About Watermouth Castle | Our Story

A magical family attraction like no other in Devon

Watermouth Castle

Discover Our World

Watermouth Castle isn't just a theme park or a day out - it's a world with a story running through it.

Every ride, room and hidden corner of these North Devon grounds is part of something bigger.

Inspired by an illustrated children's storybook written by E. B. Davies, Watermouth Castle weaves together adventure, imagination and the magic of a real Victorian castle into one unforgettable experience. The story - The Tides of Watermouth - goes back to 1912, and the world it created lives on in every inch of the place you're exploring today.

As you wander the grounds, you're stepping into that world - where smugglers once crept through Watermouth Harbour, where young Edith Penderford befriended fairies, and where her kooky father Professor P. Penderford dreamed up his most brilliant (and baffling) inventions. Littlejohn the smuggler may have long since sailed away, but his spirit of mischief and adventure never quite left.

Visitors don't just come to Watermouth Castle - they step inside the story.

Explore The Story

Watermouth Experiences

The Founders’ Vision

Watermouth Castle was brought into the Escapade family by founders Nick de Candole and Richard Farley, whose passion has always been to create something genuinely different from traditional attractions.

It comes from a simple idea - to create places people genuinely enjoy spending time in. Places where children can be active and imaginative, and where families can spend real time together. That thinking sits behind everything we do at Watermouth.

"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing"

George Bernard Shaw

  1. Nick De Canole Founder Toboggan Ride

    Nick de Candole

    Co-Founder of The Escapade Group

  2. Richard Farley Founder

    Richard 'Charlie' Farley

    Co-Founder of The Escapade Group

A note from our founders:

Welcome to Escapade. Before anything else, we want you to know one important thing: this business was built on friendship, trust, and the belief that great things happen when people who care about each other work toward a shared purpose.

We’ve been friends since we were about fifteen years old. Long before Escapade existed, we spent years working together in property development, and while it paid the bills, it didn’t give us that sense of meaning or fulfilment we were looking for.

Kidspace Indoor Play Children Bridge (2)

The coin flip

"In 2005, we sat down with two big ideas in front of us: a high-quality children's attraction, and a stylish men's gym-wear brand. We couldn't pick between them… so we tossed a coin."

Nick & Charlie

That coin flip led to Kidspace Romford, our first site, and set us on a journey that became far bigger than either of us expected. Since then, Escapade has grown into a group of attractions that hundreds of thousands of families visit every year.

Watermouth Castle is a very special chapter in that story - a real Victorian castle on the North Devon coast, steeped in history, full of character, and now reimagined as a place where families make memories that last. And now you're part of it.

Hero Banner Castle

Bringing Back the Joy of Real Childhood

Charlie and I hope Watermouth Castle becomes your family's place - somewhere children can roam, explore, and lose themselves in a world that feels genuinely different from anywhere else. In a world where screens compete for attention more than ever, we believe children need space to switch off, get curious, take risks and use their imagination.

Watermouth has something most places simply can't replicate - a real castle, real history, and real atmosphere. We've worked hard to preserve what makes it extraordinary while filling every corner with the kind of play and discovery that brings families back again and again.

We also obsess over how Watermouth looks and feels, because great experiences start with great environments. Every winding path, creaking door and hidden room is designed to feel like it's been discovered rather than built - full of texture, character and small details that reward curiosity.

Just as importantly, we design it for grown-ups too. Because when adults are drawn in, something shifts: wonder becomes shared, not supervised. And those are the moments families tend to remember.

Charlie & Nick

The book that unlocks it all

  1. Eb Davies Author Illustrator Tides Of Watermouth

    E.B Davies

    Author & Illustrator of The Tides of Watermouth ✒️

    The Tides of Watermouth goes back to 1912, and the world of Edith Penderford - curious daughter of the brilliantly kooky Professor P. Penderford, and friend to the fairies. When her smuggler friend Littlejohn arrives in Watermouth Harbour with a mysterious package, a tale of magic, adventure and mischief begins. A story of fairies, hobblers, sailboats, smugglers, forest spirits, and so much more.

    Available to purchase in the Watermouth Castle gift shop.

    Explore The Characters & Books

Hobbledown Bay Play Area Watermouth Castle Ilfracombe (1)

Start your own adventure

The tale of Watermouth Castle is waiting for its next chapter - and you're about to write it. Whether you're braving the Dungeon Labyrinths, drifting along the Big River Ride, wandering the Mystical Water Gardens or uncovering the secrets of The Tides of Watermouth, your adventure begins the moment you step through the castle gates.

Are you ready to discover what's inside?

Discover your next adventure

Skeleton at Halloween

What magic awaits?

From the sun-soaked spectacle of Hullabaloo Summer to the eerie thrills of Fright and Delight at Halloween - the world of Watermouth Castle is always transforming. Stay for the seasonal events, live shows and special days that bring the story to life in new ways throughout the year.

Which chapter will you discover?

Watermouth Castle Gardens

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