Sidmouth is a regency town on the Jurassic Coast and has a multitude of sporting and leisure activities, as well as annual events, historical places of interest, shops and beaches, it’s the perfect place to spend a few days, but if you only have 24 hours, here are some must see areas of the town.

First things first, if you’re heading to the Jurassic Coast you’ll want to take in the beach. Sidmouth Beach is clean, accessible and surrounded by awe-inspiring cliffs and coastline. It has both sand and shingle and is the perfect place to while away the hours with the family. The east side of the beach is also open all year to dogs if you want to bring your furry friends with you! From here you can enjoy one of the many coastal walks, including the trail from Sidmouth to Beer Coast it’s a unique walk through time as you get to explore the landscape of the Jurassic Coast.

sidmouth beach

Aside from the beach and the selection of quirky shops in the town, Sidmouth is also home to The Donkey Sanctuary where you can get up close and personal with some of the resident donkeys and learn more about these friendly creatures.

Once you’ve exhausted yourself traipsing around the charming town and explored the rocks of the coastal path, you’ll be forgiven for wanting to have a little rest, and where better than at the Leisure and Spa at Victoria Hotel. The hotel over looks the beautiful coast and is surrounded by Sidmouth Golf Club, so caters for a wide range of relaxing activities, whether that’s playing a few holes or chilling in the spa.

bedroom at victoria hotel

Image by Victoria Hotel

You’ll also need to make time to eat, if you visit the Donkey Sanctuary, their café has a full range of local produce and even offers gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options, if you want to stay at the Victoria Hotel for a little longer, they have several eateries, including The White Room for an informal dining experience, the Jubilee Restaurant for a more special occasion and the Sun Lounge, which is the perfect place to sample a real Devonshire cream tea whilst over looking Sidmouth’s famous Esplanade. You could of course head into the town and sample some of the chain or independent offerings, or you could check out another of the town’s luxury hotels by dining at the Belmont Hotel. This is one of the most renowned restaurants in the area and has extensive menus bursting with flavour from the herbs and vegetables grown on site.

child petting a donkey

Image by The Donkey Sanctuary

This guide will have given you two choices of accommodation which you can suss out while looking over their menus, but there are a number of places to suit any budget and any family. The Oakdown Touring and Caravan Park won Gold in the South West Holiday Park of the Year 2018 and was the Visit Devon Tourism Awards Gold winner of 2017 and offers pitches for tents, caravans, and motor homes as well as leisure lodges. 
If you wanted to fall asleep to the sound of the waves and not have too far to go for an early morning trip to the beach, Dukes Inn is a good place to start, housed in one of Sidmouth sea front’s oldest and most historic buildings has a relaxed feel and cosy rooms with stunning views across the sea. Also on the seafront is the Kingswood and Devoran Hotel which is in the ideal location for anyone wanting to explore the town.

children playing outside glamping pods

Image by Oakdown Touring and Holiday Park

There are plenty of events going on throughout the year in Sidmouth, so you can be sure of there always being something to occupy your time. Sidmouth Folk week takes place every August, while the Sidmouth and East Devon Walking Festival is perfect for those that enjoy a good ramble around beautiful scenery.

Whatever time of year you visit Sidmouth, we can guarantee that 24 hours simply won’t be enough time to enjoy everything this town has to offer

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