Places to Stay With Sea Views in Sidmouth

What's on offer

BritStays currently lists 10 places to stay with sea views in Sidmouth, Devon, and all 10 are in Sidmouth itself. That makes choosing simpler than in a sprawling region. You won't be deciding between towns. You'll be deciding what kind of stay suits your trip. Eight of the ten are hotels and two are caravanning options, so if you want a hotel room with a view of the water, you have plenty to compare. If you prefer a caravan, your choice is much narrower.

Here's how often the most common facilities turn up across the set:

• Restaurant: 8 of 10
• Disabled access, pet friendly, WiFi and parking: 5 of 10 each
• Indoor areas and swimming pool: 4 of 10 each

A few things stand out. Most stays let you eat on site. Only half offer parking or WiFi, so don't assume either. Check before you book if you're driving or need to work.

Matching a stay to your trip

Families will probably look first at Ladram Bay Holiday Park, which lists a swimming pool, hot tub and evening entertainment. That's useful when children still have energy after a day out. Of the hotels, Sidmouth Harbour Hotel, Victoria Hotel and Belmont Hotel all list a swimming pool. Only four stays in total have one, so treat a pool as something to filter for early rather than expect.

Couples after a quieter, more pampered break might look at Victoria Hotel or Belmont Hotel, both of which list a pool, hot tub and gym. Hotel Riviera and Sidmouth Harbour Hotel both have a bar and restaurant, which suits a stay where you'd rather not plan every evening. Elizabeth Hotel lists a restaurant alongside its sea views if you mainly want a good dinner and a room with a view.

Dog owners have half the list to choose from. Bedford Hotel, The Kingswood Hotel and Royal York & Faulkner Hotel are all listed as pet friendly. Policies on size, number of dogs and which rooms are allowed vary, so ask the stay directly.

Caravanners have two options. Beer Head Caravan Park lists a restaurant, takeaway food and toilets. Ladram Bay Holiday Park is the more facility-heavy of the two.

Accessibility: five stays list disabled access, including Hotel Riviera. Needs differ a great deal, so ask specific questions about step-free routes, bathrooms and parking before you commit.

Coast or countryside?

Every stay here is on the Sidmouth coast. There isn't a rural base among them. If you want countryside, the easiest approach is to stay by the sea and head inland for days out. Escot House and Blackborough House are both stately homes. Hemyock Castle offers some castle history, and The Forge is a National Trust property.

What to do once you're there

In Sidmouth itself, Coldharbour Woolen Museum is worth a look. If the weather turns, other indoor options include Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life, St. Lawrence Chapel and Church House. Four of the ten stays also list indoor areas, which helps on a wet afternoon.

For days out with children:

• Diggerland is a theme park that tends to suit younger visitors who like big machines.
• Paignton Zoo is a longer outing to Paignton. You might combine it with the Site of Old Torbay Aircraft Museum.

If you enjoy local history, Crewkerne Museum and Dulverton Heritage Centre are further afield. They're best saved for a planned driving day rather than squeezed in.

When and how to book

With only 10 sea-view stays, availability can disappear faster than you'd expect. Be especially careful if you need a combination of facilities. For example, only four stays have a pool, and only two are caravanning options. Some practical pointers:

• Decide your must-haves first: pool, parking, dog-friendly or accessible. Then shortlist. Your list may shrink to two or three quickly.
• Book early for school holidays and summer weekends, when family-friendly stays are in highest demand.
• If your dates are flexible, travelling outside school holidays usually gives you more choice.
• Ask whether 'sea views' applies to every room or only some. Request a specific room type in writing if the view matters to you.
• Confirm parking and WiFi directly, since only half the stays list them.