English Riviera
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For detail on what comprises the English Riviera, see Torbay.
The English Riviera is a term commonly used to refer to Torbay in the South West of England. The Victorians were the first to use the Riviera name to describe one of their favourite resorts, mainly due to Torbay's similarity with the French Riviera. This is mostly a result of Torbay's favourable coastal micro-climate.
As the bay is in the shape of a horseshoe facing southeast, it forms a perfect suntrap. The heights of Dartmoor, immediately to the north west, protect the resort from the prevailing winds, and the Gulf Stream brings into the bay warmer waters, the end result being a climate that is much milder that that experienced by most of the UK. Winters are mild and short, while spring and summer often extend far beyond the UK norm.
The nickname 'English Riviera' has therefore endured as a means of attracting tourism, and is often used in conjunction with the 'Torbay Palm' (Cordyline australis, originating from New Zealand), which has been adopted as the symbol of Torbay in almost all official promotional material.
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