to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
Torre Abbey
Type:Abbey/Priory
- Book Tickets
- Reviews
- Events
- About
- Enquiry
- Map & Directions
Book Tickets Online
Opening Dates and Times
| 2025 Opening (28 Jan 2025 - 18 Dec 2025) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Day | Times | |
| Monday - Tuesday | Closed* | |
| Wednesday - Sunday | 10:00 | - 17:00* |
| Bank Holiday | 10:00 | - 16:00* |
Book Tickets
About
An English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark Key Site.
Torre Abbey is Torbay's most historic building, an ancient scheduled monument dating back to 1196 set within 18 acres of garden and parkland.
The Abbey's story began with the arrival of an abbot and six canons at Torre, they had been sent from Welbeck Abbey in Nottinghamshire following the gift of land from the Lord of the Manor of Torre, William Brewer. Rich fertile land, proximity to the sea and stone from a nearby headland provided the founding medieval Premonstratensian Monks with all the resources they needed to establish Torre Abbey.
Today the Abbey is a real hive of activity where world class exhibitions are shown side-by-side with creative work from local emerging talents. You can learn about the early years and the Georgian Cary Family who resided in the Abbey for hundreds of years. The fascinating Cary Family invited Horatio Nelson for a dinner party, this is recreated in the Dining Room.
With over 600 incredible works of art from the 18th century to the presen day, our 800 years of history gallery explores local history, heritage and stories through interactive displays, talking portraits and videos, which really makes the Abbey a truly unique place to visit.
Our award winning garden is famed for exuberant plantings of herbaceous perennials, roses and dahlias. Rare shrubs and trees flourish in the English Riviera climate. Our Palm and Cactus Houses contain tropical and sub-tropical plants including endangered palms from Kew Gardens.
All year round the gardens celebrate the achievements of Torquay's most famous resident 'Agatha Christie' through the Potent Plants Garden. You'll be surprised by the range of sinister but beautiful plants on show. Fans of the writer can also interpret the plants and clues in the four outside beds and solve the mystery of the missing story titles.
We are a family-friendly museum, all year round we offering special house and garden trails and quizzes, learning activities, dressing up and a wide range of workshops. Torre Abbey is accessible for prams and children, with a lift running to each floor, buggy parking and baby-changing faciltities. We welcome picnicking in our gardens, and have plenty of spots to enjoy alfresco dining.
Our gift shop is open during Abbey opening hours, selling everything from locally produced gin, preserves and sweets, to traditional toys, plants, gardening accessories, mugs and annual memberships.
During August we hold our Outdoor Cinema Festival, showing a range of cult classics, blockbuster movies and family favourites under the stars in our romantic ruins. For each screening our licensed pop-up bar is open selling a range of refreshments and movie snacks.
For full details on all of our exhibitions, events and workshops visit our website.
A Visual Guide is now available for Torre Abbey, The Guide is a site specific online tool to help people plan and consider their visit to a new place. The Visual Guide shows anything from functional information like entry prices, parking and facilities, but also highlights elements like sound levels, lighting types, spaces and bespoke features that may cause alarm or confusion.
Awards
- Regional and Miscellaneous
WTTC Safe Travels 2021
TripAdvisor
- Excellent565
- Very Good247
- Average37
- Poor12
- Terrible11
Recent Reviews:
- David TTrip Type:CouplesSurprisingly good gardens
01/11/2024Good value for money. Gardens had blooming flowers and there were also a fair number of exotic plants including some carnivorous plants. The museum itself was enjoyable and had a number of... Read full review - thehat14Wymondham, United KingdomPoor
11/12/2024Very disappointed with nothing much to see. Bought a bottle of Torquay gin but expected another gin stall as well. All the literature advertising the event was very misleading regarding the number of... Read full review - Fearless60320602940Trip Type:CouplesPaignton paint Out Exhibition at Torre Abbey.
07/02/2025We came to see “The Great Paignton Paint Out” exhibition on at Torre Abbey, on show until Sunday 23rd February. What a special exhibition this is and well worth a visit. The artwork by a number of... Read full review
Related Events
08/03/2025 - 18/05/2025
The World of Peter Rabbit™ Storytime TrailHop into this walkthrough experience, where visitors will be able to immerse themselves in The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Little bunnies will be able to crawl under the garden gate, hide in a watering can, and see their reflection in a mirror pool, just like Peter Rabbit! With photo opportunities and…- more info
22/06/2025 - 22/06/2025
Children's Theatre: Wind In the Willows (Immersion Theatre)Immersion Theatre return to our glorious gardens with wonderful theatre for all the family!
Pack your picnics and join Ratty, Mole, Badger, and the fantastically irrepressible Toad as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime culminating in a colourful battle to save Toad Hall from the…- more info
28/06/2025 - 28/06/2025
Outdoor Theatre: 440 Theatre: Romeo & JulietWith their first ever full-length production, this unique interpretation turns Shakespeare's iconic tragedy into an outrageous, fall-on-the-floor comedy!
Four Forty breathe new life into the feuding families of Verona and their star-crossed lovers, revealing unexpected laughter and joy in the…- more info
15/08/2025 - 15/08/2025
16/08/2025 - 16/08/2025
Outdoor Theatre: 440 Theatre – Much Ado About Nothing & Macbeth - The Comedy!Four Forty Theatre return for a raucous retelling of Much Ado About Nothing and Macbeth - The Comedy!
Both performed in one night by only four actors in forty (ish!) minutes each! "This is an exceptionally special, hilarious, speedy tour of two of Shakespeare's arguably greatest…- more info
12/09/2025 - 21/09/2025
Heritage Open DaysHeritage Open Days is England's largest community led festival of history and culture, involving thousands of local volunteers and organisations. Every year in September it brings people together to celebrate their heritage, community and history. Stories are told, traditions explored, and…- more info
13/09/2025 - 21/09/2025
12/09/2026 - 20/09/2026
11/09/2027 - 19/09/2027
The Agatha Christie FestivalThe programme can be viewed by carrying out a diary search via www.englishriviera.co.uk/whats-on and on The Agatha Christie Festival website www.iacf-uk.org (available shortly).
Agatha Christie is Torquay's most well-known resident and the best selling author of all time. Every year Torquay…- more info
17/09/2025 - 17/09/2025
The Mysterious Mix & MingleAhead of the start of the Literary Festival, we are hosting an informal mix and mingle event to allow guests to meet each other over a drink or two. We will be providing details of the (rather nice) location a bit closer to the event.- more info
18/09/2025 - 18/09/2025
Continuing Marple and PoirotContinuing Marple and Poirot
Lucy Foley and Sophie Hannah, Interviewed by David Brawn
In March, it was announced that Lucy Foley will be writing a new Miss Marple novel. After the success of the 2022 Marple book, with twelve new short stories by twelve bestselling female authors, this is very…- more info
18/09/2025 - 18/09/2025
In Conversation with Chris ChibnallIn Conversation with Chris Chibnall - From Broadchurch to Doctor Who and onto Agatha Christie
The Agatha Christie Festival are delighted to welcome author and screenwriter, Chris Chibnall, to the Festival. In an interview with our guest host he will discuss his debut novel, Death at the White…- more info
18/09/2025 - 18/09/2025
The Agatha Christie Mile 1920s Costumed PromenadeStart the Literary Festival off in style! Dress up in 1920s clothes and join us for this free event, promenading along the Agatha Christie Trail from the brand-new sculpture, past the Agatha Christie bust and along to Princess Pier.
The walk is completely flat and about half a mile in length to…- more info
18/09/2025 - 18/09/2025
Tom Adams and Agatha Christie: Partners in CrimeThe Agatha Christie Festival are delighted to bring you this wonderful evening celebrating the artwork of Tom Adams, creator of numerous iconic Agatha Christie book covers. The event begins with a talk by David Morris, author of CollectingChristie.com, who will share exclusive insights into the…- more info
19/09/2025 - 19/09/2025
A Bundle of Fun - Victoria DowdTo commemorate the 100th anniversary of the publication of The Secret of Chimneys, bestselling Devon-based author, Victoria Dowd, will give an entertaining talk on Bundle Brent. Lady Eileen ‘Bundle’ Brent featured in both The Secret of Chimneys and The Seven Dials Mystery, and had a love of…- more info
19/09/2025 - 19/09/2025
Agatha Christie and the Murder Game - John CurranJohn Curran looks at Golden Age detective fiction as a literary game and explains how Agatha Christie was the greatest player. Ever.
Internationally recognised expert on Christie’s work, Dr John Curran, is a literary scholar and archivist who worked as a National Trust consultant during the…- more info
19/09/2025 - 19/09/2025
Agatha Christie's Devon - Laura ThompsonAgatha Christie travelled the world, but Devon always had her heart: in 1922 she described South Africa as 'like all beautiful places, just like Torquay!' This talk will explore her relationship - both personal and literary - with her childhood home Ashfield, with Greenway House, and with the…- more info
19/09/2025 - 19/09/2025
Publishing Agatha Christie - David BrawnHarperCollins’ head of literary estates David Brawn marks 30 years in his role as Agatha Christie’s publisher by taking us behind the scenes of her UK publishing house and giving a unique insight into how the author’s complete canon of novels and short stories continue to thrive.
From new cover…- more info
19/09/2025 - 30/09/2025
Exhibition - Tom Adams and Agatha Christie: Partners in CrimeIncluded in Torre Abbey entrance price
Cover artist Tom Adams created numerous iconic Agatha Christie book covers, mostly in the 1960s, '70s and '80s but also as recently as the 2010s. Thanks to the generosity of Georgie Adams, Tom’s widow, and her family as well as David Morris, visitors will be…- more info
20/09/2025 - 20/09/2025
Agatha Christie and the OccultWhile best known for her detective stories and thrillers, Agatha Christie also wrote many stories of the supernatural, many of which were collected in The Last Séance. The occult and supernatural themes appear in many of her novels and stories, including her first short story, published in 1919…- more info
20/09/2025 - 20/09/2025
Making Enquiries: Inquiries into Information in A Murder is Announced - Michelle KamzerA Murder is Announced celebrates its 75th anniversary of publication in 2025. One of the most beloved Miss Marple novels, this story has been admired for its nuanced interpersonal relationships, immediate-post-war social commentary, and use of the writing itself to clue the solution. It is the…- more info
21/09/2025 - 21/09/2025
- Secrets and Spies: Agatha Christie the War WriterAgatha Christie wrote her first mystery novel during the First World War, and reflected a world in turmoil. At the height of her career during the Second World War, global conflict shaped her work and how it was read, even as the adventures of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot were seen as escapist.…
- more info
28/11/2025 - 02/01/2026
Torre Abbey Alive with Light!The abbey will be transformed into a breathtaking blend of light, history, and festive joy. Audiences will embark on a magical journey through the abbey's rich history, from its 12th-century origins to today. "Alive with Light" is a stunning visual spectacle with an evocative historical soundtrack…- more info
Facilities
Establishment Features
- Cater for groups
Key Features
- Groups
Venue Facilities
- Groups Accepted
Facilities
Accessibility
- Accessible to Wheelchair Users
Facilities
Other
- Accept Children over 7
- Film - Historic Location
- Gift Shop
- Website
Accessibility
- Accessible to Wheelchair Users
- Assistance Dogs
- Facilities for Disabled Visitors
- Guide Dogs Permitted
- Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
- Toilets for Disabled Visitors
Attraction Facilities
- Plant Sales
- Shop
- Tea Rooms
Catering
- On-Site café/restaurant
Establishment Features
- Available for wedding receptions
- Cater for groups
- Coach drop-off point
- Conference facilities
- Event venue
- Licenced for civil marriages
- On-site Restaurant/Cafe
- Open All Year
- Shop
- Tea / Coffee Shop
- Toilets
- Wedding Venue
Key Features
- Families
- Groups
- Indoor Attraction - You can visit the Abbey building and the gardens
- Of historic, literary or architectural interest
- Outdoor Attraction - You can visit the Gardens only for £4
- Weddings
Parking & Transport
- On Bus Route
- Parking (charge) - Public Pay and Display car park nearby.
- Within 1 Mile of a Train Station
Payment Methods
- All major credit cards accepted
- Contactless payment accepted
Specialist Features
- Family Fun
- Marketed towards families
- Marketed towards senior citizens
- Themed Events
Tours and Demonstrations
- Educational Visits Accepted
- Guided Tours Available for Groups
- Guided Tours Available for Individuals
Travel & Trade
- Group discounts available
- Groups Welcome
- Packed lunches available
Venue Facilities
- Area for musician/band
- Beach adajacent for photography
- Catering available in house
- Choice of marriage rooms
- Dedicated wedding planner
- Garden/grounds available for photography
- Groups Accepted
- Late licence for evening receptions
- Lawn area for marquee
- Licenced for civil marriages
- Marriage / Reception Room decoration
- Sea views available for photography
- Special rates for small/midweek weddings
View Less
Torre Abbey
Also at
Agatha Christie Mile, TorquayDrift back into the style and opulence of the Jazz Age as you retrace the steps of the world’s best-selling author along Torquay’s seafront.
Torre Abbey, TorquaySet within 18 acres of parkland and gardens with spectacular views of the sea, Torre Abbey is the perfect romantic celebration to hold your wedding celebration.
Torre Abbey Cafe, Torquay📢 Our Café is moving! 🥪 🍵 🧁
Due to our Restoration Project our Café will be relocated to our wonderful Spanish Barn for the summer months.
🗓️ From Tuesday 13th June you will be able to enjoy our usual drinks and light bites whilst experiencing the atmospheric barn.
We know this move…
Torre Abbey Meadows, TorquayAbbey Meadows and Gardens is situated on Torquay Seafront. The meadow is a large open space used by all for events and picnics. The park itself is host to a range of activities, such as tennis and crazy golf; it also houses the Italian Gardens with its attractive pond with fountain and water rock…
Map & Directions
Road Directions
Torre Abbey is 10 minutes drive from most areas of Torquay, 20 minutes from Paignton and 50 minutes from Plymouth and Exeter. From Exeter and the east:From Exeter and the east, follow signs for Torquay A380, then Torquay Seafront A3022. You will arrive at a 5 roads junction with the gates to the Abbey ahead of you. There is no parking in the grounds but you can take 2nd exit, Chestnut Avenue for parking at the front of the Riviera International Centre OR sharp right, Walnut Road for Torre Valley car park. Both are just 2 minutes walk from the Abbey and are pay and display. From Babbacombe, Paignton and other areas of Torbay:Follow the seafront and turn into Rathmore Road, immediately next to the Grand Hotel. Follow this road with the station on you left and you will reach the five roads junction – sharp left for Walnut Road, Torre Valley car park and straight across for Chestnut Avenue, Riviera Centre car park.
What's Nearby
Do not touch! is the warning for all visitors to the Potent Plants Garden at Torre Abbey.…
0.05 miles awayDon’t miss the Italian Gardens, which form part of Abbey Park and Meadows. Here you’ll…
0.06 miles awayOne Of Torquay's Longest Standing Gyms With Experienced Instructors And Extensive…
0.08 miles away
There is something for everyone in our impressive leisure pool. Whether it’s our Swim…
0.11 miles awayThe newly created Rifles Garden is located within Kings Garden, on Torquay’s seafront…
0.14 miles away9 Hole Pitch n' Putt On Stunning Greens, 10 Tennis Courts, and Lawn Bowls. All Equipment…
0.17 miles awayThis delectable beach is part of the English Riviera and it lives up to its name with its…
0.19 miles awayAbbey Meadows and Gardens is situated on Torquay Seafront. The meadow is a large open…
0.2 miles away18 Hole Jungle themed adventure golf course. Wind your way through the jungle using your…
0.2 miles awayDrift back into the style and opulence of the Jazz Age as you retrace the steps of the…
0.24 miles awayDiscover tranquility in our newly established treatment rooms at the Grand Spa. Designed…
0.3 miles awayAwards are based on quality of management, cleanliness, water quality and other criteria.…
0.3 miles awayArtizan is an independent, fine art gallery situated on the English Riviera's stunning…
0.32 miles awayLandscaped gardens on the side of the cliff face on Torquay's seafront with stunning…
0.42 miles awayIn 2007 the English Riviera was designated a Global Geopark and is one of just 7 sites in…
0.43 miles awayWith 3.3million visitors every year, the English Riviera is South Devon’s beautiful bay…
0.43 miles away
Sign up for our e-newsletter
Order your free travel directories
Contact English Riviera Visitor Information
Submit your event
