Things to do for families in or near Torbay

[mrssunshinexxx]

Holidaying in Torbay in June we have an 18m old, 4 and 5 year olds. Google has brought up Pennywell farm and the zoo both £100
each so need some cheaper bits, best beaches , parks ?
I’ve seen model village but also nearly £100
if anyone knows where I’d find some discount codes please share
tia

Hello. Will you have a car? If so, Decoy park in Newton Abbot is lovely and only 20 minutes from Torquay. It's got a big park, a woodland walk around a big lake, a splash pad and a playing field.

Goodrington beach in Paignton is great and has a park as well and a duck pond. The Geopark on Paignton seafront has a good park with a massive sandpit.

Cockington country park is nice for a walk.

Torre Abbey Sands (Torquay seafront) is the best beach for sand castles.

Waves pool (at the English Riviera centre) is the best pool for kids to play in and there's a very small soft play in the cafe as well that's free if you're using the cafe.

Babbacombe downs is pretty of you like somewhere nice to just have a walk and there's a cliff railway down to Oddicombe beach which is kinda cool. You can walk along from there to Babbacombe beach which is pebbley and more popular with locals.

The Model Village is cute but like an hour absolute tops. The price is insane!

@WantAnOrange thank you so much this is really helpful and will definitely check atleast half of these out! Is Torbay zoo any good or pennywells farm?

The model village looks fab and the entrance lets you go in twice for the fee.
I'd go (but I'm old) .

I've been to the Bekonscot one (Beaconsfield) and it's great but it's not big.

Pennywell Farm is really lovely. Lots to do and your children are the perfect age for it. The zoo is nice (I was there today!) but I have a pass so that's a bit different. It's just been bought and they are investing loads into and today there was lots of work being done. The play areas are good and the indoor soft play. Bit hit and miss with the actual animals.

My OHs family live in Torquay so we go quite a lot Both Paignton Zoo and Penny well farm are really good We went to the zoo at Easter and I had been a bit worried as I know they have been having work done but it was still excellent. Plymouth Aquarium isn't a huge drive and is good on a rainy day as is The Box museum in Plymouth. The leisure pool at the Riviera centre is good too. The steam train is also good that goes past goodrington that a pp suggested. The play park at Paignton often has fairground rides etc in the summer and there are arcades and mini golf on the pier. Haldon Forest on the way to Exeter has walks and a cafe and usually some sort of Julia Donaldson Trail. If you have NT membership Greenway (Agatha Christie s home) and Collaton Fishacre usually have kids trails on.

The marble museum is a must!

Sorry, posted too soon. Its called the House of Marbles in Newton Abbot, it's free to get in and there is a glass factory attached.

Had the zoo improved? We went two years ago and it was so run down.

We liked the Model Village, the steam train from Paignton with a cruise boat on river Dart and Agatha Christie's summer house. Babbacombe was nice with the cliff railway and cafees for a cream tea.
We enjoyed the Donkey Sanctury at Sidmouth.

Exeter was nice with the cathedral, Roman Wall and museum.
Paignton Zoo disappointed us.

Yeah the Zoo has been brought by a new company and they seem to be making loads of improvements we went at Easter and it was better than when we went years ago and looks like probably from the summer onwards they will have loads more open. I didn't think the cafe was great but they often aren't and it wasn't awful.

There’s shit all down here. Save your money and go elsewhere, preferably abroad.

Thank you. We might go again this summer. Years ago it was such a great zoo. I have fond memories from my childhood.

Pennywell is nice but if you’re willing to drive a little further, Woodlands is better. It still has the farm animals but it also has rides, a paddling pool, and multiple soft plays.

Penny well Farm is great. We used Tesco vouchers (4 years ago now so deal may have changed).

Thanks so much everyone lots to look into here

One of my favourite little beaches is near there, Fishcombe Cove. It’s not big and bring water shoes as it’s pebbles, but in season there is a great cafe right on the beach (amazing crab sandwich!). It’s a calm little cove so great for little ones to splash and skim rocks. There are obviously loads of beaches, but I’m just fond of this one.

You also can’t come to South Devon without a trip to Dartmoor. If you aren’t hugely familiar with the moor, Haytor is probably your most accessible point near there. It has a visitor centre and there is nearly always an ice cream van in the car park. Both of these are free.

I’ve not personally been, but I’ve always heard people speak highly of the Torbay Museum. £10 per adult, under 5s are free. I’m sure you could squeeze a just 5 year old in as a freebie.

House of Marbles is also great and there is glass blowing in the back. Lots of marble runs on display to interact with. Do go prepared that it’s mostly just a big gift shop. You will need to go prepared to buy things and set spending limits and there may be tears. Has a nice cafe though.

Thanks @mindutopia love a beach rec