Lincombe Hall Meadfoot Road Lower Woodfield Road, Torquay, United Kingdom | (541) 362-3741
Elegant 19th-century house with plenty of period charm
Quiet location within a 10-minute walk of the harbor and Torquay town center
Spacious, attractive
rooms -- some with patios and sea views
Heated indoor and outdoor pools, and a hot tub
Set on two acres
of well-tended gardens
Within walking
distance of sandy beaches
Breakfast included in room rate
On-site cinema showing classic movies nightly
Entertainment
four nights a week
Free Wi-Fi and
parking
No elevator
Steep walk back from town
Rooms are not air-conditioned
Lincombe Hall
Hotel is an outstanding mid-range property occupying a grand 19th-century summer
house with elegantly renovated interiors on the English Riviera. The 44-room hotel is set on two acres of
gardens in a leafy, quiet neighborhood that's a short stroll from Torquay's
center and waterfront -- though the return walk is uphill and might be difficult for some. Rooms are decorated in rich purple tones, and include two apartments with kitchens and outdoor patios, though guests should be aware that rooms are not air-conditioned and there is no elevator. The hotel features two pools, a hot tub, and a cinema room showing classic films nightly. The only real local competition in the immediate neighborhood is the nearby Headland
Hotel, which guests might also want to consider, though major refurbishments are in the pipeline there, so check
before booking.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Grand mid-19th century summer house set within pretty gardens
Originally named Silver
Hill House, the property was built in 1841 as a private summer retreat before
changing hands in 1919 to become Lincombe Hall. An adjacent building was
converted and adjoined via a passageway soon afterward, and various
architectural embellishments were added. Every aspect of the property has been refurbished recently and the result is an impeccably presented hotel
with spotlessly clean and well-maintained interiors that retain many of the
property's original features and period charm. The impression starts in the elegant lobby, with patterned purple carpets (a color repeated throughout the property), solid oak furniture and accents, and gilt-framed mirrors. The hotel is surrounded
by more than two acres of gardens with classical statues
dotting manicured lawns, and there are several sitting rooms throughout the hotel for guests -- who are predominantly couples -- to relax and take in the tranquil atmosphere.
Location
Quiet and leafy hilltop neighborhood, a 10-minute walk to Torquay town center
This hotel is
located on a quiet and leafy hill that slopes down toward Torquay's harbor and town center -- about a 10-minute stroll away -- which is full of
restaurants, pubs, and various retail outlets. Part of the English Riviera, Meadfoot Beach is the
nearest stretch of sand to the hotel and takes 10 minutes to reach on foot. The town's main Torre Abbey Beach is about a mile away, a five-minute drive (or 20-minute walk for the ambitious), while the mile-long stretch of Paignton Beach is a 12-minute
drive from the hotel. Torquay train station, with trains that connect to the city of Exeter in about 45 minutes, is five to 10 minutes away by taxi. The return walk to the hotel from town is up a fairly steep hill, and might pose a challenge to some.
Rooms
Attractive rooms with antique furnishings and free Wi-Fi -- some have patios and sea views
The hotel has 44
rooms, all of which are modern and decorated in plush purple fabrics, striped wallpaper accent walls, and dark antique
furnishings. Stylish accents, like massive leather headboards on beds in Standard Rooms and walnut bed frames in Superior Rooms, add a level of elegance many three-pearl properties don't achieve. All rooms are spacious, while Gold
Rooms offer sea views, and the hotel has two self-catering apartments available, which include kitchens, lounge-dining areas, and outdoor patios. Each room also comes with free Wi-Fi,
tea- and coffee-making facilities, and 22-inch flat-screen TVs (though higher-priced rooms have 32-inch flat-screens as well as iPod docks and bathrobes). Tiled bathrooms are clean, though slightly less contemporary than main guest rooms, with high-end Damana bath products (that are unfortunately wall-mounted), heated towel
racks, and shower/tub combos.
Features
Indoor and outdoor pools, al fresco dining, and cozy lounge with fireplace
Free breakfast with hot and cold options is
served buffet-style in the hotel's elegant restaurant while the dining area also opens out to an outdoor terrace for al fresco dining, and the hotel serves evening meals prepared from locally sourced produce.
Entertainment is provided four times a week, and there's also a bar and lounge with plenty of couches and an open fire, as well as a large-screen cinema showing a classic film every evening. Leisure facilities include both indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, lounge chairs for sun bathing, and an outdoor hot tub. The indoor pool is tiny and a bit spare, though it's perfectly fine for a year-round dip. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and the front desk is staffed 24 hours a day.
