Please note, the UK is currently under a national lockdown, please do not travel. These suggestions are for future reference only. 

2020 was a trying time for us all, so if you feel like you need a relaxing way to start 2021, then here are a few suggestions of places to stay in Sidmouth where you can really recharge, so you’re ready to face the year ahead.

We advise that you check any local restrictions before you travel and make sure that you have the latest guidance regarding covid-19 measures. At time of writing, Sidmouth was in Tier 2, but for the latest information, please visit gov.uk/coronavirus.

One way to really rejuvenate before the new year is by pampering yourself in one of Sidmouth’s many spas. There are several spas and companies offering beauty treatments around the town, including the spa at the Victoria Hotel. Located right on the Esplanade, this hotel has one of the prime positions in Sidmouth, allowing you to really enjoy the Jurassic Coast – even in the winter! The spa is on the lower ground floor and offers a soothing oasis which is open every day and can be used by non-hotel guests.

The Victoria Hotel  is a flagship Brend Hotel occupying a former Victorian mansion with many of the original features tastefully combined with modern comforts. With stunning views in abundance, comfortable rooms, unforgettable dining experiences, two swimming pools and its own golf course, the Victoria Hotel is a great place to start out 2021.


Image: Spa at Victoria Hotel

Another of the Brend hotels with an incredible view is the Belmont Hotel has three acres of stunning gardens, a fabulous view of the sea front and its own swimming pool. The house was originally a summer home for a grand Victorian family and still retains the atmosphere of a family home with all the luxuries of a hotel. The restaurant has traditional Silver Service with a black tie dress code, making it a luxury place to enjoy a relaxing start to the year.

Speaking of having your own golf course, Oakdown Touring and Holiday Caravan Park  have their own 9 hole course and the tranquil setting make it ideal for a few leisurely rounds of golf.  As Oakdown Holiday Park offer both caravan and glamping holidays, you can find the perfect accommodation for your taste and budget. The site is within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, giving you lots of opportunity to get out and reconnect with nature and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site with those iconic cliffs is just a stone’s throw away.


Image: Sidmouth Golf Club

If you like the idea of a golfing break to ease you into the new year, Sidmouth Golf Club is a jewel in Sidmouth’s crown. Overlooking the town and Jurassic coast, the course offers a combination of demanding short par 4s with a premium on accurate driving to take best advantage of the sloping fairways plus 7 par threes, varying in length from not much over 100 yards to almost 200.
The club is open to all golfers who want to play a few rounds and the club house is available for anyone who wants to enjoy amazing views and tasty food!

Of course, golf isn’t for everyone, but if you like relaxing in luxury surroundings and taking on a few laps of a pool, the Royal Glen Hotel  is a good choice. The hotel has its own gym and leisure facilities, including its own swimming pool. The hotel is particularly famous for once  being home to the Duke and Duchess of Kent, in the 1800s, as well as their daughter, who would go on to become Queen Victoria. The Duke and Duchess lived on the first floor in what is now the Kent Room, Culverwell Suite, Duchess Suite and Duke Room, while the infant Queen Victoria occupied her own rooms, which still has evidence on an early assassination attempt! So, if you fancy living like a royal as we go into 2021, this is the place for you!

The Royal Glen isn’t the only establishment in Sidmouth that has royal connections, the Royal York and Faulkner does too, it is a magnificent Regency Hotel with an unrivalled position on Sidmouth’s Esplanade. Guests can enjoy glorious, uninterrupted sea views, incredible fine dining and access to the hotel’s spa, Aspara. The Aspara spa is contemporary in design with an interior featuring Italian natural stone, which really lets the real world melt away. A range of beauty treatments are available as well as sessions in the hydrotherapy pool, steam room and sauna.


Image: Spa at the Royal York and Faulkner. 

Have we convinced you to start the year in style here in Sidmouth? You can find other leisure activities here and accommodation here.

Please make sure to check any local restrictions before travelling to not travel if you are coming from a Tier 3 region. You can find all the latest information at gov.uk/coronavirus