Torquay sits on the Riviera Line, the branch line that runs from Newton Abbot down the coast to Paignton. Direct trains from London Paddington take about three hours and run roughly hourly. The stretch from Exeter onwards is one of the most scenic in Britain — the line hugs the sea wall at Dawlish, with the carriages occasionally taking spray.
By car, leave the M5 at junction 31 and follow the A380 south, about 25 minutes from the motorway. Exeter Airport, 30 miles north, has flights from a handful of UK and European cities; Bristol is the larger option for international arrivals. Long-distance coaches run from London Victoria several times a day.