Hi, everyone, we will be staying in Exeter next month so that my son can attend an offer-holder day at the university. He's scheduled to attend a tour of the campus in the middle of the day on a Friday and a history department presentation in the middle of the day on Saturday. (We leave Sunday.) That leaves us a lot of time to kill in Exeter. I will see the cathedral during the presentation, and we are both going to do the Exeter Underground, but can anyone recommend other activities in and around the city? I may spend Friday seeing Stonehenge and leaving my son to tour the campus himself, but if there's a town that's nearer that we both could see, we would prefer that option. Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Washington DC
27166 posts
The Guild Hall is supposed to be interesting. I didn't get to see the interior because there was some sort of special event going on. If you want to see it, don't leave till the end of your trip like I did. It seems to be a popular event venue.
There's also the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, though the website says the World Cultures collection is currently closed.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Topsham is an attractive setting on the river and there are plenty of good coffee shops, restaurants and antique shops.
The train ride from Exeter along the Exe estuary through Dawlish and towards Teignmouth is one of the most stunning in the country.
Many of the National Trust properties don't open until March, but A la Ronde will be open, near Exmouth, which is an unusual 18th century 16 sided house. Check the website nationaltrust.org.uk to see if anything else appeals.
Exeter to Stonehenge is c 3 hours each way by public transport, which is long for a day trip. It seems a pity to spend so long in transit, when Exeter is located in one of the most attractive parts of England.
Being February, of course, the weather may curtail any planned excursions.