Twice in the last two weeks, the seaside resort of Sidmouth has been championed in the national press.
Firstly, last month, the Telegraph looked at My day out in Sidmouth, the seaside resort they call ‘God’s waiting room’.
So says the former chair of the VGS:
“The seagulls can be annoying, and of course it can get busy in summer, but really there is not much not to like,” says Ian Gregory, a retired resident who’s visited regularly since the Sixties. “There’s only one PCSO – that says a lot about the town.”
And from a regular visitor:
“Sidmouth’s managed to avoid becoming a tacky seaside tourist town,” says Sarah McPherson. “It’s so well kept: there are flowers everywhere, the sea front still has a lovely Regency feel – no arcades or anything like that – and there are nice loos.”
And this week, Devon Live reports on a national survey about a ‘thoroughly charming’ seaside town just 14 miles from major city voted one of UK’s best:
The “thoroughly charming” Sidmouth in Devon has earned an impressive five-star rating in Which?’s annual seaside survey, particularly praised for its culinary scene, stunning vistas, and quality accommodation, with an average overnight stay costing £160.
In a poll involving over 3,600 holiday-goers, participants rated their visits to various British coastal towns, assessing aspects such as attractions, beach quality, scenery, food and drink, and value for money. One visitor described Sidmouth as “a thoroughly charming, thriving English seaside town”.
This championing of Sidmouth happens regularly.
Last year, the Muddy Stilettoes website put Sidmouth as one of the country’s Best Places to Live:
“Where so many seaside towns have faded, Sidmouth on the South East Devon coast has retained its Regency lustre with Blue Flag beaches and busy labyrinth of indie galleries, boutiques and cafés at its centre. That, and the very desirable range of period property, from thatched and Gothic to detached Victorian and Georgian family homes, has placed it firmly in Muddy’s Best Places to Live 2025.
“Sure, it’s long been a Mecca for tourists and the well-heeled retired, but it’s far from sleepy, especially in August when the annual Folk Festival serenades the town. Away from the beachfront Esplanade, you’ll find the paths less travelled, which locals love and tourists rarely venture to, including the riverside park and community orchard, The Byes, which runs by the tranquil River Sid down to Lyme Bay.”
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