The town faces onto Lyme Bay, and is to the west of the mouth of the River Axe with red cliffs to one side and white cliffs on the other. Axmouth and Beer are nearby. A sea wall provides access to the mostly shingle beach stretching for about a mile, and a small harbour.

Seaton stands on the 95-mile Jurassic Coast of the Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Coastline. From here it is possible to visit all three eras of rocks strata in this 185 million-year ‘geological walk through time’.

The area around Seaton is rich in wildlife. The agricultural landscape supports areas of ancient woodland (often with impressive displays of bluebells), important networks of hedges, unimproved grassland and springline mires. Around Beer there are still remnants of flower-rich chalk grassland, a rare habitat in Devon. The Axe Estuary dominates the centre of the area, with its associated areas of grazing marsh, and the River Axe itself is of international importance for its aquatic communities. To the east lies the Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs National Nature Reserve.

The bird-watching and wildlife areas of the Axe Vale have been enhanced by the establishment of the Seaton Marshes Local Nature Reserve with important work being carried out by the Axe Vale & District Conservation Society. In 2007 an Audouin's Gull was seen here - one of very few British records.

Key Stats

• The population for the market town area has risen by around 12% since 1991. The rate of growth in Seaton is twice that of the remaining parishes. The population is around 6,700.
• The level of households occupied by individuals in the market town area as a whole is slightly higher than the district, county and national averages. Single person occupancy is higher in the urban centre.
• Unemployment levels in the Seaton area are similar to the district average and below the county and national averages. Rates in Seaton parish are twice those in the remaining area.
• Claim rates for Income Support are noticeably lower in the remaining parishes than in Seaton parish whereas claim rates for Job Seekers Allowance are lower in Seaton than the remaining area. Claim rates for both benefits are significantly below the national average in all areas.
• The highest proportion of people who are employed work in the wholesale and retail sector. The largest number of businesses are in the wholesale & retail and hotels & restaurants sectors.
• Children living outside Seaton parish achieve slightly better results at Key Stage 2 in Science and Maths than those that live in the town. Rates for English are similar across the market town area. Rates in all three subjects are better than the county and national averages.
• Achievement rates for GSCEs at grades A* to C were also marginally better for children living outside Seaton although the percentage of children achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A* to G was similar across the area. Again rates were higher than the county and national comparators.
• Select here for more statistics about Seaton and surrounding area. (890KB - pdf help)