Paignton Attractions
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Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway Paignton - Allow 3hrs minimum
Paignton Station
Paignton
Devon
TQ4 6AF
Telephone
01803 555872
Dart Valley Steam Railway has been in operation for many years, taking thousands of happy visitors between Paignton and Kingswear. With excellent views on the way and stops at Godrington and Churston, this lovely way of travelling can be combined with a short ferry ride over to Dartmouth, the quaint and historic naval town.
fares Adults £5.50 - £10
kids £3.50 - £6.50
Paignton Zoo - Allow 4 hours minimum
Totnes Road
Paignton
Devon
TQ4 7EU
Telephone
01803 697500
Set in 80 acres of spectacular natural beauty, scorching deserts, savannah, jungle and rainforests are all well represented. Over 6million has been spent on creating one of the best Zoos in the country.
The Zoo is currently open until 4.30 p.m. with last entry at 3.30 p.m.
Adult £8.65
Child ( 3 – 15 years) £5.40
Child under 3 years FREE
Senior citizen & Student £7.30
Oldway Mansion Paignton - Allow 3hrs minimum
Torquay Road
Paignton
Telephone
01803 20796
Oldway Mansion is a well known local landmark, used by the local council and is registered for marriage ceremonies. A beautiful building with lovely grounds, it is well worth a visit. Oldway Mansion can be found on the Torquay (A3022) to Paignton road, about 1/2 mile from Paignton town centre and just past Manor Road going toward Paignton. There are 60 free car parking spaces and 2 Coach parking spaces.
Oldway Mansion History
In 1871 this Grand [Grade 2 Listed] 100 roomed mansion was purchased by Issac Merritt Singer, the founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. He then started to build a huge new mansion. Issac Merritt Singer died on July 23rd 1875 aged 63. His funeral was one of the largest of its time in the Torbay area. When he died he had 22 living children, various wives, both legal and common law.
It was Paris Singer his third son who later altered and built onto ‘Oldway Mansion’. The building was modelled on the ‘Palace of Versailles’ with other areas inspired by the ‘Place de la Concorde’ in Paris. The grand staircase and gallery all of marble, balusters of bronze,& marble pillars with gilding, are a wonder to behold, as is the most awe inspiring Italian School painted ceiling, by Lebrun.
Between the dual staircase is a huge painting replica, “ The Crowning of Josephine by Napoleon” by Lebrun. The original which was sold by Torbay Borough Council, now hangs in the Palace of Versailles.
The Gallery is a miniature reproduction of the “ Hall of Mirrors “ in Versailles, and is floored in parquet. From the Gallery the Ballroom can be entered. The walls are of gilt panelling and mirrors,the floors are of sprung parquet for ease of dancing. On the wall hangs an oil Painting of Louis of Bourbon. The ballroom nowadays is used as the Council Chambers, and for a variety of other events.
The Grounds were laid out originally by a well known French Landscape Architect “ Duchesne”. He included the beautiful “ Grotto Gardens”, where a waterfall showers down over cave like rocks into a pool below. The whole area is surrounded by sub-tropical plants and shrubs. This feature still remains today.
The mansion stands in 17 acres of gardens, which partly today are still laid out formally on an Italian theme. The Maze garden with its dwarf box hedging , beautifully shaped flower beds, and topiaried trees, must not be missed.
On going up the drive and through into the car park, a large round building can be seen to the right of the Mansion, this is known as The Rotunda. It was built in 1873, and was used when originally built as a riding pavilion, and exercise area. It had a removable wooden floor that was removed in order to ride the horses. The Singer Family with their colourful background and fame [but that is another story], did not use ‘Oldway’ as their permanent family home after 1918. With Paris Singers break-up of the love affair with Isadora Duncan the famous dancer in 1917, and the fact that it was cheaper tax wise for him to live in America, he became an American citizen.
In September 1914 ‘Oldway’was used as a hospital- The American Woman’s war relief hospital. Even the Rotunda was converted to House rows of beds for the wounded soldiers being brought back to England from the trenches of France and Belgium in the 1914-1918 War. In the November of 1914. Queen Mary visited Oldway Hospital.
1940 saw the II World War, and again Oldway was used in the war effort by housing the RAF. It was used as a training wing for RAF Cadets learning to be aircrew. In 1943 there was an air raid on the town of Paignton,and Oldway with no exception was damaged, along with many other properties in the town.
Nowadays Torbay Borough Council occupy the Mansion which was purchased from the Singer family for £45,000 in 1946. A modest amount considering the approximate cost of the building originally
Being around £200,000 for Issac Merritt Singers “ Dream Home”.
It is also possible to be married in the beautiful old building, since the register office for the area is housed at Oldway Mansion too.
Conducted tours are £1.00
small children go Free.
open 9am - 5pm, In the Summer Sundays 2pm-5pm.
7 Tennis Courts Grass 6 Courts Macadam 2 Tennis Courts Floodlight:
There is also a café for refreshments
Occombe Farm Paignton - Allow 3hrs
Occombe Farm
Paignton
Devon
TQ3 1RN
Telephone
01803 606035
Occombe Farm is a unique educational organic farm, opened in 2006. Occombe is a 150 acre organic farm which is part of 1750 acres of land managed by Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust. The farm is a mixture of pasture, wet meadows and woodland with a triple S I at its heart. This stands for Site of Special Scientific Interest and means that the area has important habitat and species that need to be protected. The farm has remained unimproved, without being drained or the extensive use of fertilisers, since World War two and as such represents a fragment of our country's farming past.
Occombe farm have a very simple belief - that the food we eat shapes the countryside we live in. The choices we make as consumers affect farmers and the way they manage the land. So, eating food grown by environmentally-friendly farmers is one of the greenest, most wildlife-friendly things you can do!
The new Visitor Centre houses the Farm Shop and Butchery on the ground floor with the Education Centre, Cafe and Bakery on the first floor. There is a lift between floors and the first floor is accessible from the back as the building is built in to a bank making the first floor level with the ground behind. This is the level that you enter on from the main car park. Short stay shopper's car parking is also available in the farmyard on the ground floor level of the shop.
The Nature Trail is designed to be wheelchair accessible using boardwalk and crushed stone. The first part of the trail from the Centre down to the SSSI zig zags down a sloping field. We provide an electric buggy for use by the public on a first come first served basis. It is available from the Farm Shop.
Located on the first floor of the new Visitor Centre, The Bake House Cafe has wonderful views across the farm and nature reserve.
The menu offers a wide range of options based on the local produce that we stock in the Farm Shop including fully organic options. Our sister café The Court House is located at Cockington Court. Opening times 10am to 4pm
Telephone - 01803 696255
Many of our leaflets can be made available in large print. Contact info@countryside-trust.org.uk
Quay West Paignton - Allow 4hours minimum
Goodrington Sands
Paignton
Devon
TQ4 6LN
Telephone
01803 550034
Enjoy a unique experience at Quaywest this summer, fun for all ages! Water heated to 80 degrees and lots of exceptional thrills. With the awesome Devils Drop, Screamer and Wild Kamikaze, you can Scale new heights of excitement. Experience the terror of a 65' freefall in the Devils Drop complete with a black hole run out!. There are also fun tube rides appropriately named 'Raging Rapids' and 'Surf Lagoon'.
Quaywest hosts various food outlets, The BBQ, Boarders (Indoor and outdoor terraced eating area), Lumsdens Fish and Chip Shop, The Grill and Chill Kiosk and the Ice cream Parlour. Between them they offer every thing from the small snack to a mouth-watering meal.
They offer sizzling burgers, chips, hotdogs, take away snacks, pick up a tasty sandwich, pizza slice, and chicken burger. Re-fuel yourself on Fish and Chips, hot fresh donuts, hot and cold drinks, delicious ice cream and much more.
You can bring your own picnic. If you do please do not bring alcohol or glass container. Remember to put any valuables in a locker. Sorry, no BBQ's allowed in the waterpark.
Also try the Go Karts and don't forget Goodrington Beach!
Prices from £3.50 - £10.95
10am and close at 6pm
Paignton is a coastal town in Devon which is traditionally known as a family holiday resort because of its beaches and friendly atmosphere.
Paignton offers a compressive selection of shops, amusements & attractions to suit most people.
Paignton beaches are without doubt the best in the bay. 
Brixham is at the southern end of Torbay & is primarily a large fishing port that is still active today.
One of Brixhams most popular tourist attractions is the replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship the Golden Hind that is moored in the harbuor.
Theres plenty of parking for visitors here and great views to enjoy. 
Torquay is known as the English Riviera & has been one of the UK 's top holiday destinations since Victorian Times, attracting visitors of all ages and interests.