Paignton is an English coastal town on "the English Riviera" near Torquay, in the county of Devon. Oldway Mansion, formerly the home of the Singer family (of sewing machine fame) lies between the two towns.
Paignton depends heavily on tourism, and is marketed predominantly at the lower to middle end (economically speaking) of the British population. The long beach in summer is frequently crowded by tourists devouring ice-cream and fish'n'chips. Night life is predominantly late opening bars and clubs on the sea-front.
Paignton beach and the nearby Preston Sands are the best places in Torbay to launch for water sports such as wind and kite surfing, as well as dinghy sailing.