Inside the town dubbed the ‘English Riviera’ – and it’s 3 hours from London

THIS is the surprisingly gorgeous seaside town only three hours from London, and a round trip ticket will cost you less than £50.

As summer quickly approaches, Brits are searching for a sun soaked destination within budget, and this Devon beach may be the perfect answer.

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Paignton offers gorgeous beaches with historical sites only a stones throw away.

Referred to as the UK’s Riviera, the stunning seaside views offer golden sanded beaches and shops dotted along the shoreline.

The Paignton Sands won the UK Seaside Award in 2018 for it’s family friendly shores and activities for kids of all ages.

Broadsands beach looks as though it’s straight out of a catalogue, with one visitor commenting a glowing review about it.

They said: ” The beach is lovely and boasts a lovely landscape and a view of the steam train which passes many times a day.

“There are several Ice cream and food outlets here as well as toilets and an area for picnics here too.”

If you’re looking for a smaller cove beach, Fairy Cove offers spectacular views of Roundham Gardens.

One visitor remarked: “It’s great for swimming, gets little wind, there is shade by the cliffs if its too hot.

“Great rock pools for the kids when the tides out and you can walk round the cliff. Such a beautiful and safe cove!!”

And the town offers a gorgeous amusement centre on Paignton Pier if it happens to be a rainy day.

It’s also home to the UK’s largest outdoor water park – Splashdown Quay West.

The park also has a café, ice cream and plenty of fun for everyone involved.

One parent said: “The kids loved it here, the 3 hour pass was plenty for them to experience all of the slides a few times!”

They also mentioned how the food was filling and not overpriced, which is a welcome bonus for those of us struggling with the cost of living crisis.

If an evening out is more your style, Paignton has a gorgeous theatre in town which puts on new shows each season.

The Palace Theatre has a café-bar and events space and is only a short walk away from bus and rail stations.

If Paignton doesn’t sound like the perfect getaway to you, this is the UK town named as the best getaway this year.

Topping the charts for the third consecutive year was Northumberland’s Bamburgh, which secured an impressive destination score of 88 per cent.

A location steeped in history, Bamburgh is renowned for its stunning sandy shoreline, backed by the imposing ruins of its ancient castle.

Unsurprisingly given its unique setting, visitors awarded it a full five stars for its scenery, as well as for the quality of its beach and seafront.

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