arcades

DEVON has lots of beautiful seaside towns, but when it comes to finding one that is more peaceful than most, it can feel tricky.

Sidmouth in East Devon is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK and, surprisingly, has no arcades or rides.

And soon the spot will be getting a £21million glow-up.

The multi-million pound project will focus on protecting Sidmouth’s seafront.

There will be new offshore breakwaters, a 120 metre beach groyne, flood gates and a number of repairs to existing sea walls.

Ultimately, the upgrades will help to not only protect the seafront, but homes and businesses in the area too.

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When visiting the Victorian seaside town, make sure to head to the Blue Flag-awarded beach, which is known for being one of the cleanest beaches in the UK.

Have a look at the cliffs as well, which form part of England‘s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As for the town, instead of amusement arcades, loud sports bars and dodgy street food vendors, you’ll find galleries, antiques shops, independent boutiques and tearooms.

Travel reporter Cyann Fielding has previously visited the town and said: “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.

“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.”

A SPRAWLING new entertainment venue has opened in a major UK hub – and it features more than 170 games.

The £11million attraction will offer visitors a wide range of virtual reality, sporting and gaming experiences.

Mega City has thrown open its doors in Slough today (July 6), bringing a new immersive family entertainment venue to the town.

Spanning more than 55,000 sq ft, the site offers a wide range of virtual reality experiences, 10 bowling lanes and even a karaoke room set across its three floors.

Located just eight minutes from the Elizabeth Line, the 170-game venue also features arcade machines, interactive football, a laser tag arena and an AR clay pigeon shooting experience.

Built on the site of a former Wilko, the entertainment destination comes as part of an £11million investment into Slough’s regeneration.

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Its opening is expected to create more than 80 local jobs, as well as generate footfall for the town centre.

Jeet Grewal, co-founder of Mega City, said: “At its heart, Mega City is about bringing people together. We wanted to create a place where different generations can enjoy shared experiences, feel welcome and make real memories.”

The late-night spot is also open until 2:30am on Fridays and Saturdays and until 1:30am the rest of the week, with a number of food and drink facilities on offer, including a restaurant, desserts bar and cocktail bar.

Grewal added: “Slough is incredibly diverse, vibrant and now well-connected through the Elizabeth Line, and we saw a real opportunity to create a large-scale leisure space that reflects that spirit.”

This follows Slough’s projected £3.5 billion transformation, with plans submitted last month for a £640million housing and leisure development.

The town has experienced a dramatic decline in recent years, with retail closures, a housing shortage and a degrading high street all contributing to the area’s deterioration.

SEAGULLS glide peacefully overhead, waves lap gently on the shingle shore and locals natter as they stroll along, pulled forwards by their eager dogs.

This is everything the British seaside should be. But something’s missing — and I’m not sure what.

As I make my way up Aldeburgh’s promenade, soaking up the Suffolk sunshine, it suddenly dawns on me — there isn’t a pier in sight.

And where are the loud arcades, slot machines and screams of kids on fairground rides?

There is none. In fact, there’s only beautiful scenery, peace and quiet. And I absolutely love it.

I’ve always been keen to stop by this Victorian seaside town, drawn in by its rows of pastel-pink merchant houses and its pretty beach peppered with old fishing boats.

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Unlike many coastal towns, where you have to dodge carts selling sticks of rock to get to the beach, Aldeburgh’s esplanade is protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

There are, however, plenty of souvenir shops, chippies, cafes, ice cream parlours and pubs along its high street.

The White Hart Inn is one of the best spots, pouring pints of Adnams, which is brewed up the road in Southwold.

There’s pub grub too, but if you’re after something a little more fancy, a short walk from here is local favourite, The Suffolk (the-suffolk.co.uk).

It’s consistently named one of the best restaurants in the country, with a menu that focuses on seafood, including whole lobsters and a catch of the day.

I opted for poached cod which came with chunky pancetta, mussels and chard in a delicious cider sauce.

My waitress recommended I wash it down with a Sea Buckthorn Margarita.

Apparently this drink is so loved by locals that there was uproar when it was removed from the menu.

Regulars demanded it be put back on and I’m grateful the restaurant obliged.

If you’re more of a gin lover, be sure to sample some Fishers Gin.

The spirit is produced locally and the family-run distillery offers regular tours.

The 90-minute experiences begin with an ice-cold G&T, followed by a tea-making session with botanicals.

Then there is a look at where the gin is created followed by some more tastings.

After knocking back all those drinks, I was grateful that I only had to walk a few paces to my hotel, The Brudenell.

This coastal retreat has a great spot on the seafront, with beautiful views across the water from its patio.

My room featured an enormous bay window and an adjoining balcony where I could enjoy the fresh sea breeze.

The breakfast is a real treat, too — fluffy pancakes, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, and a classic fry-up with local produce.

If you’re keen to explore a little further, the neighbouring town of Snape is well worth a visit.

Here you’ll find Snape Maltings, a series of impressive buildings that were once used to process barley into malt for brewing beer.

The venue hosts Aldeburgh’s annual summer music festival as well as regular classical performances, jazz and lunchtime concerts.

It’s also a shopping destination and a prime spot to pick up house and garden supplies, plants, antiques and musical instruments.

For nature lovers, Snape Maltings borders the River Alde, and boat trips can be booked via Suffolk River Trips that will take you past some impressive points of nature, including the mudflats.

Or, if you fancy simply taking in the views instead, head up to the Snape Maltings cafe that overlooks the reed beds which are teeming with bird life.

After spending a few tranquil days in this neck of the woods, you certainly won’t be missing the piers and arcades.