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Visit Torquay Devon and the surrounding villages and stay in bed breakfast, hotel or holiday cottage accommodation provided by BedPosts members.

Torquay is a seaside town that adjoins Paignton in Devon. It is the largest and most famous seaside resort in Devon. Its superb panoramic setting - high wooded hills overlooking the wide sweep of Torbay - its air of sophisticated yet friendly spaciousness, its luxurious hotels and stuccoed villas, the vivid colours of its subtropical trees and flowers make it the nearest thing to a French Riviera resort in Britain. It was created largely in the 19^th century, and some parts of the town still preserve a distinctly Victorian character.

Torquay has become an all-the-year-round resort because of its very mild climate. The climate has aided the growth of many trees not seen elsewhere in England.

Torquay's attractions include theatres, a museums, art gallerys, golf courses, as well as good beaches, such as Babbacombe to the north, cliff walks, parks and yachting.

The crime writer Agatha Christie was born in Torquay and lived here most of her life.

Contrasting with the more modern town is the old-world suburb of Cockington, with its well-known forge. Just east of Cockington are the ruins of 12^th century Torre Abbey and the nearby Chapel of St Michael, of unknown date.

Kents Cavern, an important archaeological and geological site that is open to the public, is a popular tourist attraction. It is of outstanding archaeological interest owing to the discovery there in the 19^th century of remains of people who may have been among the very earliest inhabitants of Britain. Some of the remains are now in the Torquay Museum. It was occupied during the last Ice Age: among the stalagmites, bones of sabre-toothed tigers and bears are preserved by limestone in the water dripping through the rocks. It is on the edge of the town, about 1 mile east of the harbour.