Paignton

Paignton is a seaside town in the Torbay area of the English Riviera and South Devon region of Devon. The town, which has a history as a fishing village but is also on the railway line, is home to the well-known Paignton Zoo.

Understand

• Visit Paignton tourist information

Get in

By bus

Stagecoach 12 – Newton Abbot, Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.

By train

1 Paignton station is on the terminus of the Riviera Line serving Exeter, Starcross, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, Torre, Torquay and Paignton. It is also the terminus of the Manchester Piccadilly line to Paignton.

Get around

Paignton is small enough to walk round but there is an extensive network of local buses with the bus station being located very close to Paignton rail station. Stagecoach is the dominant bus operator.

See

• 1 Paignton Zoo, Totnes Road, TQ4 7EU, ☏ +44 1803 697500.  
• 2 Kirkham House, Kirkham Street, TQ3 3AX. Jul-Sep: Su 2PM-5PM. Free.  
• 3 Greenway, Greenway Road, Galmpton, TQ5 0ES (Car Parking spaces must be booked in advance. Follow brown tourist signs. Not directly accessible by public transport but there are walking routes.), ☏ +44 1803 842382, greenway@nationaltrust.org.uk. Greenway is one of many properties owned by world-renowned mystery writer Agatha Christie. The National Trust have painstaking created an atmosphere that allows visitors to get a glimpse into what she would have done in the summer. (updated Aug 2024)

Do

• 1 Paignton Pier, Paignton Sands, TQ4 6BW, ☏ +44 1803 522139. A pleasure pier with various attractions including amusement rides, arcade machines and a cafe. (updated Oct 2017)
• 2 Palace Theatre, Palace Ave, TQ3 3HF, ☏ +44 1803 665800. The oldest working theatre in Torbay. (updated Oct 2017)
• 3 Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway, Queens Park Station, Torbay Rd, TQ4 6AF, ☏ +44 1803 555872. Train runs from Paignton-Kingswear (with no intermediate stops), ferry travel to Dartmouth included. Adult £22.50; Child £16:00. (updated Aug 2024)
• 4 Splashdown Quaywest Waterpark, Goodrington Sands, Tanners Rd, TQ4 6LN, ☏ +44 1803 555550. (updated Oct 2017)
• 5 Vue Torbay Cinema, The Esplanade, Paignton (at the end of Torbay Road). A bad weather alternative. Tickets can be booked from the website. (updated Aug 2024)

Beaches

• 6 Paignton Beach. (updated Oct 2017)
• 7 Fairy Cove Beach. (updated Oct 2017)
• 8 Goodrington Sands, Tanners Road, Goodrington, TQ4 6LN. A major attraction in the area, capable of supporting a very large number of visitors. This mainly sandy beach with clean, calm waters has earned the prestigious Blue Flag Award, and lifeguard patrols in the summer months make for safe swimming conditions. (updated Jun 2020)

Eat

As Paignton is a seaside town, you can expect the usual takeaway establishments mainly fish & chip shops, Chinese & Cantonese & Indian cuisines.

• 1 The Shoreline, Eastern Esplanade, TQ4 6AG, ☏ +44 1803 556943. Has great seaviews of Torbay. (updated Oct 2016)
• 2 The Harbour Light, North Quay, The Harbour, TQ4 6DU, ☏ +44 1803 666500. (updated Oct 2017)

Drink

• 1 Inn on the Green, Esplanade Rd, TQ4 6BG, ☏ +44 1803 557841, InnOnTheGreen.Paignton@marstons.co.uk. A pub that offers great drinking atmosphere for the older and more mature people and also offers great views on the sea. Easy access as well. (updated Oct 2016)
• 2 The Inn on the Quay, Tanners Rd, TQ4 6LP, ☏ +44 1803 559754. A typical family pub which is owned by Brewers Fayre. This pub offers a fun house for the kids which should in time keep them quiet but also, the pub is right near the beach and also has an arcade and also a large outdoor water slide, so much for the kids to do. Worth a try! (updated Oct 2016)
• 3 The Talk of the Town, 46–52 Torbay Rd, TQ4 6AL, ☏ +44 1803 668070. 7AM-midnight. Wetherspoons pub. (updated Oct 2017)

Sleep

Budget

• 1 The Ratcliffe, 4 Garfield Rd, TQ4 6AU (situated in the heart of Paignton), ☏ +44 1803 555894, +44 1803 556106. A distinctive, late Victorian B&B, the Ratcliffe Guest House is run by Kevin and Anna Hunt. They offer a varied and balanced menu for breakfast using home-cooked locally sourced produce. Rooms from £44 per night including breakfast weekly rates and special offers available. 
• 2 Premier Inn, Tanners Rd, Goodrington Sands, TQ4 6LP, ☏ +44 871 527 9206. From £34 per night. (updated Oct 2017)

Splurge

• 3 The Palace Hotel, Esplanade Rd, TQ4 6BJ, ☏ +44 1803 555121. From £122 a night. (updated Oct 2017)

Connect

As of Sept 2023, Paignton and its approach roads have 4G from O2 and Vodafone, and 5G from EE and Three.

Go next

• Exeter – City known for its cathedral and university, also the county town of Devon.
• Torquay – A town with 9 beaches and home of novelist Agatha Christie.
• Brixham – A small fishing town.

Routes through Paignton

merges with and ←	N  S	→ Brixham
Exeter ← Torquay ←	N  S	→ merges with the
merges with ← Totnes ←	W  E	→ merges with the