The Most Budget-Friendly Hotels in Torquay, England

Mixing Regency-era panache with breezy seaside touches – as befits a grand hotel overlooking Meadfoot Beach and sitting along the Grade II-listed Regency Crescent in Torquay – the Osborne Hotel is a prestige townhouse in a prime part of Devon, within easy reach of Paignton Zoo and rugged Dartmoor. A bean-shaped outdoor pool overlooks the English Riviera and sits on 6 acres (2.4ha) of perfectly manicured gardens. Quintessentially British, without leaning too heavily on hackneyed seaside tropes, the Osborne blends Georgian features with fresh modern decor that keeps the focus on the watery vista – best enjoyed from the Sea View rooms, which come with springy double beds and bright ensuites.

This stately Georgian manor, seemingly plucked from Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, nods to old-world decadence and Art Deco-era exoticism. It boasts a fusion of influences from across the globe – oil paintings and antiquities jostle together in a warm, colonial-style grand room, while 14 bedrooms, which overlook Lyme Bay, are lavishly decorated and have names like Burlesque and Morris to boot. Expect heavily patterned feature walls, punctuated with prints of Josephine Baker in Burlesque, while William Morris wallpaper, jacquard chaise lounges and antique sleigh beds take centre stage in Morris. The D’Allen family, who run the hotel, are passionate about their home and are always on-hand to offer ideas for day trips – all while maintaining the uncanny knack of staying discreetly in the distance until needed.

The Imperial Hotel has a storied history as a hangout for well-heeled Victorians, Hollywood stars and the Beatles, who stayed twice in the height of the Swinging Sixties. Today, the 19th-century clifftop hotel draws on its legacy with traditional period features and Victorian grandeur by way of chintzy furnishings and wrought iron chandeliers. A wraparound terrace offers views of the bay as well as the seaside towns of Torquay, Babbacombe, Paignton and Brixham, which are a short trip away. Elsewhere, a range of classic treatments, such as Decléor facials and aromatherapy massages, are available at the Health & Leisure Club, which draws scores of non-residents for those milestone occasions.

Like much of Torquay, the Torcroft came to prominence during the golden days of the Victorian era as a gentleman’s residence, which makes this an ideal stay for history buffs and those who enjoy life’s finer details. Riffing off its heritage as a luxury retreat for the leisure class, the Torcroft proudly displays its own vintage memorabilia alongside restored period features. Art Deco flourishes evoke the hotel’s history as a 1930s hotspot, while new owners Gary and Philip are keen to restore the stately manor to its former glory – grand dining room and all.