Spreading along the Jurassic Coast, Sidmouth boasts golden beaches, botanical gardens and dramatic natural landscapes. Sidmouth also features water sports, shopping, dining and the famous South West Coast Path.

Things to do

Sidmouth Beach is a sand-and-shingle beach with a wide esplanade for strolling and skating, while Jacob’s Ladder offers rock pooling and picnicking beneath dramatic red sandstone cliffs. All along the coast are opportunities for surfing, sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding.

From Jacob’s Ladder, follow the wooden steps up Peak Hill to Connaught Gardens. You’ll find the Topiary Gardens, Jungle Explores and Showhouse and can linger for tea or lunch at the Clock Tower Café. Drive 15 minutes to the Grade 1-listed horticultural collection at Bicton Park Botanical Gardens.

Travelling with the family? Visit the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary to view and pet up to 500 rescued donkeys, mules and hinnies. There’s also a nature centre, maze and farm-themed playground. At World of Country Life, you can feed or walk llama, deer, lambs and pygmy goats.

Spend some time at Sidmouth Museum to learn about the region’s natural history and the spectacular Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back at least 185 million years. You can also walk the South West Coast Path to the village of Beer, stopping at Branscombe for ice cream or coffee. The coastal paths create a “walk through time”, spanning the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

Getting around

Buses, taxis and bicycle hire are available for getting around Sidmouth, while a shuttle services the city centre during summer. You can rent a car in town or at Exeter International Airport, about 13 kilometres away.