Search all England
Places to stay in Paignton
This delightful seaside resort with its snug little harbour is a place where visitors can enjoy a holiday of endless hours of enchantment and summer fun. Paignton lies sandwiched between Brixton and Torquay. Until the 19th-century it was merely a colourful fishing village, one of its earliest Victorian patrons was Isaac Singer, the man who made a fortune from his "Singer Sewing Machine", he built Oldway Mansion in the 1870's, a house which has rooms modelled on the Palace of Versailles. This is now a civic centre. Another of Paignton's interesting buildings is St.John's Church, this shows fine Norman work, and Kirkham House is from the 14th-century. Other gracious building can be seen in Paignton, but mostly the town operates as a tourist resort with many families returning each year for the pleasure of sun, sea and sand! There are fabulous long beaches backed by a low sea wall, there is a pier and attractive parks. Across from the shore the sea front is lined with hotels, others can be found around the town and inland. The harbour is a lively place to be, it is full of interest for here you can watch the comings and goings of gay pleasure craft, fishing boats and yachts. For rainy days there is a new cinema complex next to the Green next to the theatre - this is located on the sea front and is close to other family attractions, such as crazy golf and there is a close-by zoologal park covering some 75 acres. At night the gardens and the cliffs are illuminated, making a fairy land by the sea. For night owls there is a good choice of pubs and clubs. The Dart Valley Railway line runs steam driven trains to Goodrington, Churston and Kingswear. For those who enjoy walking there are pleasant cliff walks, from the harbour there is an easy stroll to Goodrington Sands, the opposite direction takes you to Preston Sands. There is limitless pleasure for every member of the family at Paignton, further seaside attractions include fishing, boat trips, windsurfing, there are several lively events including a carnival in July.
