There are many towns in Devon that are both busy and beautiful and it seems that the county has a monopoly of towns that manage to maintain their natural and unique beauty while still accommodating a healthy amount of people and functioning as a full-fledged town each in their own rights. Torquay is no exception and with over seventy thousand residents it more than carries its weight as far as Devon is concerned. To be sure, Torquay is the fourth largest town in the county and that is to say nothing of the massive population that floods it during tourist season. Many estimate the population of Torquay at the peak time of summer to approach half a million at even the most conservative measurements. Either way, Torquay easily places within the fifty most populated towns in England yet it manages to hold on to its quaint charm and unique traits no matter how busy it gets.

Torquay's roots aren't as unique, however, as the town first rose to prominence as a seaside resort getaway in the 1800s. If a town in England didn't arise as a humble market town you can be sure that it grew as a result of the tourists flocking in for a beach vacation. In all fairness, Torquay was once a fishing and agricultural town and it flourished for a long time before the aristocracy began to crowd the town in hopes of curing various ailments with the healing waters of the local sea. This was a craze that enveloped much of England in the middle years of the 19th Century but it truly did breathe life into many small villages that prospered because of the attention. Even without this attention, however, Torquay would still make it into the annals of history simply because of the fact that Agatha Christie grew up there. Anybody who is the least bit knowledgeable about authors knows that Mrs. Christie is among the most important and influential mystery writers on Earth and it was in Torquay that she spent her formative years. There is even a museum in the town dedicated to the celebrated author and that alone is reason for many to visit the tourist heaven.

With all due respect to Mrs. Christie, Torquay is of course more famous for its impressive scenery and thrilling nightlife. Torquay is also lucky enough to have one of the most desirable placements in the entire world in terms of geography. Its latitude and longitude allow it to have the most consistent amount of sunlight and mild weather in the entire continent of Europe. The town has captured the hearts and minds of people for generations and the most respectable aspect is that it is for so many different reasons that Torquay is beloved around the world. Whether your aim is to forget the daily grind and lounge on the beach or to marvel at the beauty of nature or even history you can be sure that Torquay will offer you enlightenment beyond your wildest beliefs.

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