🏙️ Webcams Bexhill-on-Sea online — watch in real time

Bexhill-on-Sea: a seaside resort with history

Bexhill-on-Sea is a charming coastal town in East Sussex, located between Hastings and Eastbourne. This quiet resort is part of the heritage region "1066 Country" — lands inextricably linked to the history of the Norman Conquest of England. With a population of 43,754 according to the 2021 census, Bexhill retains the atmosphere of an old English seaside resort, where time flows measuredly and calmly.

The first mention of the settlement dates back to 772 — a charter of King Offa of Mercia, where it appears under the name Bexelei. In the Domesday Book of 1086, Bexhill was recorded as a large settlement with 80 households — placing it among the 20% largest settlements documented in William the Conqueror's famous manuscript.

The birth of British motorsport

Bexhill-on-Sea is officially recognised as the birthplace of British motorsport. In May 1902, the 8th Earl De La Warr, together with the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland, organised the country's first races on public roads. The 1-kilometre track ran along the coastline — from the top of Galley Hill to the Sackville Hotel. Over 200 participants from continental Europe took part in the competition, and thousands of spectators watched cars reaching speeds of over 50 mph at a time when the limit was 12 mph.

The success of the event inspired the earl to create a motor centre in Bexhill — by 1906, ambitious plans had been developed for a track to Beachy Head with garages, restaurants, and hotels. However, the project was never realised, and in 1907 the motorsport community moved to the new Brooklands track. The last competitions took place in 1925, after which the RAC withdrew permissions for speed races on public roads. In 1995, Bexhill was officially recognised as the "Birthplace of British Motorsport," and in 1994 granite obelisks were installed on the promenade marking the start and finish of the 1902 track.

De La Warr Pavilion: modernism on the promenade

The main architectural landmark of Bexhill is the De La Warr Pavilion, opened in 1935. It is one of the first public buildings in the UK in the Modernist style, designed by German architects Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff. The pavilion was conceived as a cultural centre for the townspeople and today remains a functioning art space with exhibitions, theatre productions, and educational programmes.

Concrete structures, glass facades, and open terraces create a unique contrast with the Victorian and Edwardian buildings along the promenade. Beneath the pavilion's terrace lies a classical colonnade offering wide views of the bay towards Beachy Head. The pavilion has become a venue for various cultural events and festivals, attracting contemporary art enthusiasts from across the country.

Victorian resort and the railway

The modern history of Bexhill as a seaside resort began on 27 June 1846, when the first train of the Brighton, Lewes and Hastings Railway arrived in the town. From that moment, Bexhill began its transformation from a small parish settlement into a popular holiday destination for Londoners. The current station was built in 1891, by which time the town had already earned a reputation as a fashionable resort.

The Victorian era left a rich architectural heritage in Bexhill: elegant terraces, Regency-style hotels, manicured gardens, and a colonnaded promenade. Bexhill's beaches became the first in the UK to allow mixed bathing for men and women — at the time, this caused a real scandal in society. The wide, level promenade with shingle beaches and sandy flats at low tide remains the main walking spot for locals and tourists alike.

Cultural life and famous natives

Bexhill-on-Sea is the hometown of several well-known Britons. Comedian and actor Eddie Izzard regularly visits his hometown, and platinum-selling band Keane wrote the song "Sovereign Light Cafe," inspired by childhood trips to Bexhill. The town is home to the Bexhill Museum, opened in 1914, with exhibits ranging from Eddie Izzard's model railway to dinosaur footprints and collections of 17th-century costumes.

Modern Bexhill is a blend of retro charm and contemporary culture. Independent cafés, vintage shops, art spaces, and music venues create a creative atmosphere unusual for a traditional seaside resort. The town is known for its festivals, including the Bexhill 100 Festival of Motoring, reviving the traditions of historic motor racing.

The Old Town and surroundings

The Old Town area is the historic heart of Bexhill, where medieval streets and buildings have been preserved. St Peter's Church from the 11th century, the "Bexhill Stone" discovered under the nave during restoration — all this bears witness to the centuries-old history of the settlement. Cobbled streets and old taverns create the atmosphere of a true English province.

In the surroundings of Bexhill, there are natural attractions: the Combe Valley Countryside Park, the coastal cliffs of Beachy Head, and scenic trails along the coast. The region offers numerous routes for walking and cycling, allowing you to enjoy the nature of East Sussex.

Why Bexhill is popular with retirees

Bexhill-on-Sea traditionally attracts older people — a calm pace of life, clean sea air, a level promenade without steep climbs, developed infrastructure, and affordable housing prices compared to London make the town an ideal place for retirement. Numerous hobby clubs, community centres, and an active cultural life provide a rich social environment for the older generation.

A favourable microclimate — less rainfall than the national average, mild winters, and warm summers — adds to Bexhill's attractiveness as a place to live year-round. Proximity to major cities (London is about 100 km away) while maintaining provincial cosiness is a rare combination valued by many Britons.

What the cameras show

This page features webcams of Bexhill-on-Sea broadcasting the town in real time. You can watch the promenade, beaches, De La Warr Pavilion, and central streets — choose the stream that interests you to see the town as it is right now. Webcams of Bexhill-on-Sea online are an opportunity to assess the weather, sea conditions, and atmosphere of the resort before your trip or simply to escape to the seaside for a while.