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If you’re looking for family days out on the English Riviera, then you will be spoilt for choice. There are so many great places to go that it can be hard to know where to start. But don’t worry, we have some great suggestions and recommendations for you here!
Family friendly attractions
Visit the English Riviera this summer and enjoy a day out with the family at one of our fantastic attractions.
Paignton Zoo is a beautiful zoo that will enchant you with its collection of exotic animals and award-winning gardens. Splashdown Quaywest is great for children who love to splash around in pools and slides, or adults who want to relive their childhood by getting soaked! And if your family loves animals, then check out Occombe Farm, where you can pet friendly animals like goats and sheep. Your children will love getting up close with these gentle creatures! Head to the farm shop to peruse your locally sourced favourites.
There are plenty of other attractions throughout the Bay too, head underground at Kents Cavern, feel like a giant at Babbacombe Model Village or ride in style at Dartmouth Steam Railway.
Family friendly beaches
Grab your bucket and spade and get ready for a day on the beach!
If you're looking for an easy day out, Goodrington Sands is the perfect place to start. Located in Paignton, this beach has some of the best facilities around: toilets, cafés and even arcades! It’s a long, sandy beach with safe shallow waters, and there’s plenty of space for everyone to run around in safety.
Paignton Sands and Green is very family friendly. The long sandy beach is found next to a promenade, which backs onto the large green with a world-class play park named the “Geo Play Park” which has specific areas aimed at different age groups. A giant climbing net, climbing hits, slides, seesaws, sand play, and zip wires can all be found in the Geo Play Park.
Breakwater Beach is a great day out for the family. With Breakwater Bistro offering delicious food and drink, toilets and even a shower, its perfect for all your needs. The shingle beach is found just next to the car park, and just a short walk from Brixham Harbour so its easily accessible for everyone.
Family friendly events
Head down to Paignton Green during Paignton Festival – the last week in July each year. With a packed program of events happening throughout the week, there's something for everybody at this family-friendly festival: from music to dance performances and street entertainment, it's a great day out for all the family.
From 16th-23rd August, join in with Children’s Week - the UK's longest running children's festival. It's free to attend, and includes a host of activities for all ages, including storytelling sessions, arts and crafts workshops, puppet shows and more!
There are lots of amazing things to do in Paignton, Torquay, and Brixham this summer. Whether you're looking for a day at the zoo or some family-friendly fun on the beach, you're sure to find something that fits your needs. Order your free Accommodation Directory and start planning your holiday today.
Related
Great free attraction on Paignton seafront. An English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark Key Site. The park is designed around the English Riviera’s geological history. The toddler area represents the Devonian Period when the area was south of the equator and under tropical coral seas.
With dozens of different animals across 80 acres of beautiful, spacious grounds – you are in for a really wild time at Paignton Zoo! Located in South Devon, Paignton Zoo is one of the South West’s most exciting visitor attractions and zoos. Come rain or shine, the zoo is a fun-filled day out for the whole family. Discover all your favourite species, big and small, including gorillas, orang-utans, giraffes, lions, tigers, crocodiles, flamingos, red pandas and rhinos, and be ready for a few surprises along the way too. There are many Covid-19 safety measures implemented around the site to ensure that everyone can have an enjoyable and safe visit. For full details, please see the Paignton Zoo website. A must-see is Crocodile Swam
Occombe Farm is a mix of visitor attraction with indoor and outdoor play, animal encounters barn and animal paddocks trail; a farm shop and a farm cafe. Occombe Farm Park & Play is Torbay’s newest family visitor attraction. Cuddle the cutest bunnies and guinea pigs. Chuckle with the naughty goats, watch the very bouncy grey-faced Dartmoor sheep. There’s donkeys and a couple of very pretty Shetland ponies too. Play indoors and out! The play barn is a unique space for outdoor play; indoors! For exploring and inspiring children aged 2–12 years. A space for make-believe, fantasies and imaginary adventures.
BRAND NEW for 2024! Shipwreck Island, FANTASTIC FOR FAMILIES, a haven of wet adventure for under 12’s! Splashdown Quaywest is the wettest, wildest attraction on the English Riviera. Great fun water slides, some laugh out loud fun and some will have you screaming. Swimming pool area and plenty of space for enjoying the sun and, of course, the fantastic views of South Devon's Beautiful Bay. Amazing interactive aqua-playground especially for children under 12 and their accompanying adults
Explore underground at Europe’s top Stone Age cave, with an extensive labyrinth of spectacular and easily accessible caverns open daily all year. Our entertaining guides will take you on an underground adventure in the Stone Age home to Britain’s earliest humans and Ice Age beasts.
BABBACOMBE MODEL VILLAGE Step into a world of miniature marvels! Bring back those magical childhood memories as you explore a quaint and quirky representation of England through five decades at Babbacombe Model Village. Meander your way through four acres of beautiful miniature gardens and discover many fun characters and animated features - from trains to moving vehicles and even a fire-breathing dragon. Babbacombe Model Village is equally as famous for its glorious gardens that help to set it aside as one of Europe’s Premier Model Villages. The gardens provide a stunning backdrop for the hundreds of miniature models and animated scenes. For an added twist there are always fun characters to search for as you explore the gardens.
A warm welcome awaits you at Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boats. We provide steam train travel, river and sea cruises across the English Riviera and along the beautiful river Dart in South Devon.
Close to Paignton is the long, sandy stretch of Goodrington Sands. With a Seaside Award, safe swimming conditions and loads of great activities, this family friendly beach promises to keep the kids happy whatever the weather.
Paignton Beach offers the ultimate family day out at the seaside. With a sandy beach, safe swimming and a whole host of activities to enjoy, this promises to be a fun day out for all the family.
Close to the mouth of Brixham harbour is Breakwater Beach, one of the cleanest beaches on the English Riviera, South Devon’s beautiful bay. Not only is it a Blue Flag beach, but it has a Combined Seaside (resort) Award and been recommended by the Good Beach Guide. There’s disabled access with adjoining parking facilities, meaning everyone can enjoy it. Breakwater Beach is a particular favourite for scuba diving. There are a number of dive schools throughout the area and with some of the warmest and calmest waters in the country, this is the place to learn to scuba and get your open water certificate. Expect to see rare seagrass beds, seahorses, fish and even the odd shipwreck.
Paignton Festival is run by a small team of dedicated volunteers, who rely solely off donations from the public and local businesses and traders. Without financial support from them they would be unable to put on this successful event every year.
FREE children's entertainment and family fun all on Paignton Green. Pay us a visit and enjoy the craft workshops, cookery kitchen, daily stage entertainment from the Children's Week Team.
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