The Exmouth Christmas Day Swim

The Best Seat in the House: A Front-Row View of the Exmouth Christmas Day Swim

Every year on the 25th of December, something truly remarkable happens on Exmouth beach. Thousands upon thousands of people gather for an event that has no official organisers, no entry fees, and no formal schedule. It is a true “people’s tradition” that simply happens, and at Stuart Line Cruises, we’ve had a front-row seat for decades.

The Eleven O’Clock Charge

The atmosphere on the beach is electric. By 11:00 am, the shoreline is a sea of incredible fancy dress – we’ve seen everything from superheroes to Santas from the wheelhouse! Before the plunge, the air fills with a rousing, community-wide chorus of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” It’s a beautiful moment of calm before the last note fades and the crowds charge full speed into the bracing December water.

National Fame & Film Stars

The scale of our local tradition has caught the eye of the world many times over. The swim has been featured live on Channel 4, with Gordon Ramsay famously taking the plunge himself! It also took a starring role in the film “Christmas in a Day” by Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald (the director behind The Last King of Scotland and Touching the Void).

In a proud bit of Stuart Line Cruises history, our very own team member Daniel, shot the headcam POV footage used in that film! Seeing the Exmouth swim on the big screen, knowing we helped capture that “swimmer’s eye view,” is something we’ll never forget.

Watch from the Water with Stuart Line Cruises

Because our specific Christmas Day Swim Cruise is so popular, it usually sells out in a flash. It truly is the best way to witness the scale of the event – hearing the singing carry across the waves and watching the “charge” from the comfort of our boats is a tradition we never tire of.

After the excitement of the swim, we head off for a festive River Cruise, where you can warm up with a steaming glass of our homemade mulled wine and a mince pie. It’s the perfect way to be part of the tradition while staying “shipshape” and dry!

Warm Up With Us This Twixmas

If watching the swimmers has inspired you to get back out on the waves, our Twixmas Cruises are the perfect follow-up. Running from the 26th to the 31st of December, they are the ideal way to blow away the festive cobwebs with the family.

From all of us at the Marina, we wish the swimmers the best of luck tomorrow. We’ll be cheering you on from the water and we hope you enjoy the photos of previous years swim below.