Exeter Open day

[stubiff]

For anyone who went last year, or recently:
For those taking the Westpoint P&R, what were the queues like (particularly on the way back). Was the travel time ok?
Any quieter decent eateries on campus?
Any accommodation stand out (good/bad)?
Any other tips.
Thanks very much.

@Muchtoomuchtodo
We're going on Friday so will try to post about where we end up parking. We have 3 options working out from the Uni!

Actually, if you're going on the Sat then much more scope as residents parking in the area (there appears to be a lot of it) is only M-F. Would go up/off Pennsylvania Rd.

@stubiff that would be great, thanks.

DH has reminded me that we went to the P&R for the “Open Day”. The traffic jams getting back out there mid-afternoon were horrid. I’d be tempted to look at the train timetable from Tiverton Parkway if not overnighting or find something on Parkipedia/Justpark NB I THOUGHT you had to prebook parking/shuttle, but we’ve gone to far too many Unis.

We went last year on the Friday - I’m not sure how long term the roadworks were so they may have been gone but the traffic was hideous all the way to Stonehenge. We left Exeter at maybe 4 and got home after 10.30 I think with all of about a 15 minute stop. Think it took 4 hours on the way down.

I was at exeter myself and loved it. Meant to be going with dd on Friday but have apparently managed to not book it! Think we'll go anyway and just go for a stroll if we can't do much else. Anyone have any idea which building theology is in these days?!

@Madcats
There is no parking at the Uni and you had to book on the P&R.
We’re staying, out of town a bit, the night before so will be looking for a parking space early doors.

@Muchtoomuchtodo
Got there at 9am and managed to get on Prince of Wales Road. Pay and display £7.30 for the day. But will be full if much later.

For those going up the M5 afterwards be prepared for a lot of traffic between Taunton and Bristol. 2 hours added to getting home!

We went today too. Arrived at Westpoint at about 8.45 and didn't have to wait for a bus. I'd read this thread on Thursday, so we took lunch with us but it wasn't really necessary. There were food concessions in the area above the Forum with no queues and we got drinks at Starbucks without much of a wait.

We went to have a look at the accommodation as soon as we got there and just walked straight in. However, we were having a wander of the campus later and did see very long queues by about 10.30am.

A30 home was horrific!

Thanks for the top tips. We’re heading down from south wales, aiming to be there by about 9.30. Hopefully our journey home will be kind 🤞🏻

Really good day, thanks for all the tips. Am shattered but DS really liked the facilities and subject lecture. Used Westpoint P & R which was ideal and free but journey home was awful 😞! Said to DS “if you go there I’m never ever driving down or back on a Friday afternoon!”

We’re back!
We had a great, very busy day.
We parked at St Davids train station which worked well, saw the accommodation first before heading to the 3 talks that DS had booked. Then up to the sports area and back down to the great hall and that part of the campus. Then an I direct walk back to the car to see bits that we’d missed.
It was very busy but well organised. We’re off to a good start!

I think changeover day for a lot of rentals in the SW is Friday so that would def impact the A30 and M5 volume of traffic

'Change over day' is only really a thing in multi-week holidays. This was just everybody leaving because it was the end of half term. TBH though, the A30 cheerfully bottlenecks whenever it sees fit. You can never guarantee it will be clear.

@Muchtoomuchtodo Glad you enjoyed it. Thought it was good also.

Generally, can't see any reason not to seriously consider it. Unless you went to a subject talk and found out it wasn't really what you were after.