Local Attractions & Places to Visit

Visit Sidmouth

Going on the Beach - The best time to go on the beach is an hour or so before low tide, either at the stone groynes or Jacobs Ladder; the sand is exposed and the rock pools are great for the children to catch small crabs & shrimp.

Other Beaches - If you prefer long stretches of sandy beach try Exmouth (30 mins) and Seaton (20 mins). Exmouth beach allows dogs all year, whilst Sidmouth restricts dogs from May to October. The small seaside towns and villages, such as Beer and Branscombe are also worth a visit.

Jacobs Ladder & The Connaught Gardens 

The Byes - Open park with foot and cycle paths along the river Sid. Great for dog walkers and children.

The Radway Cinema (www.scottcinemas.co.uk/html/pages/sidmouth.phtml) - On Vicarage Road.

The Swimming Pool (www.ledleisure.co.uk/index/sports_facilities/sidmouth_swimming.htm)- Sidmouth swimming pool (01395 577057) is located by the Ham at the end of the Esplanade, behind the Lifeboat station.

The South West Coastal Path - Britain's longest and most popular National Trail runs through Sidmouth. See www.southwestcoastpath.com or the Tourist Information Centre for details.

Sidmouth Museum (www.devonmuseums.net/frameset.asp?No=126) - The museum is located near the Triangle, by the Church.

Sidmouth Tourist Information Centre - Next to the swimming pool, The Ham.

The Norman Lockyer Observatory (www.projects.ex.ac.uk/nlo/) - Amazingly Sidmouth has had a working astronomical observatory and planetarium since 1912. This is open to the public for day and night time visits and is located at the top of Salcombe Hill Road.

Crealy Adventure Park (www.crealy.co.uk) - Located on the A3052 to Exeter.

Escot Country Park and Gardens (www.escot-devon.co.uk) - Historic Gardens, maze and "fantasy woodland". Fairmile, Ottery St Mary.

Bicton Park Botanical Gardens (www.bictongardens.co.uk) - Beautiful Grade I listed gardens, narrow gauge railway, children's indoor and outdoor play areas. Near Budleigh Salterton on the B3178.

Powderham Castle (www.powderham.co.uk) - Stately home to the Earls of Devon for 600 years. Just outside Exeter on the A379 to Dawlish.

Forde Abbey House and Gardens (www.fordeabbey.co.uk) - Famous house and 30 acres of gardens based around a former Cistercian Abbey. Just off the Chard road from Axminster.

Seaton Tramway (www.tram.co.uk) - Ride an historic open topped electric tram from Seaton to Colyton along the Axe valley.

Pecorama (peco-uk.com/?p=Pecorama#Intro) - A must for train enthusiasts. Working model railways of all sizes, gauges and types. Beer, Nr. Seaton.

Stuart Line Cruises (www.stuartlinecruises.co.uk) - Boat trips along the Jurassic Coast, Sidmouth Cruises (June to August only) and along the river Exe. 01395 222144.

Saddles and Paddles (www.saddlepaddle.co.uk) - Canoe and bike hire in Exeter.

Lyme Regis - The famously beautiful and unspoilt seaside town. A must see for Jane Austen as well as Merrill Streep fans, fossil hunters will also enjoy the trip.

The National Aquarium (www.national-aquarium.co.uk ) - A trip to the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth is worth it if you're not far away. Approx. 1¾ hour drive from Sidmouth.

The Eden Project (www.edenproject.co.uk) - Eponymous conservation greenhouse project. Could be a good two and a half hour drive but surely worth it if you don't get to Cornwall often.

Jurassic Coast Website (www.jurassiccoast.com) - Details of the World Heritage Site.

Exeter Cathedral (www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk) - Exeter Cathedral is one of the country's finest. Go and see if you're in the city.

Golf Courses (www.golfindevon.co.uk) - The Sidmouth golf course (01395 513451) is near the top of Cotmaton Road. Woodbury Park (01395 233500) in Woodbury is an 18 hole championship par 72 course owned by Nigel Mansell.

Castle Drogo (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-castledrogo/) - Drewsteignton, Nr Exeter. The last castle built in Britain.  Designed by Edwin Lutyens for Julius Drewe in 1914.

The Donkey Sanctuary (www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk) - People come from all over to visit the Donkey Sanctuary founded by Elisabeth Svendsen in 1969. Café and tearooms.

Dartmoor National Park (www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk) - Heather-covered moorland and deep wooded gorges, beautiful lake-like reservoirs and tumbling rocky rivers, thriving market towns and villages, patchwork farmland and craggy granite tors, the Dartmoor National Park covers an area of 368 square miles - the largest, and wildest, area of open country in southern England.

Cricket St Thomas (www.wild.org.uk) - Wildlife Park near Chard. Zebras, Lemurs, Monkeys, Leopards and lots of other animals from around the world.

RHS Rosemoor (www.rhs.org.uk) - Great Torrington, North Devon. South west garden of the Royal Horticultural Society. North Devon is just under an hour away.

Dartington Crystal (www.dartington.co.uk) - Torrington, North Devon. If you're planning to go to Rosemoor, why not visit Dartington Crystal as well. Nearby Bideford, Instow, Clovelly, Appledore and the "Tarka Trail" may also be worth a visit.