Having not had a holiday yet this year, I've really come to appreciate short breaks away in the UK. Last weekend to celebrate a friend's upcoming wedding we packed our bag and made our way to the beautiful seaside town of Torquay:
Torquay harbour
Torquay pier
Living in London I always seem to forget how close other places can be and indeed Torquay was no more than 3 hours away by train. As soon as we stepped off the train though it felt like we were in a different country. Everything was just so picturesque with French inspired architecture everywhere and the seafront just minutes away. Torquay is fondly known as the English Riviera and looking around it wasn't hard to see why.
Las Iguanas for lunch
Astor House
Balcony view from Astor House
Rather than staying at a hotel we opted for an apartment and I have to say we really lucked out with Astor House, I mean just look at the view from our balcony! I also loved the simple decor and I'm now dreaming of redecorating my flat with light spacious rooms, statement flowers and marbled bathroom tiling. There was even a private shortcut down to the beach which being on the hillside we were very grateful for! On a little side note unless you have a car be prepared to do lots of walking up and down hills so comfy shoes are definitely needed.
Celebration drinks
Burridge's Tearoom Torquay
There were loads of restaurants and bars to choose from and during our stay we had everything from Mexican to Thai. My top pick though? It would have to be Burridge's tearoom because no trip to Devon would be complete without some tea and scones. The whole place had a really lovely English countryside feel and although the menu was simple, everything was freshly made and delicious. There's also a sweet shop next door which was rather handy for stocking up on fudge and biscuits to take home as presents.
Torquay seafront
After 2 days of exploring and celebrating our trip concluded with a visit to Aztec spa. Of course I opted for a back massage and for the morning we had access to the pool, sauna and steam room too which we made full use of. Overall it was a really lovely rejuvenating break and it's reminded me that I don't always need to travel out of the country for a holiday. We were lucky that it was sunny (if a little cold) for most of our trip but I would love to return in the heat of summer to explore more and to make the most of the beach and seaside activities.
Have you ever been to Torquay? Where are your favorite destinations for a weekend break?
No comments
Post a Comment