Holiday rentals and lettings in Brixham

Table of contents

• At a glance: what should you know about renting a holiday letting in Brixham?
• Holiday lettings in Brixham: find your perfect retreat
• Exploring Brixham: our top recommendations
• Activities: what are the top things to do and see in Brixham?

• Harbourside holiday lettings: Choose from traditional Devon cottages, bright apartments and welcoming B&Bs around the harbour and Brixham Battery, many with sea views and gardens.
• Where to stay: The harbour puts you among the seafood restaurants and boutiques, whilst Brixham Battery is close to the parks, golf course and the South West Coast Path.
• Top-rated stays: Recent guests rate Brixham lettings highly, impressed by their amenities, cleanliness and locations.
• Best time to visit: Summer brings warm beach days and the famous Pirate Festival, whilst spring and autumn offer quieter coast paths and lower rates outside the school holidays.
• Things to do: Ride the bay ferry, walk out to Berry Head, step aboard the Golden Hind, sample the day's catch and learn to sail on the calm waters of Tor Bay.

Choose from traditional Devon stone cottages, brightly painted fishermen's houses or stylish apartments. Browse the full choice of holiday cottages in Brixham, spacious holiday homes in Brixham and friendly B&Bs in Brixham to find a base that suits your party. Most properties come well equipped for a relaxed self-catering holiday, with popular amenities including:

• Panoramic sea and harbour views
• Fast Wi-Fi
• Private gardens, patios or conservatories
• Pet-friendly spaces for the family dog
• Off-street parking near the coast path

Whichever property you choose, you'll be within easy reach of the harbour, the beaches and the open sea.

What are the best areas to stay in Brixham?

For most visitors the best base is the harbour itself, though quieter spots nearby suit families and walkers. The table below details regions for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Brixham's holiday lettings consistently earn glowing reviews, with guests praising the warm welcomes, spotless homes and unbeatable proximity to the harbour and the sea.

Here are our top-rated holiday lettings from the past year:

1. 3 Dolphin Court - 10.0: A bright apartment for four just a short stroll from the harbour, praised for its spotless interiors and easy access to Brixham's seafront and shops.
2. Seaside Stories - 10.0: A charming Devon cottage with a private garden, loved for its cosy character and quiet setting within easy reach of the fish market and harbourside restaurants.
3. Harbour View Retreat - 10.0: A romantic bolthole for two with its own outdoor space, a favourite with couples for its harbour outlook and walkable location near the coast path.

Brixham sits in the southern corner of Devon, on the English Riviera, looking across Tor Bay towards Torquay and Paignton on the south-west coast of England.

✈️What is the best way to get to Brixham?

Getting to Brixham is straightforward, with options by air, rail and road. Here are the most common ways to get to the town:

• Car: Brixham is a pleasant three-hour drive from London via the M4 and M5, or around an hour from Bristol. Leave the M5 near Exeter and follow the A380 and A3022 down towards Torbay. There is parking in the town, though spaces near the harbour fill quickly in summer.
• Train: The nearest mainline station is Paignton, with direct services from London Paddington, Bristol and the Midlands. From Paignton it is a short bus or taxi ride into Brixham; in summer you can hop aboard the bay ferry for a scenic arrival across the water.
• Plane: Bristol Airport is the nearest major airport, about an hour and a half away by car, with Exeter Airport a little closer for regional and seasonal flights. Hire a car to complete the journey down to Brixham.

🥗Where to eat in Brixham?

According to Google Maps data and reviews, Rockfish Brixham is among the best-rated restaurants in Brixham. Below is a table showing the top 5 highly-rated restaurants hand-picked by our travel experts.

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest travellers Hannah and Luke recommend the Brixham Deli in Brixham: a relaxed spot for morning coffee and a generous brunch before heading out along the harbour, with friendly service and plenty of local produce on the menu.

☀️When is the best time to visit?

The best time to visit Brixham is from late May to September, when the weather is warmest and the harbour is at its liveliest. For fewer crowds and lower rates, the shoulder months of April, May and September are ideal, whilst the famous Pirate Festival each spring is a real highlight.

Summer

• Best for: Beach days, boat trips and festivals.
• Weather: Warm and bright, ideal for the bay and the coast path.
• Atmosphere: Lively, with busy beaches and a buzzing harbour.

Spring

• Best for: Walkers and the Brixham Pirate Festival.
• Weather: Mild, with longer days and blossoming countryside.
• Atmosphere: Cheerful and gradually filling up, but still relaxed.

Autumn

• Best for: Quiet coastal walks and fresh seafood.
• Weather: Cooler and changeable, with crisp, clear days.
• Atmosphere: Peaceful, with lower rates and uncrowded paths.

⭐Our hosts' recommendation: Our Brixham local expert, Charlotte of Harbour View Retreat, recommends an early-morning walk out to Berry Head to catch the sunrise over the bay before the day-trippers arrive. You can read more about her local tips on Charlotte's page.

1. Take a ferry across Tor Bay
2. Walk out to Berry Head Nature Reserve
3. Step aboard the Golden Hind
4. Learn to sail on Tor Bay
5. Explore Brixham Heritage Museum

1. Take a ferry across Tor Bay

   One of the most popular things to do in Brixham is to hop aboard the bay ferry for a scenic crossing to Paignton and Torquay. The short trip offers wonderful views back towards the colourful harbour, and you may spot seabirds and the occasional seal along the way. Local operators also run dedicated wildlife and sightseeing boat trips, and the wider south-west coast towards holiday cottages in Cornwall is well worth exploring as part of a longer trip.

2. Walk out to Berry Head Nature Reserve

   Just east of town, the Berry Head National Nature Reserve rewards walkers with jaw-dropping clifftop views, Napoleonic forts and abundant wildlife, including a famous seabird colony. The well-marked paths form part of the South West Coast Path, which threads through woods and along the cliffs all the way to Torquay for the more energetic. If you love the outdoors, you might also explore camping along the Devon coast.

3. Step aboard the Golden Hind

   Moored in the heart of the harbour, the Golden Hind is a full-size replica of the ship sailed by Sir Francis Drake. Children love clambering across the decks, ducking below into the cabins and learning about Tudor seafaring and Drake's voyages around the world. Combine a visit with a wander around the harbour's boutique shops and a stop at the early-morning fish market.

4. Learn to sail on Tor Bay

   The calm, sheltered waters of Tor Bay make Brixham a wonderful place to learn to sail. The Torbay Sea School offers courses on dinghies, yachts and motorboats, from beginner sessions and competent crew through to full yachtmaster qualifications. Whether you fancy a taster afternoon or a longer course across your holiday, the experienced instructors will have you confident on the water in no time.

5. Explore Brixham Heritage Museum

   When the weather turns, the Brixham Heritage Museum is a charming way to spend a morning. Its displays trace the fascinating history of this fishing town, from its seafaring past to its smuggling tales, with themed costumes for all ages and hands-on activity areas for younger visitors. Nearby in Paignton, the lovingly restored Tudor Kirkham House offers another glimpse of local history.