View source for Torbay

{{Short description|Borough in Devon, England}}
{{About|the local government district in Devon, England}}
{{Redirect2|English Riviera|The English Riviera|the geological attraction|English Riviera Geopark|the Metronomy album|The English Riviera (album)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2012}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                    = Torbay
|settlement_type         = [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|Borough]] and [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]] area
|official_name           =
|other_name              = Borough of Torbay
|nickname                = The English Riviera
| motto = {{force singular}} ''Salus et felicitas''<br /><small>"Health and Happiness"</small>
<!-- images and maps  -----------> 
| image_skyline                  = {{multiple image
| border = infobox| perrow       = 1/2/2| total_width = 280|align=center
| image1 =  View across Torbay - geograph.org.uk - 2763792.jpg
| image2 = Brixham from the sea.jpg
| image3 = Torquay , Torquay Scenery - geograph.org.uk - 4104020.jpg
| image4 = Paignton , Paignton Pier ^ Coastline - geograph.org.uk - 4104135.jpg
| image5 = Torre abbey Torquay.JPG}}
| image_caption = {{ubl|From left to right|Top: View across Torbay|Middle: [[Brixham]] and [[Torquay]] coastal views|Bottom: [[Paington]] Pier and [[Torre Abbey]]}}
|image_blank_emblem      = 
|blank_emblem_type       =
|blank_emblem_size       = 227px
|image_map               = Torbay UK locator map.svg
|map_caption             = Torbay shown within [[Devon]] and England
|subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
|subdivision_name        = United Kingdom
|subdivision_type1       = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
|subdivision_name1       = England
|subdivision_type3       = [[Regions of England|Region]]
|subdivision_name3       = [[South West England]]
|subdivision_type4       = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial county]]
|subdivision_name4       = [[Devon]]
|government_type         = Unitary authority
|governing_body          = [[Torbay Council]]
|leader_title            = Administration
|leader_title1           = HQ
|leader_name1            = [[Torquay]]
|leader_title3           = [[List of MPs elected in the 2017 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]
|leader_name3            = {{ubl|[[Steve Darling]] [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|(Lib Dems)]]|[[Caroline Voaden]] [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|(Lib Dems)]]}}
|established_title       = [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|Borough]]
|established_date        = 1968
|established_title1      = [[Unitary Authority]]
|established_date1       = 1998 
|area_total_km2          = 62.87
|elevation_max_m         =
|elevation_min_m         = 0 
|population_as_of        = 2021
|population_total        = 122,466, (Unparished area), 139,324 (Unitary authority)
|population_note         =
|population_density_km2  =
|population_density_sq_mi=
|population_blank1_title =
|population_blank1       =
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E06000027|title=Torbay Local Authority|access-date=28 June 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1    = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1     = Unparished area (Excluding Brixham)
 {{Collapsible list
 | 95.9% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 1.8% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 1.5% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 0.3% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 0.3% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1    = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1     = 
 {{Collapsible list
 | 51.4% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 46.5% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 0.7% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 0.6% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 | 0.4% [[Buddhism in England|Buddhism]]
 | 0.2% [[Hinduism in England|Hinduism]]
 | 0.1% [[Sikhism in England|Sikhism]]
 }}  
|timezone                = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
|utc_offset              = 0
|timezone_DST            = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
|utc_offset_DST          = +1
|coordinates             = {{Coord|50|27|8|N|3|33|25|W|type:city(131,000)_region:GB-DEV|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type        = [[Postal codes in the United Kingdom|Postcode district]] 
|postal_code             = [[TQ postcode area|TQ1–5]]
|iso_code                = GB-TOB
|website                 = {{URL|https://torbay.gov.uk}}
| parts_type               = areas of the borough<br/><small>(2021 census BUASD)</small>
| p1                       = [[Babbacombe]]
| p2                       = [[Brixham]] (Town and Parish)
| p3                       = [[Chelston, Torquay|Chelston]]
| p4                       = [[Churston Ferrers]]
| p5                       = [[Cockington]] (Village)
| p6                       = [[Collaton St Mary]] (Parish)
| p7                       = [[Combe Pafford]] (Village)
| p8                       = [[Ellacombe, Devon|Ellacombe]] 
| p9                      = [[Galmpton, Torbay|Galmpton]] (Village)
| p10                       = [[Goodrington]]
| p11                      = [[Meadfoot]]
| p12                     = [[Paignton]] (Town)
| p13                     = [[Preston, Devon|Preston]]
| p14                     = [[Shiphay]]
| p15                  = [[St Marychurch]]
| p16                  = [[Tormohun]] (Parish)
| p17                  = [[Torquay]] (Town)
}}

'''Torbay''' {{IPAc-en|t|ɔr|ˈ|b|eɪ}} is a [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]] with a [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] in the [[ceremonial county]] of [[Devon]], England. It is governed by [[Torbay Council]], based in the town of [[Torquay]], and also includes the towns of [[Paignton]] and [[Brixham]]. In 2021 it had a population of 139,324. The borough consists of {{convert|24.27|sqmi|abbr=on}} of land around the east-facing [[Tor Bay]], part of [[Lyme Bay]] on the [[English Channel]].<ref name=CTP>{{cite web|url=http://www.torbay.gov.uk/index/yourcouncil/factsfigures/censusprofile.doc|title=Census 2011 - Torbay Profile|date=3 July 2013|publisher=Torbay Council|access-date=13 February 2014|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222175922/http://www.torbay.gov.uk/index/yourcouncil/factsfigures/censusprofile.doc|archive-date=22 February 2014}} (Word document)</ref>  A popular tourist destination, Torbay's sandy beaches, mild climate and recreational and leisure attractions have given rise to its nickname of the ''English Riviera''. The neighbouring districts are [[South Hams]] and [[Teignbridge]].

==History==
{{See also|History of Devon}}

Human bones and tools found in [[Kents Cavern]] in Torquay show that people have inhabited the Torbay area since [[Paleolithic]] times. A [[maxilla]] fragment known as [[Kents Cavern 4]] may be the oldest example of a [[modern human]] in Europe, dating back to 37,000&ndash;40,000 years ago.<ref>John R. Pike, ''Torquay'' (Torquay: Torbay Borough Council Printing Services, 1994), 5-6</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4482679.stm
|title=Jawbone hints at earliest Britons
|publisher=news.bbc.co.uk
|access-date=2006-11-07
|date=27 April 2005
|first=Paul
|last=Rincon
|archive-date=13 December 2006
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213224301/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4482679.stm
|url-status=live
}}</ref> [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] soldiers are known to have visited Torquay during the period when [[Britannia (Roman province)|Britannia]] formed a part of the [[Roman Empire]]; they left offerings at a curious rock formation in Kent's Cavern, known as "The Face". A Roman burial was discovered in 1993 in [[Paignton#History|Paignton]].

Both Brixham and Paignton appear in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086, and Paignton was given a [[market charter]] in 1294 granting it a weekly market and annual fair.<ref name="parnell">{{cite book
|last= Parnell|first=Peggy
|title= A Paignton Scrapbook|year=2007
|publisher=Sutton Publishing|isbn = 978-0-7509-4739-8}}</ref> The first major building in Torquay was [[Torre Abbey]], a [[Premonstratensian]] [[monastery]] founded in 1196<ref>Percy Russell, <cite>A History of Torquay</cite> (Torquay: Devonshire Press Limited, 1960), p.19</ref> and associated with the manor of Torre.

William, [[Prince of Orange]] (afterwards [[William III of England|King William III]]), landed in Brixham on 5 November 1688, during the [[Glorious Revolution]], and issued his famous declaration "The Liberties of England and The Protestant Religion I Will Maintain".

Torquay's economy, like Brixham's, initially depended on fishing and agriculture, but in the early 19th century the area began to develop into a fashionable [[seaside resort]], initially frequented by members of the [[Royal Navy]] during the [[Napoleonic Wars]] while the [[Royal Navy]] anchored in [[Tor Bay]] and later, as the town's fame spread, by [[Victorian era|Victorian]] society.

The historic part of Paignton lies inland: salt marsh formerly occupied the low-lying coastal fringe. [[Kirkham House]] is a late-[[medieval]] stone house and the Coverdale Tower adjacent to Paignton Parish Church is named after [[Miles Coverdale]], who published [[Coverdale Bible|an English translation of the Bible]] in 1536 and became Bishop of Exeter in 1551. Paignton remained a small fishing village until the early 19th century; a new harbour was built here in 1837.

A new phase in the urban expansion of the area began when [[Torre railway station]] opened in December 1848. The railway extended to Torquay Seafront station in 1858, to Paignton in 1859 and to Brixham in 1861. As a result of its expansion, Torquay was granted borough status in 1872, and 1902 saw its first marketing campaign to summer tourists.

Torbay Golf and Country Club (now defunct) opened in 1933. The club and course closed in the mid-1950s.<ref>[http://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/england/south-west/devon/1007-dev-torbay-golf-a-country-club-shorton-road-paignton "Torbay Golf & Country Club"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108142148/http://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/england/south-west/devon/1007-dev-torbay-golf-a-country-club-shorton-road-paignton |date=8 November 2014 }}, "Golf's Missing Links".</ref>

Tor Bay hosted the [[Sailing at the 1948 Summer Olympics|sailing]] events for the [[1948 Summer Olympics]] in London.<ref>[http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1948/OR1948.pdf 1948 Summer Olympics official report.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100506013820/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1948/OR1948.pdf |date=6 May 2010 }} p. 50.</ref>

In the 1970s Torbay had problems with [[substance abuse]] and people living in poor conditions in [[House in multiple occupation|houses of multiple occupation]].<ref name="DL_CS_2021">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Colleen |title=The people with a battle on their hands to make Melville marvellous again |url=https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/people-battle-hands-make-melville-5011219 |access-date=24 January 2022 |work=Devon Live |date=28 February 2021}}</ref>

==Governance==
{{main|Torbay Council}}
Torbay Council is the local authority for the borough. Since 1998 it has been a [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]], performing the functions of both a [[non-metropolitan county|county council]] and [[non-metropolitan district|district council]] combined. The borough contains one [[civil parish]], Brixham, which forms a second tier of local government in that part of the borough; the rest of the borough is an [[unparished area]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

Torbay as an administrative area was created in 1968, when the [[municipal borough]] of [[Torquay]], the [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban districts]] of [[Brixham]] and [[Paignton]], and the parish of [[Churston Ferrers]] were all abolished. Torbay was created as a [[county borough]] covering the area of the abolished authorities, with some adjustments of the boundaries to neighbouring areas; the more rural southern parts from Brixham and Churston Ferrers were transferred to the parish of [[Kingswear]], and there were more minor adjustments to the boundaries with the neighbouring parishes of [[Coffinswell]], [[Kingskerswell|Kerswells]] and [[Marldon]]. As a county borough, Torbay was administratively independent from [[Devon County Council]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=R. J. D. |title=Torbay Borough starts with a history: Story of the foundation of the new borough |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=3 August 2023 |work=Herald Express |date=1 April 1968 |location=Torquay |page=1968}}</ref> Six years later, in 1974, local government was reformed again, with Torbay becoming a [[non-metropolitan district]] and Devon County Council providing county-level services to the area again.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref> Torbay regained its independence from the county council in 1998 when it was made a unitary authority.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Devon (City of Plymouth and Borough of Torbay) Structural Change) Order 1996|year=1996|number=1865|access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref> Torbay remains part of the [[ceremonial county]] of Devon for the purposes of [[Lieutenancy area|lieutenancy]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Lieutenancies Act 1997|year=1997|chapter=23|access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref>

The area is represented nationally at the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] by two MPs. Torquay (along with part of Paignton) is in the [[Torbay (UK Parliament constituency)|Torbay parliamentary constituency]] which was created in 1974 and was won by [[Steve Darling]] for the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] in 2024 having been held by [[Adrian Sanders]] of the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] from 1997 to 2015 and [[Kevin Foster (politician)|Kevin Foster]] for the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] from 2015 to 2024. Brixham and part of Paignton fall within the [[South Devon (UK Parliament constituency)|South Devon constituency]], which is also represented by a Liberal Democrat [[Caroline Voaden]].

==Geography==
[[File:Torbay view.jpg|thumb|right|Looking towards Paignton from Torquay. Torbay palms in the foreground.]]
There are three main towns around the marine inlet of Tor Bay: [[Torquay]] in the north, [[Paignton]] in the centre, and [[Brixham]] in the south. These have become connected over the years, swallowing up villages and towns such as [[St Marychurch]], [[Cockington]], [[Churston Ferrers]] and [[Galmpton, Torbay|Galmpton]], though the latter maintains a rural feel thanks to tight conservation measures. The borough of Torbay is bordered by the [[South Hams]] to the south and west, and by [[Teignbridge]] to the north. Nearby towns include [[Totnes]] and [[Dartmouth, Devon|Dartmouth]] in the South Hams, and [[Newton Abbot]] and [[Teignmouth]] in Teignbridge.

The southern limit of Tor Bay is [[Berry Head]], and the northern limit is Hope's Nose, although Torquay itself stretches further north into [[Babbacombe Bay]], where the beaches at [[Oddicombe Beach|Oddicombe]], [[Babbacombe]] and [[Maidencombe]] can be found; these are noted for their interesting [[Breccia]] cliffs. Torbay's many geological features have led to the establishment of the [[English Riviera Geopark]]; as of July 2008, this is the sole urban geopark of the 53 [[geopark]]s worldwide.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/content/articles/2007/09/17/torbay_geopark_status_feature.shtml Global status for Torbay] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224000700/http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/content/articles/2007/09/17/torbay_geopark_status_feature.shtml |date=24 December 2019 }} (retrieved 7 July 2008)</ref>

Because of the mild climate, Torbay palm trees are a common sight along the coast. However, these are in fact not palms but ''[[Cordyline australis]]'', originating from [[New Zealand]] where it is known as "cabbage tree". These trees also flourish elsewhere in the UK. It is suggested that the popularity of cabbage trees in Torbay is attributable to their first being introduced to the UK in that region.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

==Settlements==

Torbay includes:

*[[Torquay]] including suburbs
*[[Paignton]] including suburbs
*[[Brixham]] including suburbs
*[[Broadsands]]
*[[Churston Ferrers]]
*[[Galmpton, Torbay|Galmpton]]
*[[Goodrington]]

==Demography==
The [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]] confirmed Torbay's reputation as a retirement area, with a higher proportion of all age groups over the age of 50 than nationally. However compared to 2001, age groups 75-79 and 80-85 both showed a decline of around 4%, compared to increases of 1.5% and 14% for the whole country.<ref name=CTP />

Some other statistics from the 2011 census:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
! heading | Marital status
! heading | Number of people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-327143|title=2011 Census: KS103UK Marital and civil partnership status, local authorities in the United Kingdom (Excel sheet 222Kb)|date=11 October 2013|publisher=Office for National Statistics|access-date=13 February 2014|archive-date=22 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222022124/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-327143|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Single (never married)
| 31,809
|-
| Married or remarried
| 50,891
|-
| Separated or divorced
| 16,207
|-
| Widowed
| 10,030
|-
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
! heading | Religion
! heading | Number of people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks209ew.xls|title=2011 Census: KS209EW Religion, local authorities in England and Wales (Excel sheet 270Kb)|date=11 December 2012|publisher=Office for National Statistics|access-date=13 February 2014|archive-date=26 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126035854/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks209ew.xls|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Christian
| 82,924
|-
| Buddhist
| 389
|-
| Hindu
| 128
|-
| Jewish
| 109
|-
| Muslim
| 521
|-
| Sikh
| 41
|-
| Other
| 702
|-
| No religion
| 36,035
|-
| Religion not stated
| 10,110
|}
{{col-end}}

==Economy==
Torbay's main activities are public service; serving its large retired community such as in hospitality, construction and repairs; tourism; the transport sector including boats; distribution; retail; fishing; the digital, media and arts sector. It has a few established schools and accredited teachers/hosts for the short-term study of [[English as a foreign language]].

The fishing port of Brixham is home to one of England and Wales' most successful fishing fleets and regularly lands more value than any UK port outside Scotland.{{Citation needed|date=December 2011}} It is also a base for [[Her Majesty's Coastguard]] and the [[Torbay Lifeboat Station]].

Torbay has been [[twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with [[Hameln]] in [[Lower Saxony]], Germany since 1973; and with [[Hellevoetsluis]] in the Netherlands since 1989.

==Deprivation and urban renewal==

The Melville Street, Warren Road, Rock Road and Coburg Place area of Torbay, also known as Melville Hill, has experienced [[Poverty in the United Kingdom|deprivation]] and violence since the 1970s.<ref name="DL_CS_2021"/><ref name="DL_FM_2021">{{cite news |last1=Mills |first1=Frankie |title=Christmas on Torquay's 'bad reputation' Melville Street |url=https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/gallery/christmas-torquays-bad-reputation-melville-6337341 |access-date=24 January 2022 |work=Devon Live |date=11 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="Tor_Wk">{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Jim |title=Making Melville Marvellous - and shaking off a reputation these lovely people don't deserve |url=https://www.torbayweekly.co.uk/news/making-melville-marvellous-8565224 |access-date=24 January 2022 |work=Torbay Weekly |date=17 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="HW_2013">{{cite web |title=Making Melville Marvellous: Community Engagement Project Report |url=https://www.torbay.gov.uk/DemocraticServices/documents/s15697/MMMReportFinal%201.pdf |publisher=Healthwatch Torbay |access-date=24 January 2022 |date=2013}}</ref> This is an historic area with 44 [[Grade II listed]] buildings.<ref name="DL_CS_2021"/><ref name="HW_2013"/>

In 2013, a [[Healthwatch England|Healthwatch]] report for the council found that the area had high levels of houses in multiple occupation, "a fairly transient community" and heavy drug use.<ref name="HW_2013"/> The report stated that Melville Hill had "a historic reputation as a dumping ground for transient, out of work single people with chaotic lifestyles", but that most residents felt it was a friendly area.<ref name="HW_2013"/> In 2014, the council said that the area had "significant challenge ... from car parking, poor quality public realm, bin storage, rat running, [[anti-social behaviour|ASB]], HMOs, lack of community space/play area, links to the town centre".<ref name="Town_centre_plan_2014">{{cite web |title=Town Centre Masterplan: A Vision for the Heart of the English Riviera |url=https://www.torbay.gov.uk/media/8243/tc14.pdf |publisher=Torbay Rethink |access-date=24 January 2022 |date=2014}}</ref> In 2015, the local health authority noted that residents had a lower life expectancy than in other areas of Torbay, that the proportion of people in the area who had [[Mental disorder|mental ill health]] or [[Learning disability|learning disabilities]] were high, that the [[suicide]] rate was higher than elsewhere in the South West, and that many residents were either unemployed or earnt low wages.<ref name="NHS_2015">{{cite web |last1=Dixon |first1=Kevin |title=The View from Torbay: Presentation to SW Senate Assembly |url=https://swsenate.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/The-view-from-Torbay.pdf |publisher=NHS England |access-date=24 January 2022 |date=2015}}</ref>

The local authority first set up a "Making Melville Marvellous" project to support [[urban renewal]] in 2013, but this did not lead to results.<ref name="DL_CS_2021"/> In 2020 the local authority identified £100,000 of funding from adult social care to start the project again.<ref name="DL_CS_2021"/> The aims include supporting people who misuse substances, improving the quality of housing and developing community.<ref name="DL_CS_2021"/><ref name="DL_FM_2021"/>

==Education==
{{main|List of schools in Torbay}}

==Transport==

===Roads===
Torbay is beyond the [[motorway]] network and is primarily served by:
* [[A38 road|A38]] and [[A380 road]]s from Exeter to Tweenaways Cross, Paignton; this is dualled each way as far as Churscombe Cross, except for a single carriageway flyover at Penn Inn roundabout 
* [[A379 road|A379]] follows a coastal route from [[Teignmouth]], passes through Torquay and Paignton, then goes on to [[Dartmouth, Devon|Dartmouth]]
* [[A385 road]] goes inland to [[Totnes]]
* [[A3022 road]] serves all three towns and varies between dual and single carriageway.

===Buses===
[[File:English Riviera Tours JTD395P.jpg|thumb|right|An open top bus advertising the English Riviera]] 
Bus services are largely operated by [[Stagecoach South West]], with some routes run by Torbay Minibuses and County Bus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Places in Torbay |work=Bus Times |date=2023 |access-date=16 December 2023 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/torbay |quote=}}</ref>

===Railway===
Torbay has three stations on the [[National Rail]] network, with services operated by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]:<ref>{{Cite web |work=Great Western Railway |title=Train Times |date=10 December 2023 |access-date=16 December 2023 |url= https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times |quote=}}</ref>
* [[Torquay railway station]] is close to Torre Abbey Sands
* [[Torre railway station]] is inland on the road from Torquay to Newton Abbot
* [[Paignton railway station]] serves that town and links with the heritage [[Dartmouth Steam Railway]] to [[Kingswear]], connecting via the Dart ferry to Dartmouth. [[CrossCountry]] also provides a limited service here.<ref>{{Cite web |work=CrossCountry |title=Timetables |date=10 December 2023 |access-date=16 December 2023 |url= https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/travel-updates-information/train-timetables |quote=}}</ref>

A new station at [[Torquay Gateway railway station|Edginswell]] was planned to open in December 2018 as part of the proposed Devon Metro but lack of funding prevented construction. Approval of planning permission expired November 2019, but a new application for funding was made in June 2020 for a new design incorporating lifts instead of ramps. If government funding is approved, a new planning application would be made.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Belso |first1=Nikki |title=Torbay Weekly |date=25 June 2020 |url=https://www.torbayweekly.co.uk/news/funding-bid-for-torquay-gateway-railway-station-1-6716077 |access-date=28 July 2020 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807125612/https://www.torbayweekly.co.uk/news/funding-bid-for-torquay-gateway-railway-station-1-6716077 |url-status=live }}</ref> The station was awarded £7.8m from the [[New Stations Fund]] in November 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Henderson |first1=Guy |title=Chancellor gives green light for new Torquay railway station |url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/chancellor-gives-green-light-for-new-torquay-railway-station/ |access-date=2020-11-30 |publisher=In Your Area |archive-date=5 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205121309/https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/chancellor-gives-green-light-for-new-torquay-railway-station/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notable people==
Famous former residents of Torbay include:
* [[Sue Barker]], tennis player
* [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]], industrialist and architect of the nearby [[Atmospheric railway]],
* [[Lily Cole]], model
* [[Peter Cook]], comedian
* [[Agatha Christie]], novelist who set many of her novels in a thinly disguised version of the area
* [[Jim Davidson]], comedian
* [[Edmund Gosse]], poet
* [[Charles Kingsley]], professor
* [[Rudyard Kipling]], novelist
* [[Progressive rock|Prog-rock]] band [[Wishbone Ash]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Borough of Torbay|Torbay}}
<!-- Please bear in mind that Wikipedia is an encyclopedia and not a directory. It may be that one or two links will add something to a page however they must only be placed on the relevant page and will always be subject to review by Wikipedians.-->
* [http://www.torbay.gov.uk Torbay Council]
* [http://www.englishriviera.co.uk The English Riviera]

{{SW England}}
{{Devon}}
{{Unitary authorities of England}}
{{1948 Summer Olympic venues}}
{{Olympic venues sailing}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Torbay| ]]
[[Category:Non-metropolitan districts of Devon]]
[[Category:Olympic sailing venues]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Devon]]
[[Category:Unitary authority districts of England]]
[[Category:Venues of the 1948 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Boroughs in England]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Devon]]
[[Category:Deaneries of the Church of England]]