The Babbacombe Hotel

Hotels
8.4 (671 reviews)
The Sea Front, Babbacombe Downs Road, Torquay , Torquay , GB

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Paid
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Heating
Terrace
Family rooms
Garden
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Outstanding cliff-edge / sea views and central location (near funicular)
Very friendly, attentive and accommodating staff
Comfortable mattresses, balconies/terraces and good entertainment
Accessible for guests with mobility issues
Good value for many guests
Cons:
Rooms feel tired / need renovation (rips, worn paint, broken fittings)
No in-room fridge and limited in-room supplies (tea/sugar/water)
Breakfast quality inconsistent; late start causes queues
Rooms can be very warm in high summer (no cooling)
Limited parking and lift does not reach top floor; noise over kitchen

Categories

Cleanliness
7.6
Mixed comments: some guests noted the hotel was clean and 'tidy', but several reviews mentioned the hotel looking tired, reduced cleanliness compared with previous stays, and buffet items appearing aged—indicating cleanliness/service presentation has declined somewhat.
Service
9.9
Strongly positive: numerous mentions of 'great', 'lovely', 'attentive' and 'amazing' staff and helpful hospitality; staff repeatedly praised for being welcoming and accommodating (including mobility assistance).
Location
9.9
Consistently excellent: repeatedly described as 'unbelievable', cliff-edge sea views, opposite the funicular, ideal for theatre and hospital visits; location is a standout feature for many guests.
Room Quality
6.8
Several room issues reported: no fridge in rooms, sagging beds, ripped headboard, broken shower fittings, overheating rooms in high temperatures, and some noise problems—rooms feeling dated and in need of refresh.
Amenities
7.2
Mixed to below-par: positives include balcony/terrace and entertainment, and accessibility for mobility-impaired guests; negatives include no in-room fridges, limited tea/coffee supplies, lift not reaching top floor, parking constraints.
Value for Money
8.7
Generally good value: several guests called it good value and recommended it for location and service, though a few felt food quality and room condition reduced perceived value.
Food and Beverage
8.2
Mixed but slightly below target: some guests enjoyed breakfast and good coffee, yet multiple reviews mention late breakfast start causing queues, poor-quality or burnt items, and basic/thaw-and-serve desserts—serviceable but inconsistent.
Overall Experience
8.9
Overall positive stay for many: repeatedly described as lovely, excellent staff and memorable location leading to repeat visits and recommendations, though some guests experienced notable issues (rooms, food, parking).
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-12 23:26

Property Description

Stunning Views and Convenient Location
Situated on Babbacombe Downs, The Babbacombe Hotel offers breathtaking views of Lyme Bay and easy access to the South West Coastal Path.

Comfortable Rooms and Modern Amenities
Each room is equipped with tea/coffee facilities, a flat-screen TV, and en-suite bathrooms with complimentary toiletries. Some rooms even boast private balconies with sea views.

Convenient Facilities and Nearby Attractions
Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant and bar, 24-hour front desk, and step-free access to rooms. Explore nearby attractions like Babbacombe Theatres and the Cliff Railway just minutes away.

Book now to experience a perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and stunning views at The Babbacombe Hotel.

Important information:

Please note that parking spaces are limited and are on a first-come, first-served basis.

The credit/debit card used to make the reservation must be presented on arrival at check-in. If this card is not available, the property will require a credit/debit card for pre-authorization as well as photo ID in the name of the guest staying at the property.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: EXT

Location

Guest Reviews

8.4
Based on 671 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.6
Service: 9.9
Location: 9.9
Room Quality: 6.8
Amenities: 7.2
Value for Money: 8.7
Food and Beverage: 8.2
Overall Experience: 8.9
D
Denise • solo_traveller • ie
5
Fine but will likely not return.
Pros:

Overall my stay was fine however hotel is very very dated and somewhat dilapidated. Very basic. Breakfast was poor in that the quality of the food was cheap, lacked flavour and was poorly presented. Hotel staff were excellent. Very friendly. Location was excellent and has the potential to be a nice hotel but clearly little to no money spent on updating it.

Cons:

Lack of car parking was frustrating.

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
R
Richard • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

The team were fabulous. The location & views were amazing.

Cons:

Nothing.

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
A
Ann • couple • gb
10
Enjoyed our stay would love to visit again soon
Pros:

Beautiful views, food delicious,entertainment brilliant, staff were very helpful.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
C
Carol • extended_group • gb
9
Great location, comfortable beds
Pros:

Good location. Had sea view room , amazing. Friendly staff

Cons:

Nothing

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
B
Bernice • couple • gb
10
Absolutely brilliant holiday
Pros:

Lovely hotel, brilliant location, the staff were very helpful and friendly and we will definitely be staying there in the future

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
L
Lisa • solo_traveller • gb
9
Beautiful view and helpful staff
Pros:

The view, staff and the breakfast.

2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
B
Barrett • couple • gb
4
The hotel is massive and is in a great location. It just needs some time and money, spent on it.
Pros:

The breakfast was the high light of our stay. The balcony was ok for me to see the ocean.. the staff were, very cheerful and helpful.

Cons:

hotel room was over compact, smaller than expected. There was cobwebs in the lamps and all the wood furniture needed waxing.hotel room was over compact, smaller than expected for a double. The bed was very hard, we did not sleep well at all. Totally overpriced. The advertising photos did not reflect what we received.

2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
C
clifford • solo_traveller • gb
5
Pros:

room and view was good

Cons:

i though it was over price i don't think i'll be staying there again

2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
G
Georgina • solo_traveller • au
7
I was there briefly. I didn’t use the restaurant or any facilities. Purely to sleep and shower.
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Hotel is tired. Needs a refurbish.

2026-09-05 • via Nuitee
J
Jan • solo_traveller • gb
9
Comfortable hotel with gorgeous views
Pros:

Lovely old fashioned hotel with friendly staff

Cons:

Wouldn’t want to eat the carvery choices on offer. But like a large cafe but lots of places to eat nearby

2026-08-31 • via Nuitee
C
Colin • solo_traveller • gb
8
Very convenient location for the babbacombe theatre and the staff were very friendly and helpful
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-31 • via Nuitee
K
Kevin • couple • gb
9
Loved our stay, the view, the food, the ambience of the place, entertainment was good too
Pros:

All meals were good, very organised place, staff were very efficient and very helpful

Cons:

Possibly needs a bit of modernising, looking tired in places but I guess it suits the majority of its guests , most seemed elderly and on coach holidays, when talking to some of them, they were full of praise for the hotel so I guess you can’t fix something that isn’t broken.

2026-08-31 • via Nuitee
R
ROBERT A • family_with_children • us
2
very bad i will never recommend this hotel to anyone
Pros:

Not much to say just the view from the room was good

Cons:

the bed
Room smell
Shower flooded
Dirt honestly we have never been in a room that bad
Shower problems
Room was very dirty
Bad old mattress very very soft
English breakfast every day is not a healthily choice and the healthy items available were of
very poor quality
Our main problem was the smell of the rooms the carpets were so very filthy no amount of steam cleaning would do
One of the rooms was for a 93 year old and she couldn’t take showers because the shower flooded and she was expected to move the water towards the drainage with a gadget left in the shower
We left a day early

2026-08-31 • via Nuitee
P
Paul • couple • gb
8
2026-08-29 • via Nuitee
N
Nigel • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Great room food was great staff very friendly and helpful

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-27 • via Nuitee
J
jacqueline • couple • gb
3
When I booked it wasn'tobvious that coach parties would stay there. It wasn't obvious how big it was
Pros:

The bedroom was good. Bed comfortable. View nice

2026-08-26 • via Nuitee
L
Lynette • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

We loved the balcony and sea view, being able to watch the sunrise over the sea and enjoy the peaceful promenade. The breakfast was the absolute best! It's a lovely, clean, comfortable, calm hotel, old-fashioned in a good way.

Cons:

I found my bed too soft and wobbly, and actually fell out while leaning over to see what time it was (6am) and banged my nose and mouth on the corner of the bedside table, and my toes on the rather sharp foot under the bed. I also stubbed my other foot on that later in the day.

2026-08-25 • via Nuitee
N
Nigel • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

We had a great room with a balcony and wonderful sea view

Cons:

Nothing!

2026-08-19 • via Nuitee
S
Sandra • solo_traveller • gb
4
Pros:

Good location

Cons:

It was the hottest room I have ever stayed in. Yes, it was a heatwave, but no provision was made to try to cool the rooms, like maybe the cleaners making sure the curtains were closed to stop heat from building up in the rooms. Then, the fan provided may have had a chance to work.

2026-08-18 • via Nuitee
R
richard • solo_traveller • gb
10
Very clean, very reasonable prices.
Pros:

Everything

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-16 • via Nuitee