Torquay in South Devon has been named the UK's most dog-friendly seaside town, according to a study by dog food brand Fish4Dogs. The coastal town boasts 114 dog-friendly facilities, the highest number of unrestricted dog-friendly beaches in the UK, and 45 dog-friendly green spaces.
What makes Torquay dog-friendly
Fish4Dogs examined coastal towns across the UK to determine which offers the greatest number of dog-friendly beaches where dogs are permitted throughout the year. The study also considered dog-friendly accommodation, eateries, green spaces, pet shops, and veterinary hospitals per town.
Torquay emerged as the winner, with 14 beaches that allow all-year access for dogs. Beacon Cove, a shingle beach, was a favourite bathing spot of mystery writer Agatha Christie, who was born in the town. Anstey's Cove, one of Torquay's highest-rated beaches, requires a steep descent but offers a rewarding outing. Babbacombe Beach provides dramatic coastline views, and dogs can ride the famous Cliff Railway for free.
Beyond beaches, Torquay offers 23 pub rooms that welcome dogs for overnight stays, 27 dog-friendly eateries, and four veterinary hospitals.
A foodie paradise
Torquay is a culinary destination with options ranging from Michelin-starred dining at The Elephant to casual tearooms and ice cream parlours. Top-rated pubs and bars on TripAdvisor include Old Engine House, Waterside Inn, Twenty1, The Buccaneer Inn, and Babbacombe Inn. Seafood can be enjoyed at Harbour 16, Number 7 Fish Bistro, Saltwater Fish Restaurant and Takeaway, Rockfish Torquay, and The Offshore Bar and Restaurant.
Other notable eateries offer Italian, Mediterranean, British, Thai, and Mexican cuisine, including Junjaow Thai, Kitchen Sisters, The Waddling Duck @ Hamilton's, Old Vienna Restaurant, Amici, Meat59, Ollie's, Legends at Steps, Otto Restaurant, and VIVA. Cafés such as Weavers Cottage Tea Garden, Lighthouse Cafe and Bar, The Bay Tree Cafe, and Angels Tea Rooms are also popular.
Beaches and attractions
Torquay's beaches include Torre Abbey Sands, the most frequented, with golden sand and space for sunbathing and swimming. Meadfoot Beach offers a quieter experience with rockpooling and dramatic cliffs, while Babbacombe Beach and the Downs provide sweeping views.
Key attractions include Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves, part of UNESCO's English Riviera Global Geopark. The caves feature stalagmites, stalactites, pillars, flowstone, and straws, and are renowned for the discovery in 1927 of a jawbone fragment—the oldest known modern human fossil from north-west Europe. Visitors can enjoy guided tours and a Cave Cinema.
Torre Abbey, founded in 1196, is hailed by Visit Devon as Torbay's most historic building, set within 18 acres of award-winning gardens. Visit Devon describes how the "extent of its survival makes Torre Abbey the best-preserved medieval abbey in Devon and Cornwall". Babbacombe Bay is also recommended for its views across the English Riviera.
