquatic life can be seen here including penguins, puffins and seals, and the complex has a host of interesting plants as well. There's plenty of shops, cafes and facilities on this all-inclusive aquatic complex. Certainly well worth a visit.
Living Coasts, Torquay Harbourside, Beacon Quay, Torquay, Devon. TQ1 2BG. Tel: (01803) 202470.
Living Coasts in Torquay is open everyday (except Christmas Day) from 10am. From 19th March 2005 to 1st October 2005 -10- 6.00pm, 2nd October 2005 to 29th October 2005 - 5.30pm,
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