Welcome to Exeter

Exeter is an ancient city with a vibrant modern feel. It has unique attractions (including the magnificent St Peter’s Cathedral, the Historic Quayside and the medieval Underground Passages), excellent shopping and a great choice of places to eat and drink.

Visit Exeter this autumn to enjoy:

• An afternoon concert of some of Bach’s most beautiful cantatas at Crediton Parish Church.
• A visitor’s tour of the monastic community of Buckfast Abbey, whether to learn more about bee-keeping or attend a performance of Buxtehude’s masterpiece Membra Jesu Nostri.
• A calendar packed full of events, including the vibrant Farmers’ Market.
• Family attractions and other activities, from a visit to some of the historic castles in the area, to bird watching, to a ride on a heritage tram alongside the Axe Estuary.

Getting here

• By Road: Exeter is located a short distance off the M5 from the north, the A30/A303 to the east, and the A38 to the west.
• By Train: Exeter’s main station is Exeter St David’s; Exeter Central Station is just a short walk from the High Street. South West Trains and First Great Western both provide frequent services to Exeter from London, Bristol, Cornwall, Plymouth and North Devon: www.nationalrail.co.uk
• By Bus: the city’s Bus & Coach Station acts as a stopping point for National Express coaches. First and Stagecoach South West operate frequent services throughout the county and further afield: www.traveline.org.uk
• Car parking: in the city centre there are 4,500 paid parking spaces (www.exeter.gov.uk/parking). Frequent Park & Ride services operate from sites at Honiton Road, Matford and Sowton to the city centre. All the sites are clearly signed from the main routes into Exeter: www.devon.gov.uk/park_and_ride

Organising a group visit? Then find out more about coach parking in Exeter and about other discounts, offers and incentives available to groups.

For more information

• Find out more things to do on the Heart of Devon website
• Look out for late hotel deals and other special offers
• Explore the Leisure and Culture pages on the Exeter City Council website
• Drop by the Visitor Information Centre: Dix’s Field, Exeter, EX1 1GF (map); call them on 01392 665700; or email them at evit@exeter.gov.uk
• Sign up to English Touring Opera’s mailing list

Exploring Britain’s Churches & Chapels

The Automobile Association (AA) has worked in partnership with the National Churches Trust to publish Exploring Britain’s Churches & Chapels, a practical and inspirational guide to churches and chapels across England, Wales and Scotland. Due to be published on 31^st October 2011, the Guide includes over 870 of the most inspiring of these buildings, and is available for pre-order on Amazon. Drawing on this guide we have provided the tours nearest to each of our Autumn concert locations for you to see the glorious churches and chapels well worth a visit whilst you are in the area (click on the reader below to view the tour in fullscreen).

Open publication - Free publishing - More churches

The National Churches Trust is the only national, independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting and supporting church buildings of historic, architectural and community value across the UK. They have coordinated local knowledge from a number of other trusts across Britain to offer this collection of tours. For more information about their work, visit their website at www.nationalchurchestrust.org.

© AA Media Limited 2011.  Reproduced with permission.
24 top AA; 25 Centre Top © ROBERT FROST1960/Flickr

Where to eat

For light lunches, afternoon tea and pre-show suppers try Spires, Exeter Northcott’s café bar.

If you venture into town, the Princesshay shopping centre is home to branches of several of the most popular chain restaurants, including Café Rouge, Strada, carluccio’s, Giraffe and many more.

If you’re looking for independent restaurants, Harry’s Restaurant (86 Longbrook Street) serves quality food at affordable prices. A bit more upmarket, Michael Caines’ Michelin-starred restaurant Abode is located in the Cathedral Yard, just off the green. There are lots of eateries around the Cathedral Green and with panoramic views of the cathedral, this is the perfect place to sit, chill and admire the beauty of Exeter. For a cream tea try Tea on the Green, for Thai cuisine go to Thai Orchid, have a pizza at ASK or Pizza Express and a pint at the Well House.

For just a coffee, try Cafe Espresso in Castle Street and for unusual environments – New Horizon in Longbrook Street (North African) or Dinosaur Cafe at the Clock Tower (Turkish).

You won’t find it difficult to track down a pub lunch in Exeter either. The Firehouse (New North Road) does a Sunday roast that is great value, or try one of the places down by The Quay which has something for any budget.

If you’re especially interested in a veggie meal, visit The Plant Cafe-Deli on the Cathedral Yard or Herbies on North Street.

Finally, there are plenty of gastro pubs in Devon, including The Jack in The Green at Rockbeare, The Nobody Inn at Doddiscombsleigh, The Anchor at Cockwood and the Beer Engine at Newton St. Cyres.

Top 5 tips for history lovers

Exeter as a settlement can be dated back to at least 250 BC, while it was also the most south-westerly Roman fortified settlement in Britain. With this in mind, there is a huge amount of history and heritage to be uncovered.

• Exeter Cathedral is one of the finest examples of decorated Gothic work in England today. Admission Charge. Charming cathedral cafe also worth a visit.
• Red Coat Guides offer a series of FREE 90-minute history walks taking in the likes of Medieval Exeter, Ghosts and Legends, Cathedral Close and Palace Garden, Exeter’s City Wall, Cathedral to Quay and Murder and Mayhem. Visit www.exeter.gov.uk/guidedtours for programme.
• Exeter’s Underground Passages were built in the 14th and 15th centuries to bring a supply of fresh drinking water into the city. Includes a 10-minute film presentation, a 25-minute tour underground and an opportunity to explore the exhibition. Admission charge. www.exeter.gov.uk/passages
• St Nicholas Priory – experience Tudor life first hand in the heart of the city. Originally part of a medieval priory, it is now presented as a furnished Elizabethan town house. Admission charge. www.exeter.gov.uk/priory
• Self guided heritage trails. Explore Exeter’s rich and varied past on one of three self-guided heritage trails. Leaflets from Exeter Visitor Information & Tickets. Free. www.exeter.gov.uk/heritagetrails

Recommended by the locals

Are you from Exeter or surrounding areas or have you been to Devon before? Do you have a favourite restaurant/cafe/shop or any other local secrets that you would like to share with the ETO crowd?

Then leave a comment on this page to make your recommendation. Follow the same link to check out what other people have recommended so far!