Things to Do

Devon is surrounded by amazing scenery and great things to do. Here are some of our favourite activities.

Kingswear & Dartmouth

  • Dartmouth Castle – English Heritage run site located in an amazing spot right on the mouth of the river. It has protected the mouth of the River Dart and the Port of Dartmouth for over 600 year.
  • Greenway House – Step back in time to the bygone age of the 1950’s and explore the life of the best-selling author of all time Agatha Christie. National Trust Property.
  • Coleton Fishacre – Wander further back in time to the 1930’s and discover the Jazz Age and the tragic life of the D’Oyly Carte family. National Trust Property.
  • Round Robin – Relax and unwind as you are transported around South Devon by Boat, Bus and Train. Starting from Dartmouth sail up the river dart to the quaint town of Totnes, then by bus to the seaside town of Paignton and then catch the train back to Kingswear.

Torbay

  • Paignton Zoo & Living Coasts – With over 2,500 species of animals across the two parks, there is no shortage of fun for all the family. You can even mingle with the Penguins at Living Coasts!
  • Babbacombe Model Village – Become a Giant for the day and step into a world of tiny villages and people. With seasonal scavenger hunts and constantly updating exhibits, you’ll always discover something new amongst the 13,160 ‘people’ of the model village.
  • Paignton Pier – The traditional seaside pier with a collection of wonderful food and drink, activities for all ages and breath-taking views across from Torquay to Brixham.
  • Splashdown at Quay West Water Park – Take on the thrill of the 65ft Devil’s Drop, rush down the twisting Sidewinder or tumble into the pools of the two tube slides, among others, then cool off and unwind at the swimming pool and sun terrace. All right next to Goodrington’s Sandy Beach.

Further Afield

  • The Eden Project – Only 2 hours away, The Eden Project opens up a world of discovery housing the largest indoor Rainforest and a huge collection of stunning plants in its biomes and contemporary landscaped gardens.
  • Woodlands Adventure Park – If adventure is your thing, head off to Woodlands. With rides, slides, toboggan run and on-site zoo farm and more, there’s plenty to occupy the whole family all day, with food available from a multitude of eateries, everything you need for a day out is right there.
  • National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth – Step into the eerie world beneath the deep with over 4,000 species waiting to be discovered. From those local to the South Coast right up to the tropical delights of Nemo and his friends there is a whole new world to discover.

There’s lots going on in Kingswear and Dartmouth as well as nearby towns and villages all year round. Below you will find our picks for the best regular events South Devon has to offer.  Some weeks may vary depending on how our calendar falls. We have listed the extent of the weeks the event may fall under. For accurate dates for the current year, please compare our 80 Year Calendar with dates listed on the event’s own website.

  • Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta – Week 32 to Week 34
  • Dartmouth Music Festival – Week 17 to Week 19
  • Brixham Pirate Festival – Week 16 to Week 17
  • Torbay Air Show – Week 21 to Week 22
  • Dartmouth Food Festival – Week 40 to Week 42

For more information on what South Devon has to offer, check out Visit South West’s website where all the major events and attractions for the area are listed.