Beyond the Boat: A Short History of The Changing Face of Exmouth Seafront

Today, a stroll along Queen’s Drive is all about relaxed seaside living: grabbing a coffee, rock-pooling, letting the children run around the play area or beach, enjoying water sports, or heading for a bite to eat or ice cream with panoramic views over the water.

Exmouth has been welcoming holidaymakers for over two centuries, making it one of Devon’s oldest seaside resorts. While the golden two-mile stretch of sand has remained constant, the way we enjoy it has seen remarkable changes through the Victorian era, the 20th century, and right up to today with a constant sense of familiarity through the ages.

In our latest Beyond the Boat feature, we take a trip back in time along our seafront to explore the lost attractions that once shaped our coastline.

The Georgian and Victorian Boom: Health, Salt Water, and Modesty

Exmouth first gained fame as a health resort in the late 18th century. Wealthy visitors travelled by carriage to take the “sea cure,” believing that breathing coastal air and bathing in cold, salty water was the ultimate remedy for ill health.

By the time the railway reached Exmouth in 1861, tourism was booming. However, Victorian beach visits were governed by strict rules of modesty:

• Bathing Machines: Wooden horse-drawn huts on large wheels were wheeled directly into the surf so bathers could slip into the water shielded from public view.
• Segregated Beaches: Men and women were kept strictly apart on different stretches of sand.
• The New Sea Wall: Completed in the mid-19th century, our famous sea wall provided a smooth, elevated promenade where Victorian ladies and gentlemen could “take the air” in their finest outfits without getting sand on their heavy woollen clothing.

Mid-Century Seaside Fun: Open-Air Baths, A Zoo, and Fun Parks

As the 20th century progressed, seaside holidays shifted from formal health retreats to vibrant family entertainment. The Queen’s Drive area became the buzzing hub of Exmouth’s summer attractions.

Many locals and long-time visitors will fondly remember landmarks that once drew huge crowds:

• Exmouth Open-Air Swimming Pool: Built on the seafront, this popular open-air pool was a magnet on warm summer days. Filled with treated seawater, it hosted swimming galas, high-diving displays, and generations of families enjoying a dip right next to the beach. Closed in 1989, the site laid undeveloped till Ocean opened officially in 2012, a large mixed use building with softplay, bowling and places to eat.
• Exmouth Zoo: For several decades, the seafront was home to its very own small zoo and children’s animal park on Queen’s Drive, where visitors could see exotic animals right by the coast. This unfortunately closed back in 1980 but is now home to amusements.
• The Fun Park and Boating Lakes: Mini-golf, swan paddle boats on the boating lake, and classic wooden amusements defined family holidays for decades.

The Modern Seafront: Ocean and Queen’s Drive Space

Like all great coastal towns, Exmouth has continuously reinvented itself. While the open-air pool and zoo are now part of our local history, their footprint has evolved into a vibrant, modern leisure destination.

Today, the seafront blends contemporary entertainment with classic beach life:

• Ocean: Replacing older facilities, Ocean brought modern bowling, soft play, and top-floor dining with sweeping views across the mouth of the estuary and Lyme Bay.
• Queen’s Drive Space: The area now provides open public space, complete with an adventure play park, seasonal food stalls, and outdoor seating designed for families to unwind.
• Watersports Hub: The seafront has evolved into a premier destination for paddleboarding, kitesurfing, and windsurfing.

A View Spanning Generations

Whether it was a Victorian day-tripper arriving by train, a family in the 1960s spending the afternoon at the open-air pool, or visitors today enjoying an ice cream along the promenade, the magnetic pull of Exmouth beach remains unchanged.

Looking back at the shoreline from the water gives you a real sense of this living history – where classic Georgian and Victorian seafront villas sit proudly alongside the modern leisure spaces of today.

Next time you are walking along the promenade, take a moment to imagine the wooden bathing machines rolling into the waves and the bustling seaside crowds of decades gone by!