Floral Sidmouth

It isn’t just the gorgeous countryside and the spectacular coastline that makes Sidmouth so special, it has also been rated as Britain’s top floral seaside town!  

Parks and Gardens galore 

There are few things better than spending warm days wandering among beautifully landscaped gardens. Why not visit Sidmouth and take a breath at the sensory garden in the Old Boat Park or explore the Valley of a Million Bulbs?  

Sidmouth has an abundance of floral displays to enjoy, much of which is thanks to the word of Sidmouth in Bloom, a multi award winning volunteer group who regularly walk away with prizes in the RHS Britain in Bloom competition for the South West. For one week each summer, they open their own gardens to the public, giving you even more of floral Sidmouth to explore!  

There are a number of spectacular parks, gardens and meadows around the town to explore some of them can’t be missed, while others are hidden gems just waiting to be discovered and are a haven for floral fans and those looking for a tranquil place to hide away alike.  

Connaught Gardens 

The historic Connaught Gardens can be found at the western end of the Esplanade, part way up Peak Hill. The gardens’ name comes from the Duke of Connaught, the son of Queen Victoria and are one of Sidmouth’s many royal connections. The gardens are high up, giving you an incredible view over the coastline and out to sea, which became a strategic point during the second world war. The gardens contain a heritage band stand where there are regular concerts, access to Jacob’s Ladder via the famous stairs, a variety of landscaped gardens and cafes.  

Blackmore Gardens 

Located in the centre of town, Blackmore Gardens was once the private garden to Blackmore House, which is now no longer standing, they have been part of public land since the 1950s. In this garden, you’ll find several beautiful flower beds, large green areas and a greenhouse of exotic plants. It is one of the venues for the Sidmouth Folk Week with a number of craft and food tents. 

The Byes and Margaret’s Meadow 

This long park runs from Sidmouth through to Sidford and contains Margaret’s Meadow. The Byes is made up of many of the fields and meadows that surround the River Sid, Devon’s smallest river. The river stretches just over 6 miles and there are a number of riverside walks following the rivers trail.  
The meadow is located at the bottom of Livonia Road and is home to a great trail for dog walkers and has a number of pretty wildflowers and fauna.  

The Knapp Copse 

The Knapp Copse is a nature reserve that can be accessed from both Peasland Road and Alexandria Road. There are several attractive walking trails through the park as well as stunning views across the valley. The reserve is home to wildlife and some of Britain’s best loved wild plants.  

Knowle Gardens 

This Victorian garden was originally built in 1810, since then the gardens have grown and the home is now the base of Sidmouth Town Council, with the grounds being a public park.  

The Sensory Garden 

Sidmouth’s Sensory Garden can be found in The Old Boar Park, which was gifted to the Town Council some years ago. Following a grant from Britain in Bloom and other fundraising efforts, the sensory garden now has a series of raised beds featuring flowers and plants that incorporate the five senses: sight, smell, taste, touch and sound.  

Secluded Gardens  

The secluded gardens are opened for a limited time each year, usually in the summer and are the private gardens of the Sidmouth in Bloom volunteers. A full list of dates and open gardens can be found on the Sidmouth in Bloom website here. Tickets for the gardens are on sale from the town’s TIC and selected shops in the high street or on the day at the garden. All the money raised by the opening of the Secluded Gardens goes towards the town’s floral displays.