Brixham Hotels

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  Smugglers Haunt Hotel

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  White Horse Guesthouse

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  Quayside Hotel

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Perhaps the most famous arrival into Brixham was Prince William of Orange and his Dutch army in 1688, spearheading what became known as the Glorious Revolution. Many surnames in the town and some street names have Dutch origins as a result.

Just over a century earlier the inhabitants of the town watched Sir Francis Drake battle with the Spanish Armada, reputedly after finishing a game of bowls in nearby Plymouth Hoe. A replica of Drake's most famous ship, the Golden Hind, sits in the harbour and is a popular attraction.

As a sheltered natural harbour, Torbay has offered refuge to a long history of sea vessels. A major site for the development and improvement of the fishing trawler, the harbour was also the departure point for American servicemen heading for the D-Day landings during World War II and earlier for the Napoleonic Wars, culminating in Napoleon's enforced visit to the town prior to his exile on St. Helena. The history is displayed all over the town, most notably in the fortresses which remain to tell the tale. Battery Gardens have played a strategic role in warfare from the Spanish armada and Napoleonic wars to World War II and the site has now been recognised by English Heritage Site status. Other notable historic sites in the town include St. Mary's Church, and a heritage railway in nearby Churston. The popular Cowtown carnival is held each year near St. Mary's Church and celebrates a time when Brixham was defined by two communities, Cowtown and Fishtown, named for their respective farming and fishing associations.

The town will be forever linked with fishing. Termed the 'mother of deep sea fishing', the harbour was once home to 300 fishing trawlers forming the South East coast's largest fishing port. The trawlers still bring home their catch and are largely diesel driven now although there remain some fine examples of the old trawler sailboats with characteristic red sails, protected from the elements with local red ochre. A public fish market is open in the summer and the long breakwater of the bay is ideal for sea angling.

As a town for which tourism rivals fishing as an economic force, there are a wealth of amenities and facilities for visitors. There are many cafes, bars and restaurants to choose from and lots of shopping, leisure and entertainment opportunities too. Brixham hotels are well established in the town to cater for the demand and are ideally located for all the town's most popular attractions. Some are part of major international hotel chains while others are small family run establishments, as personal and intimate as the many bed and breakfasts and guest houses.

Other hotels are traditional inns or country pub style properties which generally have a good bar food menu and may have additional features such as pub sports; children's play facilities, and beer gardens. A further hotel choice may be for the opulence and style of a grand old hotel, often featuring stunning sea views. Most will offer bed and breakfast accommodation while others will have the additional option of an evening meal, and often some form of evening's entertainment too.

Whether old or new, Brixham hotels will have all the facilities demanded from contemporary travellers. Rooms and suites will be comfortable, well appointed and with features such as televisions, tea and coffee making facilities, and often wireless internet connectivity. Concierge services or tourist information will be freely available to ensure guests make the most from their time spent in the town and surrounds.

The accommodation in the town also forms an ideal base from which to tour the surrounding area. The unitary authority of Torbay is often regarded as the English Riviera due to the mild climate and standard of seaside resorts. Comprised primarily of Brixham to the south of the bay, Paignton in the middle and Torquay to the north, Torbay forms a contiguous series of popular visitor destinations. Attractions of Paignton include Paignton Zoo, one of the largest in the country, Paignton Pier and a range of water sports from Paignton Beach and Preston Sands. Torquay has a great many local attractions as befits its status as one of the UK's most popular seaside resorts.

Further afield, the county of Devon has a wealth of visitor sights and attractions, most notably Dartmoor and Exmoor national Parks and the historically important maritime city of Plymouth. Outdoor activities are popular in Devon and Torbay and while many are associated with the beaches and water sports there are ample opportunities for a range of leisure and sporting pursuits inland, which includes golf, hill walking, cycling, and of course bowling, the favoured pastime of Sir Francis Drake.

Brixham hotels place guests at the heart of all the activities in the area and many will offer equipment or facilities to make the most of the pursuits on offer. Forming an integral part of the history and culture of the town, they help define classic Brixham hospitality.

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