With its sweeping sandy bay, glittering marina and elegant Victorian architecture, it’s easy to see why Torquay is known as the jewel in the English Riviera.

This inspiring seaside town has stirred the creative brains of some of Britain’s best authors, perhaps most notably, Agatha Christie. Many of her works were penned in Torquay and you can find out about her life and times living in the town in the Jazz Age by following the Agatha Christie Mile. Other writers who’ve taken Torquay as their muse include the poet, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the author of the Water Babies, Charles Kingsley and master storyteller, Rudyard Kipling. You can trace Torquay’s literary history by walking the Blue Plaque Heritage Trail.

Toddlers, teens and grown-ups will love the variety of things to see and do in Torquay. Take the family on a boat trip around the bay or pack a picnic and explore the Royal Terrace Gardens. Visit the Living Coast Zoo and Aquarium near the harbor where you can see penguins, seals, octopus and much, much more. History fans will love visiting Kents Cavern, one of Europe’s top prehistoric Stone Age caves.