 | Situated on England's south coast making up around a third of Torbay, Torquay can be found in the county of Devon and is hugely popular with tourists and holidaymakers from the rest of the UK and beyond.
Torquay first became a favourable holiday resort in the 19th century when Torbay Palms, or cabbage trees, were introduced from New Zealand, which along with the beaches gave the area a seaside feel. There are still thousands of these trees in the town today.
Postcodes for Torquay begin with the letters TQ and as well as Torquay itself the TQ postcode includes Newton Abbot, South Brent, Dartmouth, Brixham, Teignmouth, Kingsbridge, Paignton, Buckfastleigh, Totnes and Salcombe.
The town has nine beaches, including, Maidencombe Beach, Watcombe Beach, Oddicombe Beach, Anstey's Cove, Meadfoot Beach and Corbyn Sands, which have helped the area win three European Blue Flags for high quality beach facilities.
Over the years Torquay has been home to some famous faces, such as crime writer Agatha Christie, who was born here in 1890, children's author Beatrix Potter, and even King George V, who all visited the famous Stone Age site Kents Cavern during their stays.
Tourists flock here in their thousands to visit the areas many attractions, which include Kents Cavern, Living Coasts, the Babbacombe Model Village, and Paignton Zoo.
Other interesting facts about Torquay that have helped establish it as a popular tourist destinations include it being the setting of sitcom Fawlty Towers, and where Oscar Wilde reportedly wrote A Woman of No Importance. |
