Attractions of Exeter

Exeter is a city brimming with history and heritage and has a wealth of visitor attractions to keep you occupied and amused for hours on end. From the magnificent Cathedral and Historic Quayside, to the Guildhall and Royal Albert Memorial Museum there’s so much to see and do in this fascinating city.

St Peter’s Cathedral

There was a monastery in existence in Exeter by about 680

It was here that St Boniface, Apostle to the Germans, received his education. A later monastery founded by Athelstan served as the Cathedral from 1050 to 1133, following the transfer of the Bishop’s seat from the monastery at Crediton.

William Waelwast, the nephew of William the Conqueror, and the third Bishop of Exeter, was responsible for building a new Cathedral. Work began in 1114 and the Cathedral was consecrated in 1133. Only the pair of massive towers remains today. The late medieval rebuilding was started by Bishop Bronescombe in the 1270’s and completed by Bishop Grandisson in the 14th century.

The West Front is in the Decorated style of the 14th century and is the most recent part of the main building. The lowest tier of figures are some of the finest medieval figure sculptures in England. The carving is particularly well-preserved in the South Porch, where there is a scene of the Annunciation and a Nativity scene opposite. The upper row of figures with Christ and the twelve apostles at the centre was added in about 1460-80.

The Cathedral has the longest unbroken stretch of Gothic stone vaulting in the world. Other features of particular interest include the Bishop’s Throne, one of the finest pieces of woodwork of the late 14th century; a clock made in 1376; and there is original glass in the East Window. The Cathedral has many monuments including the tomb and effigy of Bishop Walter Bronescombe who began the rebuilding of the Cathedral.

Exeter Guildhall

The Guildhall has served as the centrepiece of Exeter’s civic life for more than 800 years. A structure of outstanding architectural interest, it is not merely an ancient monument but remains a busy working building - still in regular use for a variety of civic functions and full meetings of the City Council.

Guided Tours

A variety of free walking tours are available, each focusing on a different aspect of Exeter’s long and varied history. No booking is required, simply choose the tour, meet your Red Coat Guide and spend 90 minutes (or so) discovering Exeter. Most tours begin outside the Royal Clarence Hotel in Cathedral Yard. Please note, the Port of Exeter and Custom House tours both begin outside the Quay House Visitor Centre on the Historic Quayside.

The Summer Programme
The Winter Programme
Group Bookings

All tours are 90 minutes long, except Exeter’s City Wall which lasts 2 hours and the Custom House tour which lasts 30 minutes.

All tours are on foot. Please note guided tours may be subject to cancellation without notice. Regrettably, dogs (except Guide dogs) are not permitted on the tours. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Historic Quayside

Once a Roman waterway, later a 16th century port and today a city centre riverside resort, Exeter’s Historic Quayside is a wonderful and popular tourist attraction.

It is just 5 minutes from the High Street and the Cathedral. It has been sensitively developed by Exeter City Council over the last 20 years to create a lovely waterside area for people to live, work and have fun.

The Quayside offers a unique collection of shops, restaurants and outdoor activities which blend with the attractive 17th and 18th century warehouses and buildings to give a charming mix of past and present. Picnicking, walking, browsing, taking a boat trip, visiting the Quay House Visitor Centre or just messing about on the river, are just some of the enjoyable pastimes for visitors and residents alike to enjoy.

Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM)
Open every day except Sunday

The museum is full of fascinating objects. Many areas of the collection are of national and international importance - the World Cultures Collection achieved Designated Collection status to mark its outstanding importance.

A Brief History of the Museum and its Royal Past - the building is an exhibit in its own right, it was built out of many local stones to commemorate Prince Albert.

Special Activities and Museum Events - the museum runs a lively programme of special exhibitions, talks, workshops and children’s activities.

School Workshops - staff at Rougemont House run assisted visits and special sessions to pre-booked groups with real objects you can touch and special displays.

Gallery Displays - not all of the collection is on display at any one time, find out more about Exeter’s fine collection and how you can access objects and information about objects not on display.

The Museum’s Conservation & Preservation Services Unit provides conservation services for other museums and heritage organisations. In Exeter it carries out many community projects and encourages ‘hands-on’ activities through workshops and special events. We also run an object identification service and loan items from the collection.

The Royal Albert Memorial Museum is an unusual and prestigious venue for a special event. We offer room, gallery and museum hire for meetings, lectures, evening functions and receptions. Contact the museum’s events team to find out more.

Tuckers Hall

Located on Exeter’s Fore Street, Tuckers Hall is the medieval guildhall of the Weavers, Fullers and Shearman, whose members contributed so much to the prosperity of Exeter.
Name:Tuckers Hall
Address: Fore Street
Exeter
Devon
United Kingdom

Tel:+44 01392 412348

Tuckers Hall is open from June – September every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 10.30am and 12.30pm and October – May on Thursdays only between 10.30am – 12.30pm.