Animal activity

Paignton Zoo sits right on the edge of town, and it's the sort of place that makes sense when you're camped nearby at Hoburne Devon Bay or one of the other holiday parks dotting the area. You're walking through tropical houses, past big cats, watching keepers do their thing with the animals - it's all fairly standard zoo fare, but the grounds are spacious enough that you don't feel cramped.

Families with younger kids will get the most mileage here. There's enough to occupy them for a good three to four hours, maybe five if you're the type to sit and actually watch the animals rather than just tick them off. The tropical house is warm and decent for a rainy afternoon, and there's usually something happening - a talk or a feed time - if you time it right.

It's not the sort of place that'll blow your mind if you've been to bigger zoos, but for a family holiday in Devon, especially if you're based at one of the parks between Paignton and Torquay, it works as a half-day activity. The location's convenient, and it breaks up the beach and countryside routine nicely. Worth checking their website before you go for opening times and admission costs, as these do shift seasonally. You'll want to budget a good chunk of change for entry, plus the inevitable ice creams and snacks, but on a decent day it's a solid enough outing.