A visit to a model village is such a fun way to spend an afternoon together as a family. The girls love looking at all the tiny buildings and people and hubby and I love all the little details. One of the things I love most about a model village is spotting all the little details. There were certainly plenty of little details to spot at Babbacombe Model Village.
When we arrived, we were given a sheet of paper with various things for us to look out for. This included Wally from Where’s Wally, a ghost in a tower, a dragon and various letter characters. Jessica particularly enjoyed finding the different letters and telling me various words that she knew that started with that letter.
I loved all the different scenes. There was a Little Enders scene – a miniature version of Albert Square with some of the characters from Eastenders. Doctor Who’s Tardis also made an appearance in the scene. I never watch Eastenders but I still recognised some of the characters!
We spent ages looking at the Celebrity Mansion and trying to identify the different celebrities. There was a list nearby of some of the ones we could spot. I have to admit to having barely heard of some of them. I’m hopelessly out of touch with who the latest celebs are! There wasn’t much chance of me being able to spot them, although hubby was a bit better at it! The miniature Paignton Zoo was much more up the girls’ street. They loved seeing the little train and all the animals.
There was a crazy golf course at the far end of the model village and the girls had a wonderful time playing golf. Jessica wasn’t too bad at trying to hit the ball and get it through the various obstacles whereas Sophie’s preferred technique was just to pick the ball up and put it where she wanted it to go! The girls enjoyed the crazy golf so much we went around twice.
Near the crazy golf was a hut with various scenes from history, film and TV. This was one of my favourite parts of the village – so many different characters to spot. There were scenes from Lord of the Rings, Star Trek and Scooby Doo, characters from Harry Potter and some children’s TV favourites. Jessica and Sophie loved the models of the Tweenies characters.
The weather had been kind to us up until this point but it was now starting to rain. The timing was perfect though as we had timed tickets for the 4D cinema and the show was about to start. The girls loved the tale of the two knights trying to rescue a princess and defeat the dragon. They really enjoyed the 4D experience although I found there was a little too much seat dropping for my liking. At one point the scene showed mice running around the knights’ feet and I suddenly got a blast of air around my feet which made me shriek! I kept my feet up after that!
The weather had cleared up by the time the film finished and we explored the areas of the village we had yet to see. The highlight was the model of the castle with a dragon breathing fire.
We didn’t manage to spot all the things on our list but we found most of them and had fun trying. It was a lovely way to spend a couple of hours as a family. If you’re in the Torquay area with little ones, Babbacombe Model Village is well worth a visit.
Elooks like a great place to visit. The nearest I’ve been to a model village is lego land. It’s fun to see all the tiny details. #countrykids
Love Miniland at Legoland – we could spend hours there 🙂
Ooh I do love a model village! This one looks brilliant – I do love the idea of having famous scenes from TV and films. I really like the idea of having a checklist to look out for different things.
#countrykids
The checklist was fab – I’m sure it helped us notice more of the little details than we might have done otherwise.
Looks fantastic! Would love to take TJ to a model village soon… Going to add it to our 2017 things to do list now!! #countrykids
They’re such great places to visit. Hope you manage to get to visit one this year 🙂
This looks like a fab place to visit and explore as a family, the girls look like they’re having loads of fun exploring. I think I’d be as bad as you at spotting celebrities if not worse, I don’t know anybody famous anymore. You really could take your time exploring and finding all the little details, it looks fab.
Thanks for linking up with me on #CountryKids
Thanks Fiona. We could have easily spent twice as much time there looking at all the little details 🙂
This looks like such a fun place to visit – I haven’t been to a model village for years and really should take my kids sometime, they’d love it – especially the crazy golf!
Model villages are such great places to visit – and the crazy golf made it even better! 🙂
We were just next to this little village a couple of years ago but didn’t make it. I haven’t seen any photos of what we missed until now! Thanks; I had no idea what it was that was in the borrower village!
What a shame you missed it when you were there. I’ve not seen the Borrowers but I can imagine that the model village would be a perfect place for them! 🙂
I love model villages and this looks like a great place. I can just stand looking at them for ages #countrykidsfun
Me too – there’s always so much to look at 🙂
Oh we love a model village and often visit Torquay, we’ll head there next time. It sounds great having the 4D cinema as well, the one we go to is just the model village and there’s not much to it really.
Nat.x
The 4D cinema was a good addition – especially with the rain! Hope you manage to pay a visit to the model village when you next go to Torquay 🙂
This looks like a great little place to visit (pardon the pun!). We love model villages but this seems to have far more to see than the ones we’ve been too. Hurray for Harry Potter and hurray for not knowing the names of many celebrities – you and me both! #CountryKids
Glad to hear I’m not the only one who’s rubbish at identifying celebrities! 🙂
That looks lovely! And great addition with having to find various characters, must have been lots of fun 🙂 #countrykids
Looking out for all the little characters was fab – it definitely helped us to spot all the little details. There were quite a few things I probably would have missed had I not been specifically looking out for them.
Ahhh looks like your girls had another fab day out there x
Thanks Karen, they certainly did 🙂
One of my fave places ever…I even took a pic of the toilet sign as it made me giggle. Now I really wanna go back after seeing your pics 🙂
Oh I noticed the toilet sign – it made me giggle too! 🙂
I love model villages. Something about due to being short I actually get to feel like a giant lol. #Countrykids
Lol, that’s a good way of looking at it! 🙂
That looks like a lot of fun 🙂 #countrykids
Thank you Maz, we really enjoyed it there 🙂
One of our first stays as a couple and where we got engaged was Torquay. We’ve yet to see the model village though perhaps a return to the area is due. #countrykids
Aww what a lovely place to get engaged 🙂
We used to go here when I was a child. I loved it!! Peeking into tiny homes and seeing all the tiny people. Must take our lot next time we’re over West Country way!
#countrykids
It’s such a lovely spot. Glad my post brought back some happy memories 🙂
This looks amazing! My guys would love it, as would I actually 🙂 #countrykids
Thanks Sara – it was such a great place for a family day out 🙂
Ah wow – everything looks so diddy! Its very cute 🙂
It was very diddy – made me feel like a giant walking around! 🙂
Model villages fascinate me. I love miniature things! #CountryKids
I do too – especially when they are so detailed! 🙂
I do too – especially when they are so detailed! 🙂
I remember visiting model villages as a kid and being enthralled with all the detail.There’s so much variety here, which is something there wasn’t when I was young.
There is a lot of variety – it does make it all so interesting to look at.