Exmouth holidays are one of the UK’s genuine 2026 staycation stories. Booking.com’s trending data puts search interest up 76% on last year, the third-fastest riser among UK seaside towns, behind only Morecambe and Carnforth. It has taken this long for Devon’s oldest seaside resort to get its due: a two-mile sandy beach, the start of the Jurassic Coast on its doorstep, and an estuary that draws walkers, paddleboarders and birdwatchers in roughly equal numbers.
Exmouth sits where the River Exe meets the sea, a short hop from Exeter and easily missed by visitors heading further into Cornwall. That’s been part of the appeal for the people who already know it. For more of the towns riding this year’s staycation wave, see our full guide to UK staycations in 2026, and for genuine deals on this and other domestic breaks, our UK breaks page is updated daily.
Exmouth at a glance
- RegionEast Devon, mouth of the River Exe
- StationExmouth (Avocet Line from Exeter)
- Road8 miles from the M5 at junction 30
- BeachTwo miles of sand, Devon’s longest
- 2026 trend+76% search interest, Booking.com
- Peak seasonMay to September
Why Exmouth holidays are trending in 2026
Exmouth became Devon’s first seaside resort back in the Georgian era, and the terraces along the seafront, known locally as The Beacon, still show it. What’s new is the attention. Booking.com’s 2026 trending data has Exmouth up 76% on search interest, and Google Ads’ own keyword data backs that up: “exmouth holidays” is the only search term in the whole UK staycation cluster we researched to come back as medium competition rather than high, a genuine gap in an otherwise crowded field.
Part of the reason is confusion as much as demand. Search “Exmouth holidays” and you’ll find results for Exmouth, Western Australia, a completely different town on the other side of the world, mixed in with Devon’s. That’s kept some of the UK search volume fragmented and under-served by dedicated content, which is Exmouth Devon’s actual opportunity here. The town itself doesn’t need the algorithm’s help to make its case: a proper working beach resort with a genuinely dramatic coastline two minutes’ walk from the promenade.
Sheltered Lyme Bay water and a wide, flat beach make Exmouth one of the more forgiving spots on the south coast to try kitesurfing, paddleboarding or windsurfing for the first time, and one of the better ones to watch if you’d rather stay dry.
Things to do in Exmouth
Exmouth rewards a slow visit. The beach is the obvious draw, but the town’s best features, the Jurassic Coast, a National Trust curiosity and a proper estuary, all sit within a couple of miles of the seafront.
| Attraction | Type | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Orcombe Point & the Geoneedle | Coastal landmark | The official start of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the geoneedle sculpture is built from seven stones that trace the coastline’s geology |
| A la Ronde | National Trust house | A 16-sided house built for two well-travelled sisters in the 1790s, less than 10 minutes from the beach, full of the collections they brought home |
| Exe Estuary Trail | Walking & cycling path | A mostly flat route toward Exeter, good for birdwatching; the avocets that give the branch line its name gather here over winter |
| Sideshore | Watersports centre | Community-owned, right on the beachfront; hires stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and windsurf gear |
| Stuart Line Cruises | Boat trips | Estuary and coastline cruises from the marina, with commentary and regular wildlife-watching sailings |
The Pride of Exmouth and her sister boats run regular sailings from Exmouth Marina up the estuary toward Topsham and Exeter, or out along the coast toward Sidmouth and Lyme Regis on clearer days. It’s a good option if you’d rather see the Jurassic Coast from the water than walk it.
Where to eat in Exmouth
Exmouth’s food scene runs from a genuinely award-winning chip shop to a two-rosette dining room, with a strong seafood restaurant in between. All three picks below sit within a few minutes of the seafront.
| Restaurant | Tier | Location | Why go | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krispies | Fish & chips Budget | Exeter Road | A national award-winner for quality, double-battered chips and a genuine local following | |
| Rockfish | Seafood Mid-range | Pier Head, on the marina | Fresh fish landed at Brixham, sustainably sourced, with a proper marina view | |
| Saveur | Fine dining Worth it | Exmouth town centre | Two AA rosettes, an unexpected find for a town this size; book ahead for weekends |
You don’t need to book a table to eat well in Exmouth. Krispies alone is worth planning a beach day around, and the marina’s small cluster of restaurants means you can walk between a casual lunch and a proper dinner without moving the car.
Where to stay in Exmouth
Exmouth doesn’t have the same summer sell-out pressure as Cornwall’s honeypot towns, but seafront rooms still go early in July and August. The three picks below cover a simple beachfront base, a traditional seafront hotel, and a genuine special-occasion stay a few minutes up the estuary.
| Hotel | Tier | Location | Why book it | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exmouth Beach Hotel | Seafront hotel Budget | On the seafront | 73 rooms, simple and close to the sand, the easiest base for a beach-first trip | |
| Manor Hotel | Traditional hotel Mid-range | Near the seafront & station | Restaurant and cocktail bar on site, a well-reviewed all-rounder a short walk from the beach | |
| Lympstone Manor | 5-star & Michelin Worth it | Lympstone, on the Exe Estuary | Michael Caines’ Michelin-starred restaurant, a working vineyard, and estuary views from every room |
Getting to Exmouth
Exmouth is one of the easier staycation towns on this list to reach without a car, which is part of its appeal for a genuine weekend break.
By train, the Avocet Line runs between Exeter (both St David’s and Central stations) and Exmouth in around 30 minutes, with services roughly every half hour. London Paddington connects via Exeter St David’s, and a slower, scenic alternative runs from London Waterloo. Between April and October, weather permitting, a foot-ferry also crosses the estuary from Starcross Pier to Exmouth Marina, a short stroll from the seafront.
By car, Exmouth is around 8 miles from the M5 at junction 30. Take the A376 south and follow the signs for Exmouth at the roundabout near Clyst St Mary. Exeter Airport is a short drive away and covers a reasonable spread of UK and short-haul European routes if you’re travelling from further afield.
Best time to visit Exmouth
May to September is peak season, with the warmest water and the longest stretch of reliable beach weather. Shoulder months either side, April, May and September, October, are genuinely worth considering: the beach is quieter, hotel rates drop, and the estuary’s birdlife is easier to spot without summer crowds along the trail.
Exmouth’s exposed position also makes it a genuinely good autumn and winter destination for one thing most seaside towns can’t offer: reliable wind. Sideshore’s kitesurfing and windsurfing season runs strongest outside the summer months, when a stiff onshore breeze is more of a feature than a drawback. For more on timing a UK trip for the best rates generally, our 50 tips for saving money on travel covers shoulder-season booking in more detail, and if you’re weighing up Devon against its neighbour, our Cornwall holidays guide covers the county next door.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Exmouth trending in 2026?
Booking.com’s 2026 trending data shows search interest in Exmouth up 76% year on year, the third-highest riser among UK seaside towns. Google’s own keyword data confirms it as one of the least competitive UK staycation searches this year.
What is the Geoneedle at Orcombe Point?
The Geoneedle is a sculpture made from seven stones that mark the official start of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It stands at Orcombe Point, at the eastern end of Exmouth’s beach, and was unveiled in 2002.
How do you get to Exmouth from London?
The fastest route is by train to Exeter St David’s, then a change onto the Avocet Line for the 30-minute run into Exmouth. By car, it’s around 8 miles from the M5 at junction 30, via the A376.
What is A la Ronde?
A la Ronde is a National Trust property near Exmouth: a 16-sided house built in the 1790s for two well-travelled sisters, Jane and Mary Parminter. It’s less than 10 minutes from the beach and displays the collections they brought back from their travels.
Is Exmouth good for families?
Yes. The two-mile beach is flat and sandy with a lifeguard presence in summer, the seafront has amusements and playgrounds, and Sideshore offers watersports lessons suitable for beginners and children.
Is Exmouth expensive to visit?
It’s noticeably cheaper than Cornwall’s honeypot towns for most of the year. Rooms and restaurant prices rise through July and August, but shoulder-season trips in spring or autumn cost less and come with a quieter beach.
For more UK and international destination guides, see the full Flight Tribe destination guides hub, and for more Jurassic Coast inspiration, our best UK glamping sites guide includes several Devon options.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
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