Lady’s Exeter Travel Guide

After a great day of traveling to Stonehenge and Durdle Door, my three-day tour of southwest England continued with a stop in Exeter. The city is known for its Gothic cathedral, Roman history, and university, and I had two nights to explore the highlights.

Exeter Travel

On the first evening I visited the square around Exeter Cathedral, which was buzzing with the sights and sounds of the city’s annual Christmas market.

Rows of wooden chalets filled the area, and everything from German sausages to Peruvian clothing was on offer. There was even a stall selling kangaroo meat from Australia.

After browsing the wares, I met my Rabbie’s tour group at a pub in the Cathedral Yard. I was in Exeter compliments of Rabbie’s, a company that offers tours of the UK that balance group transport with individual exploration.

In the basement of the pub was an ancient Roman well along with a human skeleton that was found during a renovation. It was one of many unique things I saw on my Exeter travels.

The next day I explored more of Exeter, from tiny alleys packed with boutiques and cafes to ancient Roman walls, pretty Georgian buildings, and Exeter Castle. The Exeter City Walls were particularly impressive.

Exeter even had a system of vaulted medieval subterranean passageways called the Underground Passages. They used to transport water under the city and are open for tours today.

Exeter Hotel

When I wasn’t out and about in town, I was relaxing at the Hotel du Vin Exeter. The hotel had offered me a room for my stay in Devon, and its location near the cathedral was perfect.

Downstairs there was a relaxing library, a buzzing bar, a spa, an indoor/outdoor pool, and a welcoming fireplace to sit by.

Upstairs I had a spacious room with a huge bed, a desk, and a large bathroom with a shower and separate free-standing tub.

REN cosmetics, an iPad, and a free mini bar were among the many amenities, and the double-glazed windows meant that I slept peacefully.

The only downside was that the bathroom had no door, which could have been awkward had I not been traveling solo.

During my Exeter travels, I had breakfast and dinner in the hotel restaurant. Breakfast consisted of a large buffet as well as hot items ranging from eggs Benedict to shakshuka.

Dinner was a three-course meal of local crab, tender duck, and a chocolate-and-peanut-butter dessert. It was complimented by a nice Pinot Noir, and was a great experience all around. I left happy.

Exeter Travel

I also left Exeter itself happy. The city on the River Exe was small, but it packed a lot of cultural punch. From the cathedral and the Christmas market to the cobbled streets and Roman ruins, it had everything I could have wanted.

Including a great location. Being in Devon, it was close enough to London for an easy trip, and not far from the beautiful coast and the national park in Dartmoor.

The last of these was where my tour of southwest England was taking me after Exeter. To be continued…

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