Cockington Court

The approach to Cockington Court is half the charm - you'll drive through a proper working village where thatched cottages line the lane and a watermill still turns. It's that rare pocket of Devon that feels genuinely untouched, about two miles from Torquay's seafront madness.

The court itself is a Grade II listed manor house that dates back centuries, with grounds that sprawl across enough land to make you forget you're five minutes from a busy resort town. Inside, there's furniture, period rooms, and the kind of lived-in atmosphere that beats a sterile museum. The gardens are the real draw though - they're proper gardens, not manicured show pieces, with a walled area and enough space for kids to actually run without breaking anything.

Admission is free and you can generally wander the grounds whenever, though it's worth ringing ahead to check if the house itself is open that day. Allow an hour minimum if you're just poking about; two hours if you've got children who need space. Summer's the obvious choice, but spring's lovely too when everything's just waking up.

It works brilliantly as a half-day break from the beach. Parkdean Resorts and Hoburne are both within three miles, so families staying at either could easily combine a morning here with an afternoon swim. There's also a teashop on site, which saves you driving back to Torquay for lunch. The village itself rewards a wander - there's a proper pub and some decent local shops if you fancy browsing.