An English seaside town of the imagination, Sidmouth is all elegance and civic pride. Complete with splendid regency architecture and clean beaches, it’s the kind of place you come if you want your holidays in a refined register. Sleepy most of the year, it gets lively in the summer, particularly around the time of the folk festival, when rooms become hen’s teeth rare.
Sidmouth’s been playing the hotel game for longer than most, meaning there are a decent number of establishments competing for your custom. But whether your tastes run to thick carpets and tea cosies or Scandi chic, we’ve found the ones for you.
Dukes
From £110/ night
Sometimes deals come along that defy any expectations. And a five star hotel, bang on Sidmouth’s seafront, boasting style, comfort, and elegance, in a neatly traditional building all for barely more than a hundred pounds is surely one of them. With its award winning restaurant and framing by those red sandstone cliffs of the Jurassic Coast, we really cannot recommend Dukes enough. Just make sure you reserve with plenty of time to spare.
The Mount Pleasant Hotel
From £108/ night
A place of plush comfort and traditional stylings, The Mount Pleasant Hotel is as nice in nature as it is in name. There’s a lovely long garden to relax in, and onto which many of the rooms look out. A great place if you want to stay near Sidmouth and to retreat from the hustle and bustle at day’s end and relax in the onsite bar. With the beach less than five minutes away on foot, it’s an ideal base for a holiday, while amenities such as TVs and WiFi come as standard.
The Masons Arms
From £100/ night
A crossroads of history, this 14th-century cottage pulses with truly modern tastes. It’s comfortable in the way that only an English inn really can be, with wooden beamed ceilings to its rooms and a glorious fireplace in its bar. The restaurant too is award-winningly wonderful serving locally brewed ales and locally caught lobster. With views out to the sea, a garden, and the beach just a short walk away, this is accommodation not to be missed.
Sidmouth Bed & Breakfast
From £85/ night
The English seaside bed & breakfast is a cultural experience in and of itself, and this one in Sidmouth sits at the absolute apex of the genre. Expect floral bed spreads, charming owners, and cups of tea aplenty. With sea and garden views, and a seating room to relax in, it fast becomes in a very real sense a home from home. And despite the proliferation of traditional aspects all your modern needs are catered for here as well. There are even private bathrooms to all the rooms.
Lower Pinn Farm
From £85/ night
Authenticity is the watchword at this 19th century working farm just a five-minute drive from Sidmouth. Authenticity and friendliness, as the owners strive to make your stay as comfortable as possible, to welcome you in almost like a member of the family. Rooms are furnished with king-sized beds and flat screen TVs, and all have en suites. A lovely – not to mention slightly different – place to stay.