Trains to Exeter

Exeter is one of the UK’s oldest cities, so it’s no wonder that it’s rich with culture. Home to a range of interesting museums and monuments, it’s perfect for a day out or weekend away. The streets are bustling with character, and you can even see what’s lurking beneath through the medieval underground passages.

Looking to be entertained? Take a look at what’s on at one of Exeter’s great theatres: the Northcott, the Barnfield, the Exeter Corn Exchange and the Cygnet theatre all host a great variety of performances.

Exeter’s Cathedral is stunningly imposing, and has the longest stretch of unbroken gothic vaulting in the world. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum displays a superb collection of objects from across the globe, with free entry.

Follow the path of the Roman City Wall to learn more about the city’s history, then head underground on a guided tour of the unique Underground Passages. Take a free guided walking tour of the city with the Red Coat Guided Tours, running daily throughout the year.

In 2019, Exeter was the only UK city to be added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network with the prestigious UNESCO City of Literature status.

Exeter’s bid centred around 1,000 years of unbroken history around reading, recognising the Exeter Book at Exeter Cathedral, as well as what reading and writing means to residents in Exeter. The Exeter Book is one of the oldest and best-preserved collections of old English verse in the world, and is older than famous texts such as Beowulf.

The University of Exeter also hosts the archives of works connected to famous writers such as William Golding, Ted Hughes, Agatha Christie, Daphne DuMaurier and Sir John Betjeman.

Exeter is a great place to eat out, due to its combination of well-known eateries, independent restaurants and those headed by renowned chefs, such as Mitch Tonks’ Rockfish on Exeter Quayside. There are also a host of regular street food markets from April - October, and a weekly Farmers Market on Thursdays throughout the year. Follow the Exeter Food & Drink Trail to discover the wealth of local producers in the region, and enjoy their wares throughout Exeter and the surrounding region.

Football fans can watch Exeter City in action at St James Park, whilst rugby fans can get their fix at Sandy Park, home to the Exeter Chiefs. If you want to get in on the action yourself, Exeter has a wealth of cycle routes and walking trails in and around the city centre, and there is a great choice of watersports on offer at Exeter Quayside.

Exeter has a buzzing nightlife so you'll never be short of entertainment. Aside from the great choice of bars and pubs, there are theatres, cinemas and live music venues, plus keep an eye out for music and cultural festivals throughout the year.

Exeter is a great place to shop. Big name stores can be found on the High Street, in Princesshay and the Guildhall Shopping Centre. Head to Gandy Street or Fore Street for independent shops and for local produce check out Magdalen Road or the weekly Farmers’ Market.