Serviced Apartments in Paignton

Discover the best activities and attractions Paignton has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Paignton Beach & Pier
Paignton’s long sandy beachfront and Victorian pier are the town’s focal point for classic seaside fun — bathing, promenading, arcades, and seasonal entertainment. The pier hosts amusements, cafés and family events, while the beach’s Blue Flag stretch attracts sunseekers and swimmers. Impact: as the town’s most visited outdoor attraction it generates strong seasonal income for hotels, B&Bs, cafés and shops, supports lifeguard and hospitality jobs, and keeps Paignton on the map for domestic holiday traffic.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park
A nationally known zoo and conservation centre with diverse animal collections, immersive habitat zones, education programmes and active breeding/conservation projects. It offers family-friendly exhibits and year-round events (school visits, talks, behind-the-scenes experiences). Impact: the zoo is a major all-season employer, brings stable visitor numbers beyond the summer, partners with conservation bodies and schools, and funnels tourist spending into the wider local economy.

Goodrington Sands & Splashdown Quaywest
Goodrington comprises a trio of sandy beaches and rock-pools ideal for families, plus Splashdown Quaywest — Britain’s large outdoor waterpark featuring slides and pools. The sheltered bays are popular for paddling, coastal walks and easy access to boat trips and picnic spots. Impact: the combination of safe family beaches and the waterpark drives day-tripper and family holiday bookings, supports seasonal staff recruitment, and boosts nearby cafés, amusements and parking revenue.

Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway
This heritage railway runs from Paignton along scenic coastal and countryside routes toward Kingswear and connects with river boat services to Dartmouth. The line operates steam and vintage diesel services, special event trains and is prized for its picture-postcard views. Impact: it diversifies Paignton’s visitor offer beyond the beach, extends visitor stays by linking to Dartmouth, supports independent tour operators, and underpins heritage tourism jobs and events that benefit local accommodation and hospitality sectors.

Paignton Harbour, Market & Annual Events (Regatta / Victorian Weekend)
Paignton Harbour and adjacent quayside host seafood restaurants, boat trips and a working fishing fleet, while Paignton’s covered market and seafront stalls offer local produce, crafts and shopping. The town also stages signature community events — notably the Paignton Regatta and Victorian Weekend — that celebrate local heritage with parades, stalls and live entertainment. Impact: harbour-side dining and the market sustain local fishers, small traders and restaurateurs; annual festivals boost off-peak footfall, strengthen community identity, and bring measurable short-term spikes in tourism spending.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Paignton, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Rail (Riviera Line) - Paignton railway station is the terminus of the Riviera Line with regular Great Western Railway services linking Paignton with Torquay, Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids, providing onward national rail connections.
- Heritage Railway (Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway) - A popular steam and heritage service runs from Paignton Harbour station toward Kingswear/Dartmouth (seasonal and year‑round sections), offering both tourist travel and a rail connection into the Dartmouth area.
- Bus network - Local and regional bus services (primarily operated by Stagecoach South West plus smaller local operators) provide frequent links across Torbay (Paignton, Torquay, Brixham), and longer routes to Newton Abbot, Totnes and other parts of South Devon.
- Ferry and passenger boats - Seasonal/coastal boat services operate in Torbay, offering passenger ferries and excursion boats between Paignton, Brixham and Dartmouth/other Bay destinations during the tourist season.
- Taxis and private hire - Multiple local taxi firms and private-hire operators serve Paignton for on‑demand travel, airport runs and bookable transfers to nearby towns and rail hubs.
- Community transport and accessible services - Volunteer and council‑run community transport schemes and door‑to‑door services exist to support elderly, disabled and rural passengers (local dial‑a‑ride and community minibuses).

Major Highways
- A380 - Main trunk road linking Torbay (via Newton Abbot) northwards toward the A38/M5 corridor, key for access to Exeter and the national motorway network.
- A385 - Connects Paignton westwards to Totnes and the South Hams, providing an alternative regional route inland.
- A379 - Coastal route serving parts of Torbay and linking toward Dartmouth and towns along the south Devon coast.
- A3022 - Primary local coastal/urban artery running through Paignton and connecting to nearby Torbay urban areas and seafront destinations.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Local cycle network and active-travel routes - Paignton and Torbay have a mix of on‑road cycle lanes, traffic‑calmed streets and traffic‑free sections (notably along parts of the seafront/coastal promenade and links toward Goodrington), plus a growing Active Travel network promoted by Torbay Council to improve cycle and walking connections between neighbourhoods and to rail/bus hubs.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Active Travel and cycle/walking upgrades - Torbay Council has implemented and is planning further Active Travel Fund projects (new/improved cycle lanes, pedestrian crossings and traffic calming) to encourage sustainable local journeys and safer routes to schools and town centres.
- Bus fleet and service improvements - Ongoing vehicle upgrades and timetable revisions by local operators aim to improve reliability and accessibility; some routes have seen newer low‑emission buses and timetable enhancements, especially during peak tourist periods.
- Rail station and passenger amenity works - Incremental station accessibility and amenity improvements on the Riviera Line (including Paignton) and continued support for the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway to maintain heritage infrastructure and visitor facilities.
- Seafront and harbour regeneration projects - Local regeneration and harbour enhancement initiatives (public realm, promenades, slipway and quay improvements) are intended to benefit pedestrian access, passenger boat operations and tourism‑related transport links.
- Road maintenance and safety schemes - Targeted carriageway repairs, junction improvements and safety works on key routes (A3022/A380 and local approaches) to improve traffic flow and commuter reliability; occasional short‑term schemes tied to development projects and seasonal demand.