- Exeter Cathedral — The city’s heart: soaring Gothic architecture, astronomy clock, carved misericords and one of the longest uninterrupted medieval vaulted ceilings in England. Even if you skip the guided tour, wandering the close and catching a choral evensong is proper Exeter atmosphere.
- Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) — A compact, brilliantly curated museum that mixes Devon archaeology, natural history and world cultures. Free-ish, friendly, and great when the weather’s rubbish.
- Medieval Underground Passages — Narrow stone tunnels built to protect the city’s medieval piped water supply; the guided tour is a proper hands-on history lesson and delightfully weird. Note: you’ll need to book and there are steps, but it’s uniquely Exeter.
- Rougemont Castle & Northernhay Gardens — Ruined
- Exeter Cathedral — The city’s heart: soaring Gothic architecture, astronomy clock, carved misericords and one of the longest uninterrupted medieval vaulted ceilings in England. Even if you skip the guided tour, wandering the close and catching a choral evensong is proper Exeter atmosphere.
- Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) — A compact, brilliantly curated museum that mixes Devon archaeology, natural history and world cultures. Free-ish, friendly, and great when the weather’s rubbish.
- Medieval Underground Passages — Narrow stone tunnels built to protect the city’s medieval piped water supply; the guided tour is a proper hands-on history lesson and delightfully weird. Note: you’ll need to book and there are steps, but it’s uniquely Exeter.
- Rougemont Castle & Northernhay Gardens — Ruined Norman castle set next to England’s very old public gardens; a slice of military, Roman and civic history with lawns, memorials and surprising views over the city.
- Exeter Quay & Canal Basin — A hardworking historic quay that’s become a chill waterside stretch for walks, bike hire, paddling and decent pubs. It’s where the city unwinds and feels a bit like Devon in miniature.
- The House That Moved — A proper oddity: a 14th-century timber house that was physically moved down the street in 1961 to save it from roadworks. Quirky, photo-worthy and oddly poignant about how the city treats its past.
- St Nicholas Priory — A 12th-century priory house with layers of history and a small museum/café; it’s intimate, atmospheric and far less crowded than the big-name sites.
- Exeter Guildhall — One of the oldest civic buildings still in use in England: timber-framed, full of creaky charm and a proper sense of local continuity. If you time it right you can peek inside the historic council chamber.
- Exeter Phoenix — The city’s contemporary arts and music hub: exhibitions, gigs, film and a sociable café. It’s where modern Exeter shows up — useful if you want art, live music or a creative buzz.
- Cathedral Green & Exeter Covered Market — The Green hosts regular markets, street life and great photo spots; the Covered Market and surrounding Fore Street are where you’ll find independent shops, local produce and proper Exeter character on foot.
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Best Backpacking
Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.