Does anyone know Exeter and can give me some advice please?

[CleanQueen123]

I'll be staying at the Exeter St David's Premier Inn for two nights from tomorrow.

Their website advised to park in the train station car park, but the reviews are awful. Can anyone reassure me that it isn't dodgy and I won't find myself with a fine please?

I also need to get to and from Streatham Campus both days. Some people seem to think it's a 10 minute walk, Google says 25. Am I better off just getting a taxi from the station? I could do without arriving as a sweaty mess!

Any advice gratefully received 🙏🏼

I’ve stayed there, the car park is directly in front of the hotel and definitely didn’t seem dodgy; it’s outside the station so obviously there’s lots of coming and going and it’s not in the centre of town so it’s quieter at night. I would leave 20 minutes for the walk to the campus and yes it is all up hill (steep!). So leave extra time if you don’t want to rush / want to be calm and collected on arrival!

Ds was in uni accommodation right next to the station, it took him about 12 mins but that would have been a fast marching.

There's a taxi rank at the station, I'd advise that unless you want to arrive bright red and sweaty! It's a very steep walk.

I think the car park is safe it's well lit and busy when trains are running. Hotel right opposite. The uni is up a massive hill but there are tacos at the station so you could get one there and walk back.

Taxis not tacos! For tacos they sell them in town....

Thanks all. Sounds like a taxi is the best idea. I really don't want the first impression of me to be one of a sweaty red faced fool!

Does anyone know roughly what it will cost? Taxis cost an absolute fortune where I live so usually avoid like the plague!

The car park is fine, never had a fine or felt unsafe.
The hill isn’t awful but depends on what you are used to I guess. There’s always lots of taxis around or you could ask the front desk to book you one.

Walking wouldn't usually be an issue but I'm trying to convince people that I'm a sophisticated professional 😂 arriving with sweat running down my face and fogged up glasses won't help my cause!

Nobody said the hill was awful, but it is undeniably pretty long and steep for a British city. I live here, so am very used to it (which is how I know it is very steep).

The station car park is absolutely fine, but make sure you use the payment machines INSIDE the car park not the ones on the pavement outside. There is a bus service from the station to the university, route 4. It is a VERY steep walk to the university from the station, I definitely wouldn't try it if you don't want to turn up a sweaty mess! The bus company is Stagecoach, there will be a timetable on their website. If not getting the bus, get a taxi. There is a Hackney rank in front of the station.

Thank you. It was the payment of the parking that seemed to get bad reviews and resulted in people getting fines. I'll be leaving my car there for about 48 hours so could do without the fine!

It isn't dodgy in the main one (and I've used the slightly more out-of-the-way Ward's Yard carpark without issue before). Parking on the uni campus is free evenings and weekends. Depending on how mobile you are / how much luggage you have, this could be a possibility. It's about a 1km walk to the Premier Inn from the middle of campus. The Premier Inn is downhill from the uni and it's a very steep hill. There's also a bus from outside the station.

Thank you. I'll be an the uni all day Monday and Tuesday but I've been lead to believe that on campus parking is very limited and/or you need a pass which I don't have. I might chance my arm on Tuesday and see if I can get on road parking though so I can just jump in the car and go home when I'm done.

I've booked the bus. With any luck I'll get there on time and without being a sweaty mess 😂🙏🏼🤞