Exeter is the county town of Devon and historically the administrative capital of the south-west peninsula. Once among the 5 largest and most important cities in England but now relatively small and sleepy. A historic mid-sized cathedral city with a good blend of arts, education and economy.
Understand
In AD 50 a Roman military base was built at a strategic crossing point on the banks of the river Exe, seven years after the main Roman invasion of Britain. The settlement quickly gained in importance as the administrative centre for the Dunmommi tribe once the legionnaires left. Indeed, it's Roman name, Isca Dumnomiorum, means "town of the Dunmommi tribe". Parts of the original Roman walls can still be seen today. The city continued to hold regional significance through the turbulent Dark Ages, being twice captured by the invading Vikings. Following the Norman Conquest, the inhabitants rebelled against William the Conqueror, who laid siege and subsequently built Rougemount Castle to ensure future compliance. During the renaissance period it developed into an economically powerful city through the wool industry, and a period of rapid growth commenced. Later, at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, industry was driven by water power from the River Exe. It remained a significant seaport (courtesy of its Ship Canal) until the age of steam, but there was no major industrialisation in the later 19th century. The city was badly damaged in an incendiary bombing raid on the High Street and surrounding areas in 1942, and although post-war reconstruction has been limited, a number of interesting buildings remain.
Now Exeter is the commercial and service centre for a largely agricultural hinterland, with a population of around 110,000. Adequate facilities for tourists exist, but tourism does not dominate; regularly voted among the top 3 cities in the UK for quality of life.
Get in
By plane
<b>UK Domestic flights operated by flybe to Exeter International Airport are available from the following destinations;</b>
Belfast City (BHD)
Edinburgh (EDI)
Glasgow (GLA)
Guernsey (GCI)
Jersey (JER)
Leeds Bradford (LBA)
Manchester (MAN)
Newcastle (NCL)
Norwich (NWI)
Skybus also operates services to and from St. Mary's - Scilly Isles (ISC) during the summer.
<b>International flights to Exeter operated by flybe. are available from the following destinations;</b>
Alicante (ALC)
Amsterdam (AMS)
Bergerac (EGC)
Brest (BES)
Chambery (CMF)
Dublin (DUB)
Geneva (GVA)
Malaga (AGP)
Split (SPU)
Murcia (MJV)
Palma (PMI)
Paris (CDG)
Salzburg (SZG)
Air Transat also operates a scheduled service to Toronto, Canada. There are charter flights to many holiday destinations.
Transport to and from the airport is by public bus or taxi. Buses run fairly frequently, with a twenty minute trip to the city centre bus station, and costs about __3.00 single. A taxi costs between __10.00 and __20.00.
By train
Exeter is on the London Paddington to Cornwall line. Exeter St. Davids is the main train station, a 10 minute walk or bus journey to the city centre. Several smaller stations for local and regional trains exist, including Central, St Thomas and St James's Park . Central station is just a 5 minute walk into the city centre along Queen Street. The average journey time from London Paddington to Exeter St. Davids is anywhere between 2 and 3 hours, with the average being around 2 hours 30 minutes. There is also a slower service from London Waterloo which can take up to 4 hours. National services to Bristol, Birmingham and other destinations are also run several times daily.
By Bus
[http://www.nationalexpress.com/ National Express] operate a number of bus services from points around the United Kingdom that arrive into the city's bus and coach station, located in Paris Street, only a few minutes walk to the main shopping area in High Street and the cathedral green.
Two companies run coaches between Exeter coach station and London's Victoria Coach Station. National Express offer a nine times a day service (Service Numbers 501, 404 & 406) with some advance fares as low as __2.00 return, and [http://www.megabus.com Megabus] run once a day starting at __1.50.
Get around
The central area of the city is fairly small, so it is easy to get around on foot.
Buses within the city are operated by Stagecoach Devon, who also operate buses to most regional destinations. A day pass costs __3.50, 1 week passes are __12.00. Some regional routes are operated by FirstBus, and by small independent operators.
Cycle paths of varying quality run through the city. The most scenic route runs along the canal towpath.
See
'''City walls (incomplete)'''
''' Exeter Cathedral''', [http://www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/Welcome.html] and the Cathedral Green; Exeter's top attraction and a very beautiful gothic building. The cathedral lays claim to having the longest unbroken stone roof beam of any building in the world. The Cathedral Green opposite can be a good place to chill out on in the summer, ideal for an inexpensive picnic.
''' Guildhall''', [http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2894], claimed to be the oldest municipal building in England still serving its original purpose.
'''Historic quayside'''
'''Medieval churches''' in the city centre: St Martin's, St Mary Arches, St Mary Steps, St Olave's St Petrock's, St Stephen's
'''Parliament Street''', claimed to be the world's narrowest.
'''Rougemont Castle'''
'''Royal Albert memorial museum'''
''' St Nicholas Priory''', [http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2949], the 900-year-old guest wing of a former Benedictine Priory (currently closed for renovation, expected to re-open 2008).
'''Underground passages''', one hour Tours are easily arranged of the city's unique medieval (and now out of use) water system. Not for the causterphobic! The entrance can be found next to the Princesshay shopping develpoment. It is open all year, __4.90 adults, __3.40 children.
'''University of Exeter parkland campuses and sculpture walk'''
Do
Take a guided tour with the City's volunteer Redcoat guides - tours leave the Cathedral Green or the Quay and last 1-2 hours
Crealy Great Adventure Park, Sidmouth Road, 01395 233 200. Just outside Exeter, and easily accessible from the main bus station via the 52A or 52B bus, this adventure park has a decent collection of indoor and outdoor slides and rides which should keep children occupied for a full day.
The canal and river offers opportunities for watersports and cycling. Bikes and canoes can be hired from Saddles and Paddles [http://www.saddlepaddle.co.uk/], No. 4 Kings Wharf, The Quay, Exeter, EX4 2AN, who offer good advice and the local bike route maps. A series of cycle paths [http://www.devon.gov.uk/execycletopshamdisplay.pdf] exist on either side of the river. Along the east river bank, the village of Starcross and the beach of Dawlish Warren are easily reached, and Dawlish, Teignmouth and the south west coastpath can also be reached via this route. On the west bank, the gastronomic town of Topsham, Lympstone village, and seaside resort town Exmouth can be reached.
Watch
Cinema
'''Odeon, Sidwell Street''' (Near The Juke Of York Pub)
'''Picture House, Bartholomew Street''' (Near The World Food Shop), with a cafe-bar and free wi-fi
'''Vue, Summerland Street''' (Near The Bus Station)
Theatre
Northcott Theatre, located on the University campus
Barnfield Theatre
New Theatre
Sport
'''Exeter City Football Club ''' play in the third tier of English football. The 8830 capacity St James' Park stadium is 10 minutes walk from the city centre.
'''Exeter Chiefs Rugby Union Club'''
'''Exeter Falcons Speedway''' (currently without a home in the city)
'''Exeter Racecourse'''
Learn
[http://www.ex.ac.uk/ University of Exeter]
[http://www.exe-coll.ac.uk/ Exeter College]
Work
The largest employers are the Devon County Council, the University of Exeter, and the Met Office.
Employment agencies cluster around the west end of the High Street.
The Job centre is at Clarendon House, Western Way
Exeter Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) is at Wat Tyler House in King William Street
Buy
The High Street is mostly taken up by national clothing and electronics chains, and was branded a "clone town" in a 2005 poll of bland high streets. At that point Exeter High Street had only one "independent" shop (a tabacconist).
Larger concentrations of independent shops can be found in the streets just off the High Street. Fore Street has a number of good outdoor goods shops. Gandy Street and the Cathedral Green offer a similarly eclectic range of retailers. Magdalen Road, a few minutes walk from the city centre, offers award winning butchers and fishmongers as well as handmade jewellery and giftshops.
A major redevelopment of Princesshay and surrounding streets has brought many new or redeveloped shops and restaurants.
Mall-type shopping developments in the city include the Guildhall and Harlequins
Eat
What follows is a small selection of the city's restaurants; the national chains of Pizza houses etc are also well represented, some of them in attractive settings e.g. ASK and Pizza Express on Cathedral Green, and Zizzi's in Gandy Street. The suburb of Topsham also has a good range of resturaunts.
Budget
Chadni's" address="Heavitree Road. Kashmiri
Dinosaur Cafe" address="New North Road" - serving home made traditional Turkish meals and British food >
Gandhi. ew North Road.
New Horizon Cafe. 7 Longbrook Street.
Taj Mahal. ueen Street.
Mashawi. idwell Street.
Midrange
Al Fared" address="Cathedral Green. Moroccan
Blue Fish brasserie" address="Queen Street.
Cat in the Hat" address="Magdalen Road. [http://www.cathat.co.uk/index.html]
Cohiba, 36 South St" address="" telephone="01392 678 445. Tapas
Closed. astle Street.
Hour Glass Inn. elbourne Street. superior pub-type venue
Splurge
ExeShed" address="Bedford Street.
Michael Caine's" address="in the Royal Clarence Hotel, Cathedral Green.
Olive Tree" address="in the Queen's Court Hotel.
St Olave's Court" address="Mary Arches Street.
Drink
The Double Locks. anal Banks, Exeter, EX2. 1392 256947. ttp://www.doublelocks.co.uk/. The Double Locks pub sits in an idyllic location on the edge of Exeter canal, 20 minutes walk from the quayside. Occasional live music, child-friendly, a solid selection of real ales and a reasonable menu. On sunny weekends the pub attracts many punters, and the May Day bank-holiday beer festival can get very busy, with long queues.
Imperial. ew North Road, Exeter. 10 minutes walk from the city centre, a decently priced J D Weatherspoons pub.
The Angel. ueen Street, Exeter. 1392 422455. A small but cosy bar with a relaxed crowd, the Angel has some good and varied music nights.
Timepiece. ittle Castle Street, Exeter, EX4 3PX. 1392 493096 . ttp://www.timepiecenightclub.co.uk/. A bar with a nightclub above.
The Well House. athedral Green. Attached to Michael Caines restaurant on Cathedral Green. Good selection of Real Ales, and a skeleton in the basement!
Sleep
Budget
'''Exeter Youth Hostel''', 47 Countess Wear Road, Countess Wear. Tel: 01392 873329, __16.00, e-mail: exeter@yha.org.uk
''' Globe Backpackers''', 71 Holloway Street, __16.50, Tel: 01392 215521, e-mail: info@exeterbackpackers.co.uk, [http://www.exeterbackpackers.co.uk/].
'''Holiday accommodation at the University of Exeter''', __19.50 single, __29.50 double, [http://www.admin.ex.ac.uk/hospitality/visitors/accommodation/index.shtml]
'''Silver Springs''', 12 Richmond Road, St. Davids. Tel: 01392 494040, e-mail: reservations@silversprings.co.uk, __35.00 single, __65.00 double
Mid range
''' Great Western Hotel''', St David's Station Approach, single __46.00, double __72.00, Tel: 01392 274039, e-mail: bookings@greatwesternhotel.co.uk, [http://www.greatwesternhotel.co.uk/innsite/prices.htm].
'''City Gate''' Iron Bridge, Lower North Street, Tel: 01392 495811, [http://www.citygatehotel.com/], __75.00 single, __85.00 double
'''Hotel Barcelona''', Magdalen Street, closed until December 2009
Splurge
'''ABode Exeter''', Royal Clarence Hotel, Cathedral Yard, Tel: 01392 319955, __100.00 double [http://www.abodehotels.co.uk].*'''
'''Southgate Hotel''', Southernhay East, __115.00 double, [http://www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-6624-mercure-southgate-hotel-exeter/index.shtml]
''' St Olaves Hotel''', 18-22 Mary Arches St, Exeter, __115.00 double, __155.00 suite, Tel: 01392 217736, email: info@olaves.co.uk [http://www.olaves.co.uk/]
Stay safe
Exeter is very safe compared to other cities in the UK. There is a slight likelihood that you will be asked for money by homeless people at some point, but most of them are not aggressive and will simply move onto the next person if you give them a 'No, sorry.'
Cope
The local newspaper is the Express and Echo, published Monday to Saturday. It is a good source for local events listings. The Exeter Flying Post offers alternative editorial views.
Get out
One of the main pulling points for the city is the ease in which one can get out of the urban environment and into the countryside. Exeter is a convenient gateway to Dartmoor, Plymouth and the rest of Devon and Cornwall.
Dartmouth a scenic town
Dartmoor National Park
Exmoor National Park
Plymouth