Things to do in Exeter

Our most recommended things to do in Exeter

Devon and Cornwall: 5-Day Tour from London

Devon and Cornwall: 5-Day Tour from London

Day 1 Depart London and travel through the old kingdom of Wessex to the historic city of Winchester. The former capital of Anglo-Saxon England boasts a magnificent cathedral and the Norman Great Hall. From this bustling city, head to a quieter but equally profound place, the standing stone circle of Stonehenge. Having explored this mystical place, your tour will continue to Exeter, the Romans most southwesterly fortified settlement and your base for 2 nights. Day 2 Your morning is spent exploring the magnificent wilderness of Dartmoor, the ancient "Clapper Bridge" at Postbridge, and the historic market town of Tavistock, home to Francis Drake. Return to Exeter in the early afternoon to explore the Roman town, with its underground passages, ancient walls, Royal Albert Memorial Museum and famous 12th-Century Norman Cathedral. Day 3 Head west to the North Cornish coast and the Elizabethan fishing village of Boscastle. Indulge in a cream tea, take a stroll out to the dramatic headland or learn a spell or two in the Museum of Witchcraft. Travel to the village of Tintagel and the ruins of its headland Castle, whose romantic cliff-top setting is purportedly the birthplace of King Arthur. After lunch, the tour heads to Port Isaac where you can get your Doc Martin fix and fall in love with this picturesque fishing village, before heading south to the bustling port town of Falmouth for the next two nights. Day 4 Explore the most westerly tip of England on this magnificent day, taking in St. Michael’s Mount, the incredible Minack Theater, built into the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the beautiful National Trust beach at Porthcurno. You visit Land’s End before following a landscape dotted with the relics of the Cornish tin mining heritage, and now a filming location for the Poldark series. St Ives is the final stop of the day with its plethora of artists’ galleries in the maze of narrow, harbour-side streets. You return to Falmouth for the night. Day 5 This morning, you say farewell to Cornwall and travel across Bodmin Moor, a wild moorland that’s designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty. We’ll take a break before leaving Cornwall and continuing to Glastonbury. Here you can visit the ruins of 7th century Abbey, relax over some lunch or scale Glastonbury Tor for the views across five counties. From here, you travel back to London, a busy city far removed from the experiences you’ve enjoyed in the magical counties of Devon and Cornwall.

From Bristol: 4-Day Cornwall, Devon & Stonehenge Tour

From Bristol: 4-Day Cornwall, Devon & Stonehenge Tour

Day 1 You begin your journey down into the south-west of England. You’ll stop in at cute villages and enjoy a scenic drive through Exmoor National Park, a beautiful mix of moorland, woodland, coast and rivers. We like to keep things flexible this morning, so your driver-guide will touch base with you throughout the day. Next stop is Dunster; this medieval village is dominated by its Norman Castle, which you can view as you wander the village. You will visit the incredible ruins of Tintagel Castle. Sitting snug on the clifftops of North Cornwall, this historic 13th-century castle is believed to be the birthplace of King Arthur. The time is yours to explore this wonderful site. We depart Tintagel and head for the coastal city of Falmouth, our overnight base for the next two nights. Day 2 The day begins with a visit to one of Cornwall’s most loved destinations: the fishing town of St Ives. Get in touch with your inner seaside dweller as you wander this idyllic harbour town. Your next destination is a must in our opinion. Land’s End is a legendary spot that has inspired people since ancient Greek times when it was referred to as ‘Belerion’, or ‘Place of the Sun’. We head for a lunch break to an open-air theatre perched atop rugged cliffs. Yes, we’re talking about the incredible *Minack Theatre. *Please note that due to availability, we may be unable to visit this theatre. Your guide will let you know as you go. The last stop of the day is in Marazion, where you’ll get a chance for a photo of the jaw-dropping St Michael’s Mount. This rocky island is home to a medieval church and castle, and is England’s very own Mont Saint-Michel. Day 3 This morning we keep things flexible, with possible stops as we start heading north again. You then arrive in Tavistock, an ancient stannary (tin-mining district) and market town. You have free time to explore the only town in Devon to hold world heritage status. Your journey continues east into Dartmoor National Park, a stunningly craggy landscape filled with forests, rivers, wetlands and tors. You’ll stop in the picturesque village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor, where the folk song of “Widecombe Fair” has been immortalized. Your adventure in Dartmoor National Park continues with a visit to the rocky granite outcrops of Haytor before you head to Exeter for the evening. Day 4 The last day of your tour stops at Durdle Door, one of Dorset’s most photographed landmarks, and the uniqueness of Lulworth Cove. Then you head to the iconic and mind-boggling Stonehenge. It’s been around for around 5,000 years and to this day, people still flock to it in wonder. You among them? There are plenty of legends surrounding these massive stones and how they ended in such a formation. Some believe aliens were involved, while others imagine the likes of the wizard Merlin having something to do with it. Whatever you believe, you’re sure to be in awe. Your adventure ends with a lovely drive back towards Bristol, where you arrive that evening.

London: 3-Day Stonehenge, Bath & South West Coast Tour

London: 3-Day Stonehenge, Bath & South West Coast Tour

Day 1: You travel through the ancient kingdom of Wessex to Stonehenge. These stunning stone circles give you a glimpse into the spirituality of the past, and offer an experience you’re sure to remember. After admiring the spiritual majesty of this Neolithic site, you continue to the incredible geological formations of the Jurassic Coast, where the cliffs are full of fossils from the age of dinosaurs. We travel along the coast to the Durdle Door, a beautiful natural limestone arch that juts into the ocean. Take your time exploring the coast before heading to the historic city of Exeter. Once the most westerly fortified settlement in Roman Britain, this town boasts ancient city walls, a Norman castle, gothic cathedral, Tudor heritage, a quayside, and a vibrant commercial and restaurant area. You stay in Exeter for the next two nights. Day 2: Explore the remote windswept magnificence of Dartmoor, where you can see strings of native ponies grazing close to the striking rock formations. Dartmoor is also home to an immense diversity of flora and fauna, so enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the moor’s isolated beauty. You cross the ancient Clapper Bridge at Postbridge before heading to Tavistock, the historic market town and birthplace of Sir Francis Drake. Arriving back in Exeter in the early afternoon gives you a chance to explore the city’s ancient riches at a leisurely pace. The city walls, the Norman cathedral, the Royal Albert Memorial, and the Quayside all await you. Day 3: This morning you head for Glastonbury, home to the world-famous Glastonbury Music Festival. Here, you can scale the Glastonbury Tor, long associated with the mythical kingdom of Avalon and King Arthur. You make your way to Bath in time for lunch and a relaxed afternoon. Recharge in one of the many restaurants, tea shops, or pubs before embarking on your exploration of this fascinating city’s heritage. You return to London in the evening.

Exeter: City Walking Tour & Exploration Game

Exeter: City Walking Tour & Exploration Game

Turning the streets of Exeter into an Adventure Playground! Explore Exeter as your team unlocks a hidden trail, finding clues, solving puzzles & completing challenges, earning points along the way all self-guided through the Go Quest Adventures app. See the area's highlights, explore its hidden gems and learn some insider history and fun facts along the way. Your puzzle-filled adventure will weave you in and out through the city streets, down to the Quayside ending within the Northernhay Gardens. During your Quest, walk alongside thousand year old walls, hear about the last witches hanged in England, visit a forgotten medieval bridge, discover Britain’s narrowest street and see a House That Moved. You might even discover a ghost story or two. As the Quest is self guided you can: * Start your Quest whenever you want, get instant access with nothing to print off from home * Go as fast as you want and try to top the leaderboard, or go at your own pace, stopping for rest breaks along the way. * Private experience with no groups to follow. Add up to 5 players for one price. So put down your history books , put on some comfy shoes and get ready to explore the sights, discover hidden gems and ultimately, conquer your Exeter Quest. This is an ideal outdoor activity for couples, families, groups of friends, and can be the perfect team building activity. Will you conquer the Quest?

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What people are saying about Exeter

Overall rating

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7
4.7 out of 5 stars
(75 reviews)
5 out of 5 stars

Kate was really good. She did an excellent job and was always cheerful and smiling. She provided lots of information and stories about the places we visited, and was very concerned for everyone’s comfort and safety. A great driver. The places chosen were varied and interesting. Length of time at each was suitable too. We appreciated how Kate pointed out places we could investigate or cafes/restaurants we could use at each stop and she provided different activities at some stops depending on fitness levels. I couldn’t believe how much we managed to cover in 4 days and found the departure from Bristol was excellent for getting us into the area quickly. I thoroughly recommend this tour, and Kate, and am already considering what future tours we could book with Rabbie. (I hear there is a possibility of a Channel Islands tour in the future)?

5 out of 5 stars

Wow! What an amazing trip! It was extremely well organised and maximised time at the best sights. My personal favourite was hugging the ancient stones in the three circles. Very grounding. Our tour guide Kate was the best guide ever. Wonderful personality and told us loads of interesting facts and stories. I cannot recommend this tour highly enough!

5 out of 5 stars

I really appreciated the smaller group and the care and attention Jack, our tour guide, paid to all of us. We visited all of the sites listed and some extra ones we were not expecting. The Minack Theatre, Port Isaac, Dartmoor and Boscastle were among my favourite places. This trip was all that I hoped it would be and more.

5 out of 5 stars

Highly recommend this trip! John was a great driver and guide. The pace of the tour was perfect, fitting in a lot but never feeling rushed. Great accommodations as well. I will definitely book another one of the tours with this company :)

5 out of 5 stars

Our guide, Neil was very knowledgeable and accommodating. So many beautiful places on the itinerary. Would highly recommend!