Short answer: A la Ronde, the sixteen-sided National Trust house on the hill, is the best wet-day option in Exmouth. World of Country Life has a large indoor museum alongside its outdoor attractions. The River Exe Café, moored out in the estuary, is a memorable lunch in any weather.
Two miles of sand is not much use in the rain, but Exmouth is a town of fifteen thousand people rather than a village, and it has two genuinely good indoor options within ten minutes of the seafront — plus the most memorable meal on this coast.
A sixteen-sided house on the hill above the town, built by two cousins in the 1790s and filled with a shell-encrusted gallery and their collections. It is properly strange, the National Trust volunteers here are excellent, and it is entirely indoors. Note there is no full café — a cabin serving light bites — and it is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Mostly known for the deer train, falconry and ferret racing, but the large indoor museum is what makes it work in bad weather. Families report spending five or six hours here. Animal handling sessions run indoors too, so a wet day is far from wasted.
The River Exe Café is moored out in the estuary and reached by its own water taxi — 360-degree views, seafood platters, and the single most memorable meal available anywhere on this coast. Book well ahead; it is not a walk-in. Closed Mondays. Vegetarian options are the weak spot.
The Point at the marina opens at 8.30 and does a fisherman's brunch worth ordering, handles gluten-free properly, and has a dog station with blankets and treats. The Grove on the seafront has a large indoor space, window tables facing the prom and a dog hydration keg outside. The Beach Pub near the marina is independent rather than a chain and better for it.
See the full Exmouth guide, filtered by who's with you.
Plan your day near Exmouth →