Paignton Tours: Walks and English Riviera Excursions

City sightseeing and a Torquay city tour

A guided walk is a way to see Torquay at street level while hearing stories about the town. The Fawlty themed walk meets at the English Riviera Visitor Information Centre on Vaughan Parade and includes a guide and quiz. Food, drinks and hotel transport are separate. This is a walk with a television theme, so choose it for the commentary and the town rather than treating the theme as a promise of a filming location.

For a broader choice of guided routes, see our Torquay walking tours. The Torquay guide also covers Babbacombe, the museum and other places you can visit independently. If you use the bus from Paignton, check the stop, travel time and return service for your date before setting out.

Mystery and ghost walks in Paignton

The guided ghost walk meets at Palace Avenue in Paignton. It brings together historic locations, local legends and paranormal investigation elements. Its approach is a guided walk rather than a staged performance with actors. Check the date and meeting instructions and wear shoes suited to walking outdoors.

Evening, night and Halloween themed plans depend on the dates offered. Look at the available session before building the rest of your day around it, and consider your return journey in the dark. A daytime visit to the pier or a trip to the zoo can make a separate complement to an evening activity.

Explore the coast by boat

The Coastal Explorer meets at Torquay Marina and includes a safety briefing, lifejacket fitting and guided coastal exploration, with stops at places of interest. Wildlife opportunities are part of the outing, but sightings are not guaranteed. Food, drinks and transport to the meeting point are separate. Weather and sea conditions can affect a trip, so check the operator's instructions on the day.

Other options and their different durations are compared in the boat trips guide. Allow time to reach the marina from Paignton and distinguish a guided coastal outing from a scheduled ferry crossing. They solve different travel needs and do not necessarily follow the same route.

Brixham, Dartmouth and Greenway

Route 12 connects the bay towns, making Brixham a possible independent outing. The seasonal ferry between Torquay and Brixham is another option when running; its 2026 season has ended. Check the current schedule for your own dates. Brixham Heritage Museum adds a local history stop, but check its opening arrangements before travelling.

For Dartmouth, the steam railway runs from Paignton to Kingswear, followed by a separate passenger ferry. Greenway is another destination near the Dart and has its own parking and access arrangements. Read about the railway and Agatha Christie excursions before deciding how to combine them. Check the date, inclusions and return transport of any organised trip.

Choosing and preparing

Compare the length of each activity with the time needed to reach its start. Look at walking requirements, weather, food arrangements and any separate entrance charges. A short boat ride and a guided walk are not interchangeable: the first places you on the water, while the second leaves more time for stories on land. For longer inland outings, see the Dartmoor walks and plan your own journey to their meeting points.