Beaches and the Jurassic Coast
Many come to Sidmouth for the town's wide sandy beaches. Set against a dramatic backdrop of red cliffs, the main beach as a haven for families on holiday. Whether you plan on digging sandcastles with the kids, dipping in the sea for a swim or simply lounging around on the shore with a good book, Jacob's Ladder Beach is a fantastic place to spend the day. Jacob's Ladder itself is a series of wooden steps that run from the beach up to Connaught Gardens, a pleasant public park that dates from around 1820.
The cliffs along the coast have inspired countless artists and writers throughout the ages. Sir John Betjeman based many of his poems on the area and the poet Elizabeth Barrett lived in the town from 1832 until 1835. Walk in either direction from Sidmouth and you'll be travelling along the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site that covers the coastline from Exmouth to East Dorset. A walk along the coast takes in 180 million years of geological history, covering the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The coast is very popular with fossil hunters and if you're lucky you might uncover a trilobite or two during your visit. Even if you're not searching for fossils the coasts are a beautiful area to explore, whether you're travelling with family or planning a romantic getaway.
Shops and tearooms
Sidmouth itself is a charming seaside town and a joy to venture around. There are plenty of cafés, shops, pubs and tearooms here to explore, as well as Connaught Gardens and the community theatre, the Manor Pavilion, where you'll find a range of local theatre and comedy performances. No trip to Devon would be complete without trying traditional cream tea in a cosy tearoom, followed in the evening by a pint of locally brewed real Devonshire ale. There are also a number of shops dotted through the town centre where you'll be able to buy gifts, from postcards to Devon fudge.
East Devon
The countryside of Devon has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and if you take the time to venture outside of Sidmouth you'll see why. Aside from the stunning coastline, the area features the Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve. A little further to the west is Dartmoor National Park, one of the vastest and most spectacular areas of moorland in the country. There are also a number of historical cities and towns in close proximity to Sidmouth. A short journey northwest will take you Exeter, home of Exeter Cathedral. To the east of Sidmouth are the small town of Beer, home to the Beer Quarry Caves, a sprawling underground network of man-made caves made from over 2,000 years of quarrying of Beer Stone.