Explore the miniature world of Babbacombe Model Village and Gardens that recreates buildings with a wide variety of architectural styles, along with famous British landmarks such as the Shard and Stonehenge. Find the tiny residents, from the animated ‘Arry to the fire-breathing dragon on the castle. Wander through the award-winning gardens or catch a 4-D film in the special effects cinema.
First opened in 1963, Babbacombe Model Village and Gardens was designed to capture a representation of the English countryside in an idealized form. The original model consisted of a variety of farms, country houses, lakes and waterfalls. It later grew to include a town and has been expanding ever since. Visit now and see a variety of animated features, railways and well-known monuments, along with over 13,000 miniature people.
Popular features of the village include the burning house, the model railway, the soccer stadium and the beach. Many of the pieces are built with a distinctly British sense of humor, from a naked streaker running across the soccer pitch to some of the shop names. There’s even a spoof of the British soap opera EastEnders. Search for the more unusual elements, such as the large dragon and the less obvious ghost haunting a tower.
Stroll through 4 acres (1.6 hectares) of miniature landscaped gardens that surround the village. Admire a huge variety of plants, shrubs and trees, all maintained by a team of professional gardeners to ensure the scenes are kept to scale. See different plants depending on the season, with colorful bedding plants in the summer and evergreen conifers in the winter. Finish your visit with a trip to the 4-D cinema, which shows films with special effects to really bring them to life.
Babbacombe Model Village is in Babbacombe, just 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) from Torquay town center. Parking is available close to the village and the local bus service to St. Marychurch will leave you just a few minutes’ walk away. There’s a fee to see the village, with an extra charge for the cinema. Concessions are available. Opening dates and times vary considerably throughout the year, so be sure to check ahead before you visit this fascinating world.