castle
Powderham Castle
The fortified manor of the Courtenay family since 1391, in a deer park beside the Exe estuary.
10 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Exeter
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Exeter
Exeter works well as a base: 10 minutes from Exminster, 22km from Bowerman’s Nose.
Exeter is in England, United Kingdom, with about 130,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Exminster, about 5 km away.
Exeter ( EK-sit-ər) is a cathedral city and the county town of Devon in South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately 36 mi (58 km) northeast of Plymouth and 65 mi (105 km) southwest of Bristol. In 2024, Exeter had a population of 137,894, making it the second largest settlement in Devon afterRead more
Plymouth. Under local government restructuring plans Exeter will, with the addition of parishes from East Devon, Teignbridge and Mid Devon, become the Exeter unitary authority from 2028.
The history of Exeter began with the civilian settlement associated with the Roman fort of Isca Dumnoniorum c. AD 55. The city was held by Saxons against Viking attacks and then conquered by the Normans. Exeter Cathedral was founded in the mid 11th century and the city became a religious centre during the Middle Ages. In the early modern period, Exeter became an affluent centre for the trade in wool. Experiencing only limited industrialisation, by the First World War the city was in relative economic decline. After the Second World War, much of the city centre was rebuilt.
Exeter is one of the largest and fastest growing cities in South West England, and a centre for education, business, and domestic tourism.
It is home to two of the constituent campuses of the University of Exeter: Streatham and St Luke's. The city is connected internationally by Exeter Airport; to the rest of the United Kingdom by Exeter St David's railway station; and by road by the M5 motorway, whose south-west exit is just south of the city.
The city retains significant examples of medieval, Tudor, and Georgian architecture.
Where to Stay in Exeter
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Exeter?
Within an hour or so of Exeter: Powderham Castle (10 km), Bowerman’s Nose (22 km), Haytor (23 km), Hound Tor (23 km).
Are there any good drives near Exeter?
The nearest famous roads are B3212 across Dartmoor, Porlock Hill and Countisbury Hill.
Where is Exeter?
Exeter is in England, United Kingdom, about 5 km from Exminster.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 130,709
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 50.7236, -3.5275
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Exeter
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Bowerman’s Nose
A weathered granite stack on Hayne Down shaped like a human head, tied to a legend of a hunter turned to stone by witches.
22 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Haytor
The most visited granite tor on Dartmoor, a pair of rounded outcrops rising above open moor with easy roadside access.
23 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Hound Tor
A shattered granite tor said to have inspired The Hound of the Baskervilles, beside the ruins of a deserted medieval village.
23 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Bellever Forest
A conifer plantation on the East Dart with Bronze Age hut circles, a clapper bridge and easy riverside walks.
31 km · about 35 min drive
bridge
Postbridge Clapper Bridge
A 13th-century granite slab bridge over the East Dart, the best-preserved clapper bridge on Dartmoor.
31 km · about 35 min drive
national park
Dartmoor National Park
Wild and ancient moorland dotted with granite tors, Bronze Age settlements and roaming Dartmoor ponies across 368 square miles of Devon.
32 km · about 35 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Dartmeet
The confluence of the East and West Dart rivers, a popular riverside spot beside a steep-sided moorland road.
32 km · about 35 min drive
Driving roads near Exeter
- 31 kmPostbridge Clapper BridgeA 13th-century granite slab bridge over the East Dart, the best-preserved clapper bridge on Dartmoor.
- 32 kmDartmeetThe confluence of the East and West Dart rivers, a popular riverside spot beside a steep-sided moorland road.
- 33 kmB3212 across DartmoorThe open moorland crossing from Moretonhampstead to Yelverton past Postbridge and Princetown, with ponies on the road.
- 40 kmTarr StepsA 17-span prehistoric-style clapper bridge across the River Barle on Exmoor, repeatedly rebuilt after floods.
- 48 kmGolden CapThe highest point on England's south coast at 191 m, its sandstone summit glowing gold above Charmouth and Lyme Bay.
- 49 kmDunkery BeaconThe highest point on Exmoor and in Somerset at 519 m, with views to the Brecon Beacons and Dartmoor on clear days.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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