Things to Do in Devon: Top Attractions, Towns & Comparisons

Families planning a UK getaway often find themselves weighing Devon against Cornwall — two counties that share a friendly rivalry and plenty of beautiful coastline. Devon promises easier access from London, more affordable cottage prices, and a mix of wild moorland and Victorian resorts. This guide walks through the must-see attractions, prettiest towns, and how Devon stacks up for family holidays.

Top Attractions Count: 10+ featured on TripAdvisor · Key Experiences: Moorland, seaside villages, Victorian resorts · Featured Sites: National Marine Aquarium, Lundy Island · Events Focus: Festivals, markets via VisitDevon · Personal Picks: Torquay, Babbacombe, Cockington

What is the must-visit place in Devon?

Devon splits its appeal between untamed moorland and a polished coastline. The south coast clusters most family attractions around the English Riviera — a stretch of Victorian-era resorts anchored by Torquay. The north flips the script with Dartmoor National Park offering free, wide-open adventure.

Top attractions from TripAdvisor and Viator

TripAdvisor listings rank two Devon attractions highest by visitor ratings. Kents Cavern, a prehistoric cave system near Torquay, holds a 4.7/5 rating across 4,515 reviews (TripAdvisor attraction ratings). Pennywell Farm, a working farm with hands-on animal encounters, scores 4.8/5 from 3,907 reviews — particularly popular with younger children.

Beyond those two leaders, the official Devon attractions directory flags the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth as a flagship site, alongside Lundy Island for those seeking wilder coastal scenery (Devons Top Attractions). The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter adds cultural depth for families wanting to mix beach time with some museum hours.

Days out at Devon’s top attractions

Kents Cavern works well for rainy afternoons — the underground passages stay a steady temperature year-round and the guides bring 400 million years of geological history to life. Families report children as young as four handling the cave walk comfortably with parent supervision.

Pennywell Farm leans into the interactive end of things. Parents on forums note the animal feeding sessions and tractor rides fill a full afternoon without additional purchases inside the farm (Rick Steves Community Forum). Crealy Theme Park, further inland, adds roller coasters and water rides for families willing to pay entry fees — positioned as Devon’s main theme park offering.

Families exploring the English Riviera base themselves in Torquay to reach multiple attractions by car or the scenic coastal railway. The National Marine Aquarium benefits from this clustering, drawing in visitors already spending time at the nearby beaches.

What is the prettiest town in Devon?

Beauty in Devon comes in two distinct styles: windswept coastal villages and genteel Victorian resort towns. Which qualifies as “prettiest” depends on whether your family leans toward bucket-and-spade charm or historic village atmosphere.

Nicest coastal towns

Torquay anchors the English Riviera with its crescent bay, palm-lined promenade, and Victorian architecture that earned the town its “English Riviera” branding. Forum visitors describe it as “the classier cousin of seaside resorts” — busy enough to have restaurants and shops, but calmer than Blackpool or Brighton.

Babbacombe sits a few miles down the coast, quieter and steeper. The Babbacombe Cliff Railway — one of the steepest passenger railways in Britain — ferries visitors down to a small beach, giving the area a novelty factor that families with primary-school children rate highly.

Prettiest villages and towns

Cockington Village consistently appears in travel writing about Devon as a counterpoint to the resort towns. This tiny settlement sits just outside Torquay but feels a world apart — thatched cottages, a Saxon church, and craft studios selling handmade pottery and woodwork. The National Trust owns much of the village, which keeps commercial development minimal.

Berry Pomeroy Castle doesn’t qualify as a town, but families driving through South Devon often bundle it with visits to nearby Totnes. The castle’s ruins sit in a wooded gorge, and families on forums note the younger children enjoyed exploring the towers more than the formal garden areas.

Forum discussions on Rick Steves’ community board highlight the distinction: the coast draws visitors for the beaches and water activities, while inland towns like Chagford and Ashburton attract those hunting for antique shops and craft markets.

The pattern is clear: Devon’s prettiest towns reward families who mix resort comfort with village exploration rather than defaulting to a single base.

Is Cornwall or Devon better?

This question fuels travel forums, travel writers, and a mild inter-county rivalry that locals handle with good humor. The honest answer: both deliver excellent holidays, but they suit different families depending on budget, travel tolerance, and whether you prioritize iconic attractions or open space.

Devon vs Cornwall holidays

The comparison breaks down across several practical lines:

The driving-time gap matters most for families with young children — an extra two hours in the back seat can sour a holiday before it starts. Cornwall advocates counter that the Eden Project justifies the journey for families with children aged four and up (Endless Travel Plans comparison).

Why choose Devon over Cornwall

Devon’s case rests on three advantages. First, the cottage price gap: a family renting a three-bedroom cottage in peak summer saves £375-600 per week compared to equivalent Cornwall property. Second, shorter drives reduce fatigue for parents and settle restless children more easily. Third, Dartmoor National Park offers free entry — families can spend a full day on the moors, spot wild ponies, and hike to granite tors without paying admission (Endless Travel Plans).

Is it worth visiting Devon?

Devon attracts roughly three million domestic tourists annually, positioning it as one of England’s most visited holiday counties. Whether it’s “worth it” depends on what your family wants from a break — and whether you lean into what Devon does well rather than expecting it to match Cornwall’s headline attractions.

Pros and cons of Devon trips

Popular tourist spots

The Select Cornwall blog acknowledges Devon’s strengths while arguing that Cornwall’s family attractions — the Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan, and the seal sanctuaries — outweigh Devon’s spread of smaller options (Select Cornwall blog). The Active England Tours guide for 2026 takes a more balanced view, listing Kents Cavern, Dartmoor, and the English Riviera alongside Cornwall’s iconic sites — suggesting families can build a full week in either county without running out of day-trip options.

What are things to do in Devon with kids?

Devon pitches itself at families across age ranges, but the specific activities that work best shift significantly depending on whether you’re traveling with toddlers, primary-school children, or teens.

Family activities

For families with children under three, Devon travel writers consistently recommend shorter drives and the freedom of Dartmoor for toddlers who need space to run. Rock-pooling at Croyde Bay on the north coast draws families with pre-schoolers, and the shallow tide pools hold crabs and small fish that toddlers can handle with parental help.

Families with children aged four to eight find Devon solid but not spectacular. Crealy Theme Park and Kents Cavern both land in this age sweet spot, though forum consensus suggests Cornwall’s Eden Project edges ahead for this age group (Endless Travel Plans).

Teenagers split differently: Cornwall draws them for surfing and the Tate St. Ives gallery, while Devon offers Woolacombe’s surf culture and Exeter’s shopping district. The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth works across age groups, though teenagers tend to move through faster than younger children.

Adult-oriented experiences

Parents craving a break from theme parks find Devon offers several adult-friendly options. The Sharpham Estate near Totnes combines vineyard tours with cider tastings — a heritage fruit operation that welcomes families for walks while adults sample the produce. Burgh Island Hotel’s blog notes Dartmoor as a draw for adults seeking moorland walks away from sandcastle territory.

The Intrepid Travel guide positions Devon as the stronger choice for adventure-focused adults: the Jurassic Coast offers fossil-hunting walks, High Willhays reaches the highest point in Southern England, and caving options in the county cater to thrill-seekers willing to go underground.

Devon vs Cornwall: how do they compare on price?

Budget framing drives much of the Devon-vs-Cornwall decision, and the numbers support Devon’s case — but with caveats that depend on when you travel and where you stay.

Peak summer cottage rates for a three-bedroom property run £750-1,500 per week in Cornwall versus £375-900 in Devon — a gap of £375-600 that compounds across a fortnight’s stay (Endless Travel Plans). The full family budget including cottage, petrol, food, and activities estimates £735-1,530 for Devon versus £1,250-2,330 for Cornwall — figures that assume self-catering accommodation and moderate activity spending.

Neither county wins universally on price. Cornwall’s Eden Project charges adult tickets from £39.50 and child tickets from £15 — costs that Devon families avoid at Dartmoor’s free-entry sites. But Cornwall’s National Trust sites and beaches cost nothing, and many of Devon’s paid attractions charge comparable gate prices for smaller-scale experiences.

The kids I saw seemed to really enjoy playing there. Plymouth Hoe has green space and the lighthouse gives them something to explore.

— Rick Steves Community Forum user, describing Plymouth with children

Cornwall has more dramatic beaches and the Eden Project, while Devon offers 20-30% lower cottage prices and easier access.

— Endless Travel Plans, 2026 family comparison guide

Related reading: Devon Cliffs Holiday Park

South Devon’s beaches draw families to spots like Challaborough Bay Holiday Park, with direct Blue Flag access and Burgh Island views just minutes away.

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