iKnow Devon
Babbacombe Accommodation
Thatcher's Point, on the coast between Babbacombe & Torquay
Babbacombe Beach viewed from Babbacombe Downs on the Cliff Top
Babbacombe Downs, lined with B&Bs and Hotels
Kents Cavern, archeological marvel between Torquay and BabbacombeBabbacombe Tourist Information Bay Downs Beaches Railway
Beautiful Babbacombe and Babbacombe Bay is an English Riviera family hotspot. With two award winning beaches, a glorious cliff top promenade and famous green area Babbacombe Downs lined with B&Bs and hotels, the spectacular Babbacombe Model Village and the delightful Cliff Railway - um, you can see why Babbacombe is tops with holiday makers. Babbacombe has a great theatre too, and spectacular views are to be had from Babbacombe Downs across to Lyme Bay.
Babbacombe Tourist Information
Babbacombe and beautiful Babbacombe Bay has been attracting holiday visitors to the English Riviera for many years. Babbacombe was particularly popular as a honeymoon destination in the post second World War period! You can see why, with it's idyllic cliff top promenade lined with Babbacombe hotels and guesthouses and exquisite views across Lyme Bay and down to beautiful beaches below.
Babbacombe is blessed with great family holiday attractions as well, including a delightful historic cliff railway which has been operating since 1926, and will take you all the way down to popular Oddicombe beach, and of course there's Babbacombe's favourite, the Babbacombe Model Village, always a favourite with the kids! Bygones Victorian Village is also another popular attraction in picture postcard village St Marychurch, just inland from Babbacombe Bay. St Marychurch is a historic village indeed, and was mentioned in the Domesday Book.
Babbacombe is often Included within Torquay these days, but it firmly deserves it's own attention. Babbacombe is easily reached on foot or by bus or car from Torquay. It's just a stones throw away north along the South West Coast Path and it's well worth doing the scenic walk from Torquay to Babbacombe for magical views especially around the Thatcher Point bend! Glorious award winning beaches await at Babbacombe and Babbacombe Bay. For family favourites with great amenities opt for Babbacombe Beach or next door Oddicombe Beach. If you're looking for hidden coves choose idyllic Ansteys Cove. For glorious views of the beaches settle yourself down on the popular green area adjacent to Babbacombe's cliff top promenade, known famously as Babbacombe Downs. Fantastic!
Find out more about Babbacombe at the Torquay Tourist Information Centre, Vaughan Parade, Torquay, TQ2 5JG. Tel: 0906 680 1268.
Babbacombe Bay Beaches
Two glorious beaches await you at Babbacombe, award winning Babbacombe Beach and adjacent Oddicombe Beach - lots of space and popular English Riviera beaches with families as there are sheltered conditions down here. Lots of sailing and watersports too, and diving is particularly popular off this fab sand and shingle beach. Babbacombe beach has lots of good family facilities as well including toilets, a cafe and shop, a sailing club, windsurfing outlets, and dogs are allowed too. Babbacombe beach is easily reached from Babbacombe Downs via quite a steep coastal path, so take care.
The cliff railway down to sister Oddicombe beach is always a great alternative way down for familes with very young children and Torquay holidaymakers with mobility issues. Oddicombe Beach next door can be reached via the pleasant path which winds down from Walls Hill past the cricket club to this glorious beach. Well worth taking this scenic wooded walk down to Oddicombe, or alternatively choose the historic Cliff Railway. Oddicombe is particularly popular for fishing and diving off the quay, and you can hop between Babbacombe Beach and Oddicombe beach once you're down there! Babbacombe is tops for Torbay beaches, a key part of it's appeal as a Devon family holiday favourite!
Within easy access of Torquay is fantastic Meadfoot Beach, just a 10 minute walk from the centre of Torquay. Meadfoot Beach was a popular haunt for young Agatha Christie who was a rather good swimmer - she swam nearly every day during the summer and often at Meadfoot Beach. Quieter than central Torquay beach Abbey Sands, all of the Miller family (Agatha Christie's family) prefered Meadfoot beach. None of this segregated beaches lark in place during Christie's childhood. Torquay actually maintained it's segregated beaches policy longer than most, only coming up-to-date after the Frist World War and withdrawing the policy! Meadfoot beach has glorious views across to captivating Thatcher Rock. The beach splits into two by a natural break, and dogs are allowed on the northern end. Meadfoot Beach is a charming, and friendly cove beach with a mix of sand and rock coastline and an excellent beach cafe again with superb views from the terrace of the cafe. Carry on from Meadfoot Beach further up the South West Coast path to Babbacombe - a great family walk taking you past Kents Cavern as well!
Looking for a picturesque cove beach near Torquay and Babbacombe. Look no further than Anstey's Cove, delightfully set just off the coastal walk from Torquay to Babbacombe. Recent rockfalls have unfortunately meant that Ansteys Cove's sister beach, Redgate beach is temporarily closed, but Ansteys Cove is open to the public in all it's glory, and locals have been known to hop over to Redgate beach anyway! Ansteys cove is a rocky beach, and hence is more suited to fishing/anglers. But many swimmers enjoy it, particularly for it's peace and quiet. It's easily reached down from the South West Coast Path and is clearly marked on a walk from Torquay to Babbacombe. Superb views of Lyme Bay await you when you reach the cove!
Babbacombe Model Village, Torquay
Babbacombe Model Village has been attracting Devon holidaymakers since 1963, and it's still going strong and constantly adding on bits such as electro magnetic lorries. Visitors will have their favourites (love the Miniilluminations - Babbacombe Model Village is great after dark too!). Now there might be some sceptics out there that think model villages are a bit twee. Think again, chums - Babbacombe Model village has evolved and been added too since 1963, and although models may be a tad idealised, it's like taking a bit of a journey through the last few decades. You can see the changes, for example recent additions have included things like wind farms and there's a hydro electric dam! Railways, historic landmarks, miniature animals and vehicles about, with noise effects to liven it up a bit. Great fun for all the family guaranteed. Spot Stonehenge and admire quaint English village scenes.
How about this for a great present - take along a photo of your friend to Babbacombe Village and they'll make up a six inch model of said friend. A great idea, if urr rather expensive. Check the Babbacombe Model Village website to the right for details. There's a spotters trail for the kids, plus the new miniature circus. Give yourself plenty of time for this superb family attraction.
As you'd expect there's lots of family amenities on-site including a large café with a pleasant terrace which has views across the whole model village and offers light refreshments. Two good hours is usually enough time to really explore Babbacombe Model Village, and there is a convenient car park adjacent. Good news as well, most of the village has been altered to enable good wheelchair access, apart from a couple of points with climbs where assistance will be needed. One carer gets free access though which is excellent. The use of electric wheelchairs is not recommended. If you pay once, you can visit twice and come back for the mini illuminations at night. Actually the price includes a 7 day voucher, which allows you to enter free.
Babbacombe Model Village, Hampton Avenue, Babbacombe, Torquay, Devon TQ1 3LA. Tel: 01803 315315. Open everyday from 10am.
Babbacombe Cliff Railway
Babbacombe Cliff Railway has been taking Devon holidaymakers up and down to Oddicombe Beach since 1926. Plans were originally proposed for a Cliff Railway here in the 1890s, but it was not popular then with locals.
Finally in the 1920s The Torquay Tramway Company put forward proposals and off they went. More than 250,000 Babbacombe visitors use this charming cliff railway every year. Four cable cars are in operation, and Babbacombe's Cliff Railway is open from Easter to September daily from 9.30 am. A bell is rung at the bottom of the station 30 minutes before the cliff railway closes for the day.
There's a great Cliff Railway Café on the cliff top adjacent to Babbacombe Downs (serves super coffee!), and a great spot for reading the paper and watching the world go by in the Devon sunshine.
Babbacombe Theatre
Brucie Forsyth tells us to 'stay kind' to Babbacombe Theatre. Well said, what a great little venue it is, with a tradition in variety and musical entertainment.
Friendly Babbacombe Theatre is situated right on Babbacombe Downs on the cliff top, close to most of the hotels and guesthouses. There's a community feel to this little theatre, as well as a variety and comedy focus. Take a look at Babbacombe Theatre's little website to the right for current show details.
Babbacombe Theatre, Babbacombe Downs, Torquay, Devon TQ1 3LU. Box Office Tel: 01803 328385.
Bygones, St Marychurch, Torquay
Popular with all the family is Bygones, where Victorian streets are brought alive, and there's lots of Railway and Militaria collections as well. It's a good Torquay attraction for all the family this one, the kid's will love it! Albeit a bit twee, the detail on the recreations is interesting.
Stroll through Victorian pubs, old sweet shops, an apothecary and tons of Victorian artefacts, including dolls and toys. There's a children's fantasy land on-site, and a rather good giant model railway.The focus in the Militaria Collection is Trench warfare and World War I. Check the Bygones Website for opening times. A cafe and parking is on-site.
Bygones Victorian Museum, Fore Street, St. Marychurch, Torquay, England. TQ1 4PR. Tel: (0)1803 326108.
