Victorian English seaside town with no arcades or loud rides that has one of the UK's best beaches & is loved by celebs
A PICTURESQUE town in Devon is home to one of the UK's most beautiful beaches - complete without arcades and rides.
The Victorian town of Sidmouth in east Devon has a 200million-year-old coastline, being the gateway to the Jurassic Coast.
Advertisement
4
The Victorian town of Sidmouth in east Devon has a pretty beach and even has no arcades
Credit: Alamy
4
The town and beach are part of the Jurassic Coast
Credit: Alamy
What's more is that the town is also loved by celebs including
Fry stayed nearby the town when starring in the TV adaptation of Jeeves and Wooster.
As for
Jeremy Vine
, the
radio
presenter got married nearby and spends summers returning to the town.
In fact, when he set his first whodunnit novel called Murder on Line, in the town, he included a scene where a wave sweeps a radio station manager and her just-sacked DJ into the water together.
Advertisement
Vine noted in
"It's chintzy in places, drab in others, but it feels real.
"And real by the sea is a different kind of beauty."
But
celebrity
visitors also extended to literary legends and royalty.
Advertisement
Most read in News Travel
Exclusive
Exclusive
Jane Austen - famous for her novels
Pride
and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey - spent the
summer
of 1801 in Sidmouth.
The town had become a popular spot among high society due to its spa waters,
Trendy English seaside town has rooftop bar that 'feels like the Med'
During the summer Austen was in Sidmouth, she had a fling with a young man - however, it had a tragic end.
Her suitor caught typhus and died, ending the fleeting relationship.
Advertisement
Austen isn't the only writer to have spent some time in the town - JRR Tolkien, the creator of Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit also holidayed at the
Tolkien used to stay at Kennaway House, which is rumoured to be the location where he wrote the first parts of Lord of the Rings.
And in the town itself, one of the pubs is believed to have inspired Aragon's introduction.
Later, in April 1908, Beatrix Potter was also in Sidmouth.
Advertisement
On family holidays, the popular children's writer would stay at the Hylton - where there is now even a plaque commemorating her stays.
Potter used to talk of the views, her
4
Celebrities including Jeremy Vine and royalty such as Queen Victoria have visited the town
Credit: Alamy
As for royalty,
Queen Victoria
(who at the time of visiting was Princess Alexandrina) also frequented the town.
Advertisement
In 1819, she stayed at Woolbrook Cottage - now known as the Royal Glen Hotel.
However,
the holiday
was not particularly happy as her father became ill and died.
For things to do in Sidmouth, there is plenty of choice, with the beach undoubtedly being the main attraction.
This year Sidmouth Town Beach was awarded a
Advertisement
Being amongst the
My own experience of Sidmouth
GROWING up, I always associated Sidmouth with 'that place that had donkeys'.
This is due to Sidmouth being home to the free-to-visit Donkey Sanctuary that has over 100 donkeys that they have improved the lives of.
It's a great spot for children and learning about animal welfare.
Away from the sanctuary, I also visited the beach on occasions growing up.
Sidmouth is pretty, but I often think people also forget how impressive it is with the dramatic cliffs dating back 200million years.
They are part of the Jurassic Coast - which is made of vibrant reed sandstone cliffs from the Triassic period.
They are a wonder to see and within the area, there are many places to go and things to do where families can learn more about the Jurassic Coast.
But if you aren't done with exploring, you could always head over to Hill View along the
One particularly special thing about Sidmouth though, is that it doesn't have any amusement arcades, loud sports bars or dodgy street food vendors.
Instead, the places that these would usually be have been filled with galleries and antiques shops, independent retailers and
Advertisement
To get to the quaint town, from London it takes around four hours to drive.
Alternatively, also from London, you could hop on a train to Honiton, taking around two-and-a-half hours before catching a bus from Honiton to Sidmouth.
Read more on the Irish Sun
Plus, a
Advertisement
4
Reporter Cyann Fielding has been to the town and loves it for it's unique feel
Credit: Alamy
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I stayed at the English beach holiday park following its £15million makeover with a massive waterpark and soft-play
'WOW, this is the best house ever,' scream my two kids. While their reactions slightly rile me — having just decorated both their bedrooms back home — I can see where they are coming from. 4 Enjoying a stroll along the beach Credit: Supplied 4 We had buckets of fun at Splash Waterpark, only 50 yards or so from our lodge Credit: Supplied For starters, our eight-man Platinum lodge at Unity Beach in Somerset has a hot tub — and it comes complete with undisturbed views of Brean's windswept coastline and a clear sky at night. Everything inside is sleek and stylish, with a statement electric fireplace in the centre and Scandi-style wooden furniture that makes the place look more like a fancy prize draw house than a holiday park lodge. I was staying there with my partner Bianca and two little ones, Frank, six, and Pearl, four. The fun-packed resort has recently been redeveloped as part of a READ MORE ON FAMILY HOLIDAYS The presenter said: 'There's a misconception that British seaside parks are outdated. Unity Beach proves that's no longer true.' I can't argue with her. Even though there was so much to do at the 240-acre resort, we could easily have spent a few hours relaxing in our new home. As well as a decking area with hot tub, it included a spacious lounge with a giant TV (as well as televisions in every bedroom), a fully-fitted kitchen, two double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, plus two more twin rooms. Most read in News Travel The lodges are really close to most of the activities and restaurants, too. These include the new Wonky Donkey, which serves brekkie and pub grub such as scampi, lasagne and burgers, and the Sports Cafe, where kids can play arcade favourites and cutting-edge VR games in between bites of pizza, while adults watch live sport on the large screens. Top Seashore Holiday Parks for Family Fun There's also the revamped Pavilion Theatre, where guests can tuck into wings, loaded fries and kid-sized lighter bites all while watching live game shows and tribute acts. And with a proper kitchen in our lodge, we could always mix it up with a takeaway from the on-site chippy or Chinese. Then there's the retro-decorated RJ's, which offers American diner-style classics such as pizzas, wings and build-your-own burgers. And with a proper kitchen in our lodge, we could always mix it up with a takeaway from the on-site chippy or Chinese. When we weren't sampling all the food, we had buckets of fun at Splash Waterpark, only 50 yards or so from our lodge. It costs extra to visit (from £3.25pp) but it's well worth it, with a kids' pool, play areas and plenty of slides. Ninja Zone The pre-booked 90-minute pool sessions were just enough for our two, although bigger kids, who can go on all the flumes, might want to stay longer. Despite tearing around the pool for an hour and a half, Frank and Pearl couldn't wait to go straight to Brean Play indoor soft play afterwards. If one thing's guaranteed to tire them out, it's soft play. The area includes the Ninja Zone, with a challenging obstacle course for older kids, and a state-of-the-art ball court with an interactive screen that lets kids play all manner of games. If that's not enough, there's also the Brean Theme Park, which was again just yards from our lodge. And I could see why our kids were so desperate to go. The park has a great mix of rides for kids of all ages as well as adults. Thankfully, Bianca was happy to take Frank on the scarier rollercoasters while I made sure Pearl was OK on the carousels. You'll have to pay extra for entry, but Unity guests get discounted wristbands meaning it won't end up costing a fortune. Unity is not all about the kids, though. Adults can have their fair share of fun at the 18-hole golf course. Whatever you end up doing, there's a good chance you'll finish your day in the hot tub, soaking up all the memories. Or they might want to try their hand at new must-play sport padel, with Unity being home to Somerset's only two courts. We barely had enough time to try everything within the resort, let alone to venture out. 4 The fun-packed resort has recently been redeveloped as part of a £15million 'Comes Alive in 25' campaign backed by The One Show host Alex Jones, above at Unity Beach Credit: Supplied 4 The nearby Bream Theme Park was is winner for kids Credit: Supplied But for those keen to explore the area, Weston-super-Mare, Burnham pier and Cheddar Gorge are all nearby. However, try to make it back in time for the evening entertainment, which includes discos and parties for the little ones, games shows and entertainers. Whatever you end up doing, there's a good chance you'll finish your day in the hot tub, soaking up all the memories. And you'll certainly be grateful for those comfy beds, too. GO: UNITY SOMERSET STAYING THERE: Four nights in a two-bedroom caravan is from £199 in July. Three nights in a Platinum hot-tub lodge is from £1,200. See
The Irish Sun
14 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I was ringside for Michael Jackson's abuse trial…from secret injury to 110mph chase, I KNOW what put him in early grave
IT'S the child abuse trial which rocked the showbiz world and saw a pop legend hauled up in court on a slew of heinous charges. Now, 20 years on, we can reveal the drama behind the headlines which saw 17 It is 20 years since Michael Jackson faced child abuse charges brought against him in a bombshell trial Credit: 2005 Getty Images 17 His lawyer Brian Oxman thinks the trial contributed to his early death Credit: JDMC 17 Many of the abuse claims leveled at Michael were based at his Neverland Ranch Credit: Rex Features 17 Michael died in 2009 at just 50 years old Credit: Getty - Pool The frail star, who faced charges of abuse against teenager Over four months Michael, then 46, watched 15-year-old Gavin accuse him of sexual abuse, supported by claims from brother Star and mum Janet that his family was held captive at Michael's Neverland Ranch - famed for its funfair and zoo. In the decades since the trial, further claims have been made regarding Jackson's alleged horrific abuse at the estate, notably by Wade Robson and James Safechuck in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland. The singer's lawyer, Brian Oxman, believes the torment of the 2005 trial led to MJ's death four years later from a drug overdose - and reveals the late night calls from the terrified Thriller star. 'Michael rang at all hours of the night, dozens of times,' Brian tells The Sun. 'He kept asking 'Why? I treated them so well - and they make up these lies'. 'He could never fathom it until the day he died.' He adds: 'We would talk about it for long hours about 'the evil' that went on to destroy him. He did not understand. 'No matter what I did, he could not understand and my firm belief is that this prosecution destroyed him.' He also reveals Michael felt 'betrayed' by shamed BBC star Leaving Neverland documentary clip from Channel 4 And he believes the King of Pop knew he would have died in prison if he had been convicted. 'If Michael went to jail, he would probably have died. He knew that,' he says. 'Child molestation is the worst of all crimes in our jail system. Those people are looked down on and abused by their fellow inmates. 'They are beaten, hurt and treated horribly.' Horror hospital dash 17 The pop star was pictured attending court in his pyjamas Credit: Alamy 17 Gavin Arvizo was one of the people who made allegations of child abuse against Michael Jackson Credit: Granada Television 17 It was alleged that the abuse took place at the star's California mansion Credit: Alamy At the height of the trial, in March 2005, the iconic photo of the star sporting baggy pyjama bottoms, a white T-shirt and a giant suit jacket made headlines around the world and became Time Magazine's Photo of The Year. It also cemented the reputation for eccentric behaviour which saw him dubbed 'Wacko Jacko". But the truth behind the bizarre look was a frantic dash from the hospital where he'd been admitted hours before with suspected broken ribs after a shower fall at his Neverland home. The singer's court absence prompted Judge Ronald L Whyte to fear the defendant had absconded - forfeiting a $3m bail. Despite lawyers' assurances, the judge ordered the star to be back in court within an hour or be sent to jail until the trial's end for a bail breach. He'd plead guilty to assassinating Abraham Lincoln Brian Oxman, Lawyer The order sent Brian and long term pal Joe - Michael's dad and manager of the Jackson 5 - into a panic. 'The prosecution was elated because they knew that if he forfeited his bail, he was going to jail, and he would never, never be able to live in jail," says Brian. 'The prosecutors knew he'd plead to anything to get out of jail. 'He'd plead guilty to assassinating Abraham Lincoln. 'They knew he'd do anything to limit or stop his incarceration.' Defence attorneys frantically called Michael's security, warning of the jail threat, which led to a desperate dash up the 101 freeway towards Santa Maria - pursued by dozens of fans. 'They were doing 110 miles an hour and the fans followed,' says Brian. 'That freeway had a dirt centre divider, which had potholes and was horribly dangerous. All someone had to do was to hit one of those potholes and it would have flipped and somebody would have been killed.' Arriving an hour and 10 minutes later, the star had his bail forfeited but escaped jail. Father-son bond 17 Throughout the trial, Michael was supported by his dad Joe Credit: Getty - Pool 17 Katherine Jackson was also at the trial to support her son against the allegations of abuse Credit: Getty Father Joe - who Michael famously accused of child abuse and bullying - was vital in convincing the sickly star to leave the hospital. 'Joe said, 'Michael, I'm your father. You listen to me - you have got to get to court, no excuses.'' Brian insists Michael 'loved' and 'respected' Joe dearly despite the claims of a feud. 'In the car MJ said, 'I can't walk in just with my pyjamas' so a huge bodyguard named Keith handed over his black jacket. 'It is Time Magazine's picture of the year - if not picture of the decade. 'And who's right next to him in that picture? His dad, Joe, who saved his life.' Brian insists Michael was not faking his injury or looking for sympathy as the lawyer saw a 'huge welt' on the right side of his body. 'He showed me on his chest this huge welt and says 'Brian did I break a bone?' 'And I felt his chest and I said 'I can't tell for sure'. 'I felt a terrible lump but there was a huge injury there.' Abuse accusations 17 Jordan Chandler accused Michael of child abuse in 1993 and received a pay off Credit: News UK Ltd 17 Michael was said to be deeply uncomfortable when Gavin leaned on him in the Bashir interview Credit: Granada Television 17 Wade Robson also claimed he was abused by Michael as a child Credit: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Michael was first accused of child abuse by But in December 2003, Michael was charged with 14 offences in relation to Brian, an early member of the trial defence team, helped pull together over one and a half million pages of documents and 120 subpoenas. He sent a 15-page dossier with 700 exhibits of evidence to devastated MJ showing the strength of their case in late 2004. 'He called me from the ranch and there was no voice. (I said) 'Michael is that you?' 'He couldn't catch his breath,' says Brian. 'He said, 'Why, Brian? Why are they doing this to me?'" Despite numerous allegations that have surfaced since the star's death, Brian insists there was no evidence for the criminal charges, citing that Michael was not at Neverland on days when Gavin claimed he was abused at the estate. Dashed documentary hopes 17 Michael thought a documentary about his life would aid his comeback Credit: AFP 17 He hoped to one day perform with his children but that never happened Credit: Rex Features Michael's mental health was also rocked by 'the betrayal' of TV interviewer Martin Bashir, with whom he'd plotted a comeback through a documentary about his life, in 2003. But the Living With Michael Jackson series prompted worldwide controversy after he openly boasted about sleeping with children in his bed at Neverland. Cameras caught cancer survivor Gavin leaning his head on MJ's shoulder, discussing their close bond. Brian claims the BBC journalist - who was later found to have falsified documents to persuade Princess Diana to agree to an interview - manipulated Michael and set up the disturbing scenes. Brian raged: 'Bashir used the fact Princess Diana trusted him for the Panorama interview to get in with Michael - who at that time had no idea that he had deceived Diana. 'Gavin wasn't in Michael's life when he filmed, but Bashir and his team asked to meet one of the kids he had helped. 'Bashir talked to Arvizo before the interview and then during the recording he rested his head on Michael's shoulder and held his hand. They knew he'd do anything to limit or stop his incarceration Brian Oxman, Lawyer 'Michael said afterwards: 'That never happened before and I didn't know what to do. I don't know him. And I haven't seen him for a year and almost a half. Why was he acting like my bosom buddy?' 'Michael believed that Bashir may have told Arvizo to do that but no-one knew what really happened. 'Bashir told Michael he wanted to show the real man in a fair way, but when asked about sleeping with children he was so rattled. 'It was a shambles. Why his managers didn't stop it I will never know. 'That show set a stampede in motion which led to the trial. It was the beginning of the end for him.' Bashir later took the stand as the first prosecution witness and Brian says after the verdict, the reporter strolled over and apologised, saying: 'Nothing personal Michael.' 'Michael could not believe it, because inside he was fuming,' he says. 'Michael simply stared back, said nothing and turned away.' Destroyed reputation 17 Lawyer Brian claims the stigma of the allegations against Michael devastated the star Credit: EPA 17 Brian was by Michael's side throughout the abuse trial in 2005 Credit: JDMC Despite the acquittal, many people believe the star behaved inappropriately with young boys. In the summer of 2005 a Gallup Poll reported that 80 per cent of the US public believed Michael was guilty of abuse. 'It damaged Michael beyond repair,' says Brian. 'He was utterly numb. He was mentally, emotionally exhausted. 'Michael said: 'I'm an entertainer. I depend upon the people, 80 per cent of them think I'm guilty?'' MJ fled to Bahrain as a guest of Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the king's son, with the promise of a comeback concert and album. That plan fell apart within a year, leading him into a semi-nomadic life with his three kids, Prince, now 31, Paris, 29 and Bigi, 24. Drowning in debt, he committed to a London O2 residency This Is It. But, in constant pain after a serious back injury he sustained when a stage collapsed at a Munich gig in 1999, he was already hooked on painkillers and anaesthetic Propofol. He died in LA on June 25 2009 - days before the sellout comeback - after suffering a cardiac arrest from a Propofol and benzodiazepines overdose. Fresh allegations have since emerged. In 2019 documentary, Leaving Neverland, But Brian says it was the 2005 trial that pushed him over the edge. 'That was the start of the end,' says Brian. 'He was in pain, depression and constantly harassed with accusations. 'Think about it. 'Wacko Jacko, crazy, child molester.' How much can one human being take? 'It was too much for him. I told him he would come through and his mettle would be stronger because of the fire. And in certain ways, that was true, but in other ways, it started this spiral down. It meant the end for Michael.' 17 Michael never recovered from the trauma of the trial and his lawyer thinks it led to his early death Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
15 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Only the savviest travellers can spot all 10 getaway essentials in this busy beach brain teaser – can you find them?
WITH summer just about cresting our horizons, how can you resist a sunny seaside spot-the-items brainteaser. Remembering everything you need is not easy when jetting off – but this puzzle promises to get you into the right frame of mind. 2 Only the savviest travellers can spot all 10 getaway essentials in this busy beach brain teaser – can you find them? Credit: Hidden away in this busy beach scene are 10 items many of us will need in order to have fun abroad by the sea. Can you find a sun hat, a pair of sunglasses, sun cream, flip flops, beach ball, a plane ticket, a fan, a book, a bikini, and a camera. The brainteaser was commissioned by holiday package and travel tech platform, which also carried out research of 2,000 travellers to reveal the top 30 things they do before every getaway. These include getting their haircut especially for the trip, obsessively checking the weather, and arranging plant care. Doing a big clothes wash, packing lots of snacks 'just in case', and changing the bedsheets so they're fresh to return home to are also key activities prior to do a break. As are packing, unpacking, and packing again, buying new underwear, and worrying multiple times they've successfully packed their passport. The poll also found those who do any prep ahead of a getaway will spend an average of seven-and-a-half hours doing so. And 34 per cent say they actively enjoy it, with half have even taken time off work especially to get everything in order ahead of a much-deserved break. Most read in News Travel Taking annual leave is more common in younger respondents with 77 per cent of Gen Zs and Millennials having done this. In contrast, just 49 per cent of Gen X, 21 per cent of Boomers, and eight per cent of those from the Silent generation have taken time away from their jobs to get everything in order. I travelled to the hidden gem US region that's better than Florida it's filled bucket list tourist activities But 19 per cent don't factor in the cost of getting ready for a holiday when planning their travel budget. Spokesperson Zoe Fidler said: 'Between work, childcare, DIY projects and endless life admin, actually booking a holiday often ends up as a last-minute task – bringing with it the stress of wondering if you've missed out on the best deals. 'Then comes the 'holiday prep' itself – from hair appointments to packing enough snacks to keep the kids happy.' The study also revealed loading tablets or e-readers with movies, books, games or podcasts, cleaning out the fridge, purchasing travel-sized toiletries and weighing suitcases several times are also key activities for many. It also emerged 54 per cent consider themselves to be someone who gets everything sorted well in advance of a trip. With those who do prepare spending a total of seven-and-a-half hours doing so. Millennials spend the longest prepping for a getaway at nine hours and 14 minutes on average, but the Silent generation spend the least – five hours and 20 minutes. While women take seven hours and 57 minutes getting ready, with men spending six hours and 59 minutes to prep. The research, commissioned via OnePoll, also found 25 per cent tend to overpack 'massively' and 21 per cent leave at least some of their pre-getaway prep to the last minute. But 23 per cent selflessly put the needs of others ahead of their own when getting ready for a break. Read more on the Irish Sun spokesperson added: 'We know that preparing for a holiday can be time consuming, stressful and expensive - but worth it in the end, which is why we commissioned this research to fully understand what Brits need from their summer getaway. 'We firmly believe it's never too late to book a getaway and our booking data shows this happens more often than you think.' TOP 30 HOLIDAY PREPARATION TASKS: 1. Secure travel documents in one place 2. Purchase sun cream/after sun 3. Exchange currency or order travel money 4. Check passport/visa requirements and renew if needed 5. Pack any prescription medication and travel health kit 6. Make a packing checklist 7. Clean out the fridge 8. Secure the house 9. Get your hair cut 10. Read reviews 11. Clean the whole house 12. Buy medicines/tablets 13. Charge every possible device and pack two portable chargers 14. Arrange pet care 15. Buy travel-sized toiletries 16. Do a big pre-holiday clothes wash 17. Repeatedly worry whether you've packed your passport 18. Weigh their suitcases multiple times 19. Change the bedsheets 20. Obsessively check the weather at your destination 21. Research health precautions (e.g. vaccinations, water safety) 22. Load your tablet or e-reader with movies, books, or podcasts 23. Pack a 'just in case' kit with mini sewing kits, painkillers, duct tape, and safety pins 24. Take pictures of your passport and insurance 25. Pack lots of snacks "just in case" 26. Buy new underwear 27. Download offline maps/apps 28. Decide at the last second to pack several more items 29. Arrange plant care 30. Pack, unpack, and pack again 2 Did you catch all of these? Credit:
