Short break in Exeter and surroundings, advice please.

[Justwonswards]

Having searched I can't see much advice except for moves to or uni in Exeter.

I've read a little about Topsham.

We are travelling to Exeter for work, for three days, in February. Any suggestions of things to do, most welcome. Prefer indie/quirky, rather than chain and often prefer ‘areas’ of cities, rather than the city centres.

As we are travelling from North Yorkshire, we are also thinking about adding a stay before/after the Exeter days to make more of the long journey.

Nice hotels, possibly travelling further to The Eden Project?

Any ideas appreciated. Thanks.

I wouldn't bother traveling to the Eden Project. It's underwhelming.
Exeter: Good food places Magdalen Road. Gandy Street is indie.

Thanks, great start. We are plant/garden lovers and allotment holders, but I will take a closer look and read Tripadvisor!

Indie places, to follow up too. Thanks again.

Topsham is a nice place to spend a day. It has loads of nice independent cafes, shops and pubs/restaurants to browse around, and even a big antique shop if you like that sort of thing. When I’ve been to Topsham before, I’ve got the train and walked from the station to Dart’s Farm – which has a lovely cafe and farm shop – had a browse there, and then taken the public footpath route into the centre of Topsham. After this, I tend to have a little look in all the shops, and then stop for a drink and a snack in one of the good pubs before heading back to Exeter. It’s a long way of going around Topsham, but the public footpath walk is very scenic and not to be missed.

If you like historic buildings, you could visit the cathedral. We were in Exeter for a few days last year and struck lucky by noticing a sign for this place, which is not often open: https://nicholaspriory.com/ Absolutely fascinating.

We also enjoyed just walking about the city, especially near the cathedral and the river. The house that moved is a curiosity!

We had a good meal in a vegetarian restaurant called Herbie's. That's the only non-chain place I can recall now.

Absolutely agree with Topsham and Darts Farm. (The latter's not cheap, mind you. It calls itself the Harrods of the Fields.)

If you're driving it would take less than 40 mins to get to Sidmouth. (Buses also available.) Fabulous coastal town, lots of quirky independent stuff, glorious walks through the Byes along the river Sid, with unusual trees in a town-wide arboretum.

Totnes is a 45 minute drive but fits exactly in with what you’d like. Quirky vintage shops, cafes, record shops & just a lovely vibe!

If you’d considered the extra drive to the Eden Project, I’d go to the Lost Gardens of Heligan instead. It’s 80 miles away so I wouldn’t normally suggest as a trip from Exeter, but if you are open to the distance it’s the better garden experience imo.

Topsham is lovely, if going to Darts Farm stop off at the Bridge Inn (quirky and charming). You can park at Darts Farm and walk into Topsham via the Goat Walk and Estuary which is lovely.

In Exeter the cathedral is gorgeous, look for the medieval elephant carved in a bench (the artist had obviously never seen one in real life so gave it hooves).

The Underground Passages are fun too.

Branscombe and Sidmouth are good too.

More great ideas, thank you.

I need to look at other places to stay away from Exeter, to extend the trip.

As a PP said, if you're willing to travel, the RHS Rosemoor Gardens are brilliant and less than an hour away. You might also swing round via Dartmoor, which is a proper wilderness in places and unmissable, IMO,

Lots of other lovely gardens in and around Exeter too - NT and private.

Got to Newton Poppleford for a cream tea in the Southern Cross tearoom!

The quayside in Exeter is lovely

I live in Exeter so am a bit biased ;) In the centre just behind the shopping mall/high street is an area called Southernhay. There is a lovely independent restaurant there called Rendezvous - very nice food and feels quite intimate in there as its below street level. Just up from there is the Southernhay House Hotel which has a nice cocktail bar. About a ten minute walk from Southernhay is St Leonards - there is a small row (Magdalene Road) of independent gift shops, coffee shops and restaurants. The Quay is lovely with a range of bars, cafes and pubs to choose from. You could check out the Northcott Theatre (on the university campus) or The Phoenix (art centre in town). I would also recommend Topsham as a place to visit but more so Sidmouth - the coast line is amazing (I like it at low tide on a sunny day and the views from Jacobs Ladder are fab), lovely victorian promenade and a pretty town centre. Along the same stretch of coast is Budleigh Salterton - a quiet and quaint retirement town but I love the pebble beach! If you haven't been to Devon before and are outdoorsy then a trip to Dartmoor could be good - im thinking of Haytor specifically because on the way back you could stop at Ullacombe Farm cafe which has amazing cakes :)

Thank you so much for your detailed response. We will certainly follow your suggestions.

I am familiar with parts of Devon and more so Somerset, holidaying as a child, for many years near to Watchet. We came to a football match in Exeter! (Exeter v Liverpool?). We also camped next to the River Dart (country park) and at a theme park. Find, but not very clear memories!

If you're up for a drive and your dates work, Killerton House (NT) re-opens February 14. Second recommendations for the Cathedral.

I was going to say RHS Rosemoor for gardens but see someone else has already mentioned it! Definitely go and take a drive over Dartmoor if you have time. If you're only there for 3 days you won't have time to see much outside Exeter.

If you want somewhere quirky/indie then definitely Totnes. Sidmouth is mostly OAPs.

I too am local to the area. Personally I don’t rate Darts farm. Last time I was there it was incredibly busy and expensive in comparison to other local places. If you’re prepared to travel outside Exeter a bit then Ullacombe farm cafe is really lovely and always very welcoming. The house of marbles in Bovey Tracey is also another good option, lovely cafe and can go in and watch the glass blowing etc. Dawlish is a lovely spot on the coast and famous for their black swans on the river running through. Dartmoor is a must too. Widdecombe in the moor is stunning and has a couple of lovely cafes and pubs. The church is also really interesting to see and there is lots of displays inside with some of the history of it.

Thanks again everyone. This is really useful.

Just explaining more, the three days is in Exeter city, we have as long as needed to visit elsewhere whilst in the area.
Some consideration of travelling into Cornwall, perhaps a restful spa hotel or revisiting my childhood Devon. Perhaps a city break on the way or on our return, possibly Bristol or Bath.

I'm fascinated by the juxtaposition of medieval/Roman gorgeousness and grotty modernity in Exeter City Centre (victim of the Baedeker bombings). Last time I went I vowed to seek out a medieval walking tour or something. Lots of nice independent pubs- and the quayside is a nice spot for eating and drinking. From there you can walk along the canal/ river all the way to Exmouth, if you so fancy.

The Hour Glass is a fantastic Exeter pub that also does food.

Eden is a bit far from Exeter. You may as well stay local and make the most of mid Devon.

Bradford on Avon is about 8 miles outside Bath - lovely town and easy to get the train into Bath. Two lovely national trust properties nearby too - stourhead and Laycock (sp?)
Darts farm is overpriced and service is not great imo. There are nicer cafes in Topsham, but would leave the car at darts and walk there.
Recommend Stage restaurant in Magdalen Road Exeter but you will need to book as it’s pretty small.

Yes, maybe. I think we were thinking with a minimum 6 hour drive to Exeter, this was our chance to move on and see a bit more of the south west, after the days in Exeter.

We have looked, in the past at a trip to Cornwall for a few days, but it is such a journey.

Eden Project is fab! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. But expensive if you are only visiting the once.

Following on… Eden project is only an hour and a half from Exeter. You could stop on the way back on the moors if you like stone circles etc and then be a tourist and visit Jamaica Inn for coffee and cake.