Great Torrington is a friendly, traditional market town with many award-winning shops, masterbutchers and bakers, offering quality local produce. The refurbished Victorian Pannier Market houses a variety of shops and craft workshops, selling local produce, unusual gifts and collectables. The town centre also boasts cafes, pubs, banks and other facilities all within two minutes walk from the main car park.

This delightful town, winner of the Most Welcoming Community Award is an ancient settlement extraordinarily sited on a cliff top with steep drops down to the River Torridge below. This impressive situation has always been valued for its strategic importance, now it is valued for its spectacular views. Great Torrington was not always so welcoming, however and had a significant role in the English Civil War [more..], specifically, the Battle of Great Torrington in 1646 which marked the end of Royalist resistance in the West Counrty and led to the eventual defeat and execution of King Charles 1. The people in the town today, proud of their heritage, can often be seen dressed in 17th century costume for re-enactments, festivals and celebrations or as volunteers at the popular Torrington 1646 visitor attraction.

The Black Horse Inn is thought to have originated in the 15th century.Reputedly the oldest pub in North Devon, it was the headquarters for Lord Hopton during the Civil War and is still winning prizes as one of the best pubs in North Devon, just one of the many great places to find food and drink in the town.

The Town Hall, rebuilt in 1860, houses the town's free museum run by local volunteers. Here visitors can learn about some of the famous Torrington residents, such as Keble Martin [more...] and Thomas Fowler [more..] and have an insight into the town's fascinating history. Behind the hall there is still the original yard known as the Shambles. This was once the meat market and town lock-up, now decorated with murals depicting the history of the market from Medieval times to the 17th century.

A town trail, known as the Civil War Trail, leads the visitor on a short walking tour of the history of the town, detailing buildings, events and people of particular interest and includes the free museum in the Town Hall, details can be found at Great Torrington Tourist Information Centre.