December is a great month to visit Torquay. The crowds and traffic are gone, and you can have the beach to yourself if you want to! Yet, the excellent infrastructure and entertainment that accommodates summer visitors is still available for discerning off-season visitors looking for a great value short break.
A large selection of accommodation
If you want to spend time with family and friends, there are some large houses offering accommodation for up to 10 guests. Best of all, at the end of the holiday you simply pack your bags and drive away, leaving someone else to do the laundry, change the beds and clean the kitchen!
December is a balmy month temperature-wise in Torquay with daytime highs around 9°C (48°F). Snow is unheard of, and frost is pretty rare. Once the morning mist has dissipated, it is the perfect season for walking Devon country lanes or the coastal path with great views of sometimes stormy seas. If you have a dog, choose a pet-friendly Devon holiday rental and look forward to some wonderful long beach walks or hikes on Dartmoor.
Light up for Christmas in Torquay
Brightly illuminated with fairy lights, Torquay is always beautifully decorated for Christmas and shops stay open until 9pm on Thursdays. The town has an excellent shopping centre, Fleet Walk, which is right on the seafront overlooking Torquay marina. There are plenty of high street names from TK Maxx to Topshop, as well as more exclusive designer brands such as Paul Smith in the Designer Gallery.
Nearby, Hoopers department store has a wealth of designer ranges from Mulberry to Escada, and for men there's Hugo Boss and Polo Ralph Lauren. There are plenty of opportunities to pick up more unusual clothing and gifts in all departments without the crowded rush. The Pavilion, once an elegant Victorian Theatre, is now home to 30 speciality shops while further out of town the Willows Shopping Centre is anchored by M&S along with Next and many other big name stores.
Cultural entertainment is never in short supply in Torquay. The Princess Theatre overlooking the harbour has some excellent shows. Book tickets now for the Royal Marines Christmas Spectacular, the ELO Experience and the ever-popular Cinderella starring Corrie's own Stephen Arnold alongside Stuart Wade and Tom Own (Last of the Summer Wine).
That's entertainment
The Palace Theatre at neighbouring Paignton presents a lighthearted and enjoyable concert by the Torbay Gilbert and Sullivan Society along with a seasonal musical extravaganza by the Totnes Brass Band. Just along the road from Torquay, the Christmas Starlight Show is being produced at the Babbacombe Theatre and promises to be a family treat.
If all this doesn't tempt you to Torquay, perhaps the fine dining will. The Elephant Restaurant on Beacon Hill has a brasserie offering fine dining with stunning views of the harbour. On the first floor, the Room on the First was the first restaurant in Torquay to earn a Michelin star and is frequently listed as one of the UK's Top 100 restaurants. Other wonderful gourmet dining can be enjoyed at the Orange Tree restaurant on Parkhill Road which has a superb à la carte menu listing mouthwatering dishes such as Crab Bisque with King Scallops, Galantine of Guinea Fowl Supreme and West Country Rump of Lamb.
With all this going on, wouldn't you rather be in Torquay this December?
Have you visited Torquay in December? Let us know what you got up to and what you enjoyed about it by leaving a comment below.
Born in Cheshire, Gillian Birch moved to Cornwall at her earliest opportunity and never looked back. After 20 years, her ongoing discovery of popular attractions, quiet footpaths and local eateries has made her a fount of knowledge as she entertains readers with her informative articles on the hidden gems of Devon & Cornwall from a local point-of-view.