Explore Babbacombe

Welcome to Babbacombe Bay on Devon’s English Riviera! In 1846, Queen Victoria wrote: 'It's a beautiful spot... red cliffs and rocks with wooded hills like Italy and reminding one of a ballet or play where nymphs appear — such rocks and grottoes, with the deepest sea on which there was no ripple.' Over 150 years later, it still feels the same as you stand and look across the beautiful bay.

The delightful gardens at Babbacombe Downs have attained the prestigious Green Flag award, an international accolade recognising the high environmental standards, excellent visitor facilities and maintenance of the site.

A holiday here in the UNESCO accredited English Riviera Global Geopark is filled with all the ingredients for a magical break – great beaches, wonderful coast path walks, fantastic attractions, exhilarating watersports, a showstopping theatre and fresh local fish and seafood to tempt your tastebuds. Babbacombe offers all the beauty of the English Riviera without the hustle and bustle of the larger resorts like Torquay and Paignton.

In fact, a break here at any time of year is the perfect way to relax and unwind, whether you stay in one of the cosy fishermen’s cottages or family-run hotels, there’s something to suit all tastes and budgets. It’s also the perfect place for dog-lovers with never ending, spectacular coastal walks and the friendliest doggy-Devon welcome.

Babbacombe

Highlights

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Babbacombe Model Village

Feel like a giant as you step through the small entrance and the vast miniature world opens up before you. Explore 4 acres of award-winning gardens showcasing hundreds of uniquely hand-crafted model scenes, vehicles & people. The Model Village is set in a large beautiful valley and portrays a generic version of Britain through the decades with some well-known landmarks and a few twists. There are many hidden puns, fun scenes and lots of humour for all to enjoy. Our INDOOR Mythical Kingdom, a land of miniature animated legendary creatures set in a colourfully illuminated world, is a marvel in its own right.
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Babbacombe Beach

East of Torquay lies Babbacombe Beach. A beautiful arc of shingle beach, this unspoilt coastline is a haven of tranquillity, gorgeous views and calm, clean waters where you can relax and soak up the atmosphere.
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Babbacombe Cliff Railway

Built in 1926, the Babbacombe Cliff Railway has shuttled hundreds of thousands of holiday makers to and from Oddicombe Beach in over 90 years of service.
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Babbacombe Downs

Beautiful Babbacombe Downs has the highest cliff top promenade in England, and on a clear day you can see right across to Portland Bill in Dorset.
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Oddicombe Beach

This is a great beach for all ages! paddling for the young and a variety of watersports for the older and braver! Accessible via a steep road or you could take the amazing Babbabacombe Cliff Railway.
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Babbacombe Theatre

An asset to the English Riviera for over eighty years Babbacombe Theatre is renowned for wowing audiences with their highly acclaimed family variety shows, most especially since 1986 when Matpro Limited took over the venue. From its earliest days, the theatre had many years of successful summer shows, and it became known for its reputation of hosting household names on the threshold of their careers, including in 1955/56 Bruce Forsyth, who headlined in the Hedley Claxton’s ‘Gaytime’. From its heyday in the 1970s, successive failures in the early 1980s led to the council deciding to close the theatre, however Colin Matthews, who had been operating the theatre since 1986 took on a new lease in 1990.
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Babbacombe

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Babbacombe

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Things To Do

Babbacombe and St Marychurch are popular all-year-round resort towns on South Devon’s glorious English Riviera. A holiday here in the UNESCO accredited English Riviera Global Geopark is filled with all the ingredients for a magical break.
Places To Stay

When it comes to choosing a location for your holiday in Torbay, you might just decide that Babbacombe has it all. There are pretty, sheltered beaches and coves, award winning restaurants, a theatre, and stunning coastal views.
What's On

Babbacombe Downs is one of the most picturesque areas in Torquay, with stunning views right across to the Jurassic coast as far as Portland Bill.
Food & Drink

Sheltered beaches. A theatre. Direct access to the SW Coast Path. Quirky independent shops. You’ll find them all in Babbacombe. Throw into this mix the eclectic choice of cafes, bars, bistros and restaurants and you’ll discover that Babbacombe offers everything you need for a very special holiday beside the sea in Torbay.

Get Out and About in Babbacombe

Devon’s English Riviera is ripe for exploring, and with a bracing walk along Babbacombe Downs - the highest cliff top promenade in England - you can not only take in the spectacular coastline of South Devon, but also spot seabirds, seals and even dolphins from above! A trip on the historic Babbacombe Cliff Railway takes you to Oddicombe Beach, where the whole family can play in the sea to their heart’s content. Don’t miss a visit to the stylish Three Degrees West café, bar and bistro on Oddicombe Beach for coffee, cakes or a spot of tapas. For adrenaline junkies there is plenty to challenge you with coasteering, sailing, scuba diving and hiking. If you are a keen sailor, Babbacombe makes a convenient departure point for a Lyme Bay crossing: 40 miles to Portland Bill, from Devon Riviera to Jurassic Coast.

Perfect For All Year-Round Breaks

Babbacombe Bay is a superb spot all year round with a choice of hotels, inns, bed & breakfasts, self-catering apartments and Devon cottages, offering an authentic Devon welcome with delicious home-cooked food. It’s the perfect spot for couples looking for a romantic break, families looking for plenty of fun or dog-lovers wanting to get away with their very best-friends. There’s plenty happening all year round. Enjoy browsing the independent shops and boutiques of Babbacombe, St Marychurch and Wellswood, dine out at one of the many restaurants and bistros, and don’t miss a taste of Hanbury’s famous fish and chips. Babbacombe Bay also has some of the best year-round attractions on the English Riviera - so take a well-deserved break spring, summer, autumn or winter and find out why it is one of Devon’s most popular destinations!

Babbacombe Attractions

The charming and characterful village of Babbacombe is quite enchanting with its stunning sea views, colourful promenade and picturesque buildings. There are also three of Devon’s top attractions: Babbacombe Model Village with its 4 acres of award winning gardens, Bygones with its authentic life-size Victorian street and the stunning Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves. Babbacombe Theatre is host to many fantastic performances throughout the year, whether it's summertime showtime or Christmas panto. Take a look at their YouTube page for a little taster of what's on offer. There’s so much to see, come rain or shine.

Strolling and Walking in Babbacombe

Days out in Babbacombe can be taken up with peaceful strolls around the small and tranquil town, which is dotted with independent shops, boutiques, cosy tearooms and exciting attractions. There is also a host of pretty coastal and woodland walks to choose from offering spectacular views and a treasure trove of hidden coves and tranquil settings. For the more active, you can walk all the way along the legendary South West Coast Path to Torquay or even on to Paignton and the fishing port of Brixham.