The English Riviera

The English Riviera by Ben Binding


The English Riviera has long been a popular holiday destination in Britain. For hundreds of years people have been flocking to the palm lined streets and golden sandy beaches for there summer breaks. The Riviera is made up of the towns and villages in Torbay in south Devon and can boast 22 miles of stunning coastline.

The largest town in the Riviera is Torquay. Built on seven hills over looking the English Channel the town leads do to a busy harbour. The town became extremely popular in the Victorians times and as a result fine Victorian buildings dominate the town creating its own charm and style. Stunning views across the bay are found at many points in the town. The town is famous for its palm tress and is one of the only towns in Britain to grow them. The reasons the palms thrive in Torquay is because of its geography, the combination of its location plus the hills on which it is built and surrounds it, helps create a warmer climate than the rest of the UK allowing the palms to flourish and creating a Mediterranean atmosphere. In fact this Mediterranean like atmosphere is where the English Riviera got its name. The rich Victorians who made the town popular likened Torquay and the area to there holidays on the French Rivera and so christened it the English Rivera in a homage to its French equivalent.

Paignton is often regarded as the second town of the English Riviera. The town is very popular with families who love the five beaches that Paignton has to offer, many of which are long and sandy, perfect for building sandcastles or just taking it easy. The town has many great other family attraction. One of the most popular is Paignton Zoo which is home to many amazing and wonderful animals. Here you can not only marvel at the animals but you can learn more about them too and how important it is to try and preserve their natural habitat in the wild.

Brixham is a fishing town where still to this day life revolves around the busy harbour. The town is full of narrow streets, inns, craft shops and art galleries and has a friendly and relaxed atmosphere all of its own. Take a trip to the heritage museum to learn more about the maritime past and step on to a replica of Sir Francis Drake's Golden Hind. The coast surrounding Brixham is well worth a look especially the nearby Berry head with its nature reserve with many rare birds and plants.

About the Author

This article was written on behalf of H & H Caravan Park Devon your Devon Family Holiday Park.