Visit Torquay Places

Welcome to Visit Torquay Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Torquay

  

Torquay Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Torquay

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Torquay history

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Hand axes found in Kents Cavern have been dated as 40,000 years old. A maxilla fragment may be the oldest example of a modern human in Europe. The area comprising modern Torquay has been inhabited since Paleolithic times.

Torquay culture & places

Arts

Devon Films, based in Torquay, has established itself as the Bay’s latest film production company . The company financed and produced Stepdad in 2007, starring Ricky Tomlinson and Chris Bisson .

Media

Torquay has two commercial local radio stations: Heart Devon and The Breeze . Heart Devon broadcasts from studios in Exeter, Exeter .

Sport

Torquay has a long history of holding sailing events and regattas due to the favourable easterly facing nature of the bay and its popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries . The water sport events of the 1948 Summer Olympics were held in the city . The Olympic flame was transferred from London to Torre Abbey Gardens to reside throughout the event .

Torquay economy & business

Tourism

Kents Cavern is Britain’s most important Stone Age site, home to early man for 40,000 years . The floor is composed of several strata, with remains indicating the prehistoric coexistence of humans and now-extinct animals .

Torquay toponymy

Torquay’s name originates in its being the quay of the ancient village of Torre. In turn, Torre takes its name from the tor, the extensively quarried remains of which can be seen by the town’s Lymington Road. The original name was Torrequay, then Torkay, Torkey and Tor Quay.

Torquay geography / climate

Torquay is situated on the southwestern coast of England, forming one-third of Torbay. It has a mild microclimate, receiving among the longest hours of sunlight per day in the south-west of the United Kingdom. A record high temperature of 31.5C was recorded on 14 July 2013.

You can visit Torquay places with Walkfo Torquay to hear history at Torquay’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Torquay has 50 places to visit in our interactive Torquay map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Torquay, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Torquay places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Torquay & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 50 audio facts unique to Torquay places in an interactive Torquay map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Torquay Places Map
50 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Torquay historic spots	Torquay tourist destinations	Torquay plaques	Torquay geographic features
Walkfo Torquay tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Torquay

  

Best Torquay places to visit

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Torquay has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Torquay’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Torquay’s information audio spots:

Howden Court Hotel, Torquay Howden Court Hotel in Torquay, Devon is listed on the English Heritage Register . It was built in 1860 and was home to several notable residents over the next century . Today it is a hotel which provides accommodation, dining and bar facilities .

Ashfield, Torquay Ashfield in Torquay was the childhood home of Agatha Christie . She lived there from her birth until the time of her marriage . She reluctantly sold it in 1940; in 1962 it was demolished and replaced with a small estate of houses .

Hope’s Nose Hope’s Nose is a coastal headland separating Tor Bay from Babbacombe Bay. It is visible from much of the town and harbour of Torquay, Devon. It has been a Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1986.

Mallock Memorial Clock Tower The Mallock Memorial Clock Tower is situated at the harbourside in Torquay, Devon. It is a Grade II Listed Building, and was first listed in 1975.

Cockington Court Cockington Court, near Torquay in Devon, is Grade II* listed on the English Heritage Register. The manor dates back to Saxon times, and is mentioned in the Doomsday Book. The current house was built in the 16th century, when it was owned by the Cary family.

Visit Torquay plaques