After years visiting Devon, Exeter is one place I’ve all the time needed to discover extra – so once I noticed a spot to remain within the metropolis for our last-minute summer season escape, I jumped on the probability to take a look at extra of Exeter with children.
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We stayed for a brief break, together with a time out on the seashore at Exmouth and one other day exploring Dartmoor, however in any other case caught to the town on this journey.
Even for those who’re solely spending sooner or later in Exeter, you’ll be able to pack rather a lot in, though with some nice household points of interest in Exeter, choices for teenagers who love historical past, free days out in Exeter with children and for a wet day in Exeter too, it’s not exhausting to spend so much longer. Listed below are a few of my favorite issues to do in Exeter with children to get you began.
Canoe from Exeter Quay
Simply considered one of my favorite actions of our entire journey was heading off in a canoe for just a few hours from Exeter Quayside – a fantastic suggestion from the Devon with Children Fb group that’s nicely price testing.
The Quay itself is a stunning place to wander, filled with quirky little outlets, waterfront eating places and the outdated Customized Home (now a customer centre) with cannon outdoors, together with a number of locations providing methods to get out on the water.
We picked Saddles & Paddles, the place you’ll be able to rent bikes in addition to kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards. We went for one of many family-sized canoes which seats 4 (two adults and two children) for 2 hours, popped on our buoyancy aids and set off up the river to the canal to see what we might discover.
It’s straightforward to do, even for those who’re not skilled (like us!) and we had loads of probability to identify swans and cygnets – from a cautious distance – in addition to having fun with the countryside. The Double Locks pub is a useful stopping level with tables outside and by the river.
We booked a desk on-line, and you may order by way of the Youngs on Faucet app, plus there’s even a spot outdoors to go away paddles.
Our two-hour jaunt gave us sufficient time to paddle there, get our canoe safely out of the water, have a drink, dodge a hissing swan sitting on the pontoon to get again into the water, and return to Exeter quayside in time.
You’ll be able to go away luggage at Saddles & Paddles, which is a good thought for those who’ve received something you don’t need getting moist.
I took my water resistant Osprey rucksack wrapped in my Joules packaway raincoat and it survived our enthusiastic paddling and the puddles from earlier summer season drizzle, however a drysack isn’t a foul thought if you wish to be sure that nothing will get soggy, or one thing like my trusty waterproof case for telephones.
Discover Exeter Quayside
Once you’ve completed your paddle – or earlier than you arrange – save a while to discover the Exeter quayside – as soon as the town’s river port, the outdated buildings have been remodeled into locations to eat and a few quirky impartial outlets.
My tip – pizza at On The Waterfront (with some celebratory prosecco after our paddle/swan encounter)… and has pizzas so large, none of us needed something to eat for the remainder of the day.
You can too study a bit extra in regards to the quayside’s historical past on the Exeter Customized Home Customer Centre, which covers every thing from Roman Exeter to the town’s flourishing material commerce. There are additionally some strolling excursions which go away from this spot.
Study extra about Exeter historical past
There are centuries of historical past to find in Exeter – the Romans known as it Isca Dumnoniorum, the Normans constructed Rougemont Fortress right here and you may nonetheless see the stays of the medieval bridge over the river Exe and the 900-year-old St Nicholas Priory.
Mentioned to be essentially the most haunted place in Exeter, it has been a monastery and a house to Tudor retailers throughout its historical past, and you may go to at weekends to study extra (or search for ghosts).
You’ll be able to observe a free Exeter medieval path or metropolis wall path to find extra historical past, or it’s all the time enjoyable to observe a treasure path with children, so the Exeter Treasure Path is one other good guess.
Go to Exeter cathedral
After paddling and pizza (and with rain forecast for the afternoon) we headed to the great Exeter Cathedral for an opportunity to discover this slice of historical past in Exeter with children.
The constructing itself is over 900 years outdated, and the sense of historical past is unbelievable… fairly other than gazing on the Gothic structure, from the carvings outdoors to stained glass home windows below the hovering arches of the roof. Look out for the carved mermaid!
There may be brass rubbing for teenagers, in addition to an opportunity to identify the fifteenth century astronomonical clock (though you’ll be able to’t at the moment get too shut, presumably to forestall crowds gathering, as one of many distancing measures).
There are excursions of the cathedral, plus you’ll be able to guide particular excursions of the roof, with youngsters’s actions typically happening in holidays, alongside a children’ cathedral path.
You’ll be able to assist construct a Lego cathedral although, with a £1 donation requested for every brick added – the completed mannequin will probably be 3.6m lengthy, 2m vast and over 1m excessive.
For me, the most important attraction is the historical past, wandering previous medieval tombs of native bishops and Earls… plus a plaque I noticed for the impressively named Reverend Nutcombe Nutcombe!
Admission prices £10 for adults and kids below 18 are free.
Royal Albert Memorial Museum
The Royal Albert Memorial Museum (or RAMM) is a good free time out in Exeter with children, with shows telling the historical past of Devon from the prehistoric to the current, in addition to an Egyptian tomb, plus animals together with an elephant, whale and Gerald the giraffe.
You can too uncover world tradition, extra pure historical past, 18th and nineteenth century exploration and artwork contained in the museum.
The Victorian constructing has loads of possibilities for teenagers to get hands-on, in addition to common household occasions throughout holidays.
Uncover Exeter’s medieval tunnels
Town’s underground passages had been constructed for consuming water pipes again in medieval instances, and you may nonetheless enterprise down beneath the floor of the town to find this uncommon slice of Exeter historical past.
The medieval tunnels are the one ones of their variety within the UK, and as a part of the tour for over-fives and up, you can too go to the interpretation centre with fashions, movies, artefacts from the dig and the speaking determine of a medieval man. Reserving really useful.
Go climbing in Exeter
For one more adventurous time out, Clip’n’Climb Exeter is open to children aged 4 and above, together with for complete newcomers to strive their fingers at scaling the centre’s indoor climbing wall.
An ideal choice for wet days in Exeter with children, it’s open seven days per week, so it’s additionally good for lively children year-round.
Issues to do close to Exeter with children
In the event you’ve received a automotive, there are many choices of issues for households close to Exeter, together with theme parks, historic homes, and an opportunity to get outside – fairly other than visiting fairly close by cities like Topsham. Right here’s my decide of among the finest.
Killerton
In keeping with legend, Killerton is residence to a sleeping dragon, who snoozes on a hill close by – good to get children out exploring the grounds.
There are trails within the woodland, gardens to discover and a stunning play space, all earlier than you set foot in the home at this Nationwide Belief property close to Exeter, the place you’ll be able to take a look at the historic trend assortment, which is surprisingly partaking even for youthful children, plus a path that will help you discover.
The property is large – 10 sq. miles, with out of doors trails galore plus gardens and woodland in addition to a stunning little play space, even for those who don’t spot a lot as a scaly wing. Look out for the bear’s hut too, which was really as soon as residence to the household’s pet bear.
Try what we considered a day at Killerton with children – together with some dragon recognizing
Powderham Fortress
Simply outdoors Exeter on the banks of the Exe estuary, you could find the house of the Earl and Countess of Devon at Powderham Fortress – and together with the prospect to affix a guided tour inside, there’s an enormous quantity to entertain within the grounds.
Be king of your personal fort within the picket fort of the play space (impressed by the centuries of historical past inside the traditional residence of the Courtenay household), spot the livestock, wander by way of gardens galore and be part of within the common household actions, together with trails and crafts.
There are typically alternatives to take a look at the deer park, plus common household trails and actions all year long as nicely.
Discover out extra a few day at Powderham Fortress with children after a go to with my daughter
Go to Dartmoor
Exeter is barely round half an hour from the sides of Dartmoor, so whether or not you’re tempted by letterboxing, one of many Dartmoor cycle trails, recognizing wild ponies or attempting a simple stroll on Dartmoor with children, there’s loads to do.
Try my picks of among the finest issues to do on and round Dartmoor with children, together with a simple stroll to 2 tors and a few Dartmoor points of interest
Fortress Drogo
On the north facet of Dartmoor, you can too discover the final fort to be in-built England – Fortress Drogo has just lately undergone a serious renovation mission by the Nationwide Belief, and you may tour the home now all of the scaffolding has come down.
There’s loads to do within the grounds as nicely. Uncover the miniature play home within the gardens, observe spotter trails and stroll to the Teign Gorge.
Haldon Forest Park
The sprawling 3,500 acres of woodland at this Forestry England web site is barely quarter-hour from Exeter – like many of the ones across the nation, Haldon Forest Park has varied totally different strolling trails, in addition to cycle routes and there are sometimes additional themed household actions such because the Julia Donaldson-inspired trails.
There’s mountain biking for older adventurers and a gentler 1 ½ mile Discovery Path for households, amongst others strolling routes, plus Go Ape treetops journey course and archery classes as nicely.
Wildwood Escot
This little wildlife park is residence to creatures which as soon as lived – or nonetheless reside – wild within the British Isles, in addition to a maze, a Saxon village and varied play areas.
We noticed wolves, an Arctic fox, wildcat and birds of prey in addition to strolling by way of the pink squirrel enclosure.
Crealy Theme Park
Recurrently voted the very best time out in Devon, the award-winning Crealy Theme Park has rides and points of interest in addition to a small zoo, plus indoor play areas – all in all, the park covers 100 acres with greater than 60 rides and points of interest.
The most important household theme park within the south-west, it additionally has an enormous 75,000ft of undercover play and out of doors journey areas in addition to the traditional coasters and rides, to not point out greater than 200 animals to satisfy so there’s one thing for all ages.
Not removed from Exeter and simply off the M5, it’s a fantastic one to mix with a break within the metropolis or Dartmoor.
The Bear Path, Cullompton
Whether or not it’s sunny or wet, The Bear Path is ideal for getting hilariously muddy with its 27 obstacles to “climb, slip, slide, run and swing in, below, over and thru” as they describe it – and it’s lower than half an hour from Exeter.
This enjoyable impediment course additionally has a cubs’ nook designed for kids below one metre, however they will additionally take part leaping over muddy bear pits, whizzing down zip wires and crawling by way of tunnels (plus a path alongside if any obstacles defeat among the child bears).
Toddlers are welcome or teenagers can even problem themselves to the 3m and 5m bag jumps. Then there’s an outside wash level (deliver a change of garments!) plus wood-fired pizzas within the cafe.
Discover Topsham
Round 20 minutes from Exeter, Topsham makes a stunning day journey from the town – it’s straightforward to whereas away hours wandering all the way down to the quayside, strolling alongside the seafront, plus there’s a nature reserve to discover too.
As soon as Exeter‘s main port, with a thriving business from the close by textile commerce and a quay relationship again to 1316, it has historic hyperlinks to the Netherlands and homes that also date from the seventeenth century – it could be rather a lot quieter as we speak, nevertheless it’s nonetheless such a fairly place to discover.
There’s additionally an outside pool for those who’re visiting when the climate’s good, and you may cycle alongside the Exe Estuary path from right here too.
Right here’s what we thought on a go to to Topsham with children
Seashore close to Exeter with children
There are a number of seashores close to Exeter, so that you’ve received a alternative if you wish to combine metropolis with coast – head east to Sidmouth, the place the pebbly seashore is nice for rock swimming pools, or south in the direction of Dawlish Warren and Shaldon, all inside about half an hour’s drive.
In the event you’re heading to Shaldon, we liked Ness Cove – you cross by way of a smuggler’s tunnel to get to the little seashore with its reddish sand, and there’s additionally a small wildlife park close by.
For extra days on the sand, take a look at my decide of the very best seashores in Devon with children
However one of many closest seashores to Exeter is Exmouth: good for those who’re searching for sandcastles and paddling, in addition to an opportunity of rock swimming pools.
One tip: ensure you test the tide instances! As ever, the rockpools are finest at low tide… we turned up because the tide was rising and by the point we’d completed constructing our sandcastles and my daughter had achieved her paddling, we’d missed our probability.
The perfect spots are round Maer Rocks – wander alongside the entrance from Exmouth city centre previous the lifeboat station to search out them. It’s a stunning stroll anyway, stopping to identify some art work, the large gleaming lifeboat, and my daughter entertained herself together with her web by the groynes.
Extra issues to do in Exmouth with children
In the event you don’t fancy a stroll round Exmouth, the little land practice pootles alongside the seafront and across the city, with a commentary as you go – tickets are just a few kilos.
There’s extra to strive in Exmouth with children than sitting on the seashore too, you can too take one of many Stuart Line Cruises heading all the way down to Torquay and Brixham, or out alongside the coast.
The one-hour mini cruises are perfect for households, however you can too select longer journeys alongside the Jurassic Coast and to Sidmouth.
For a shorter boat journey, there’s additionally the Exmouth-Starcross ferry which takes you throughout the estuary, so you could possibly see Exmouth seashore within the morning and head to Dawlish Warren for the afternoon for those who fancied!
And it’s not a correct day on the seaside with out fish and chips. Once I began searching for the very best ones to strive, I found Exmouth has a powerful quantity within the high picks.
We went for Land & Sea (beforehand known as the Level Bar & Grill) close to the marina, at one of many out of doors tables: there’s a children’ menu with non-fish choices too. You can too strive Rockfish Exmouth – we’ve visited the Brixham and Torquay branches so it’s all the time a favorite – or The Correct Fish and Chips Co for a faster takeaway.
The place to remain in Exeter with children
We stayed in a stunning AirBNB home in strolling distance of the town centre – a giant outdated Victorian home that’s at the moment being renovated, it had an enormous kitchen with every thing we would have liked (together with a fab espresso machine), giant toilet, two bedrooms, dwelling and eating room, plus parking and a backyard.
On the sting of the town, it was additionally ideally suited for exploring – round half an hour from each Exmouth’s seashore and the sides of Dartmoor.
You’ll be able to take a look at extra self-catering cottages in Devon, together with choices close to Exeter, or family-friendly inns in Exeter.
*First printed 2020, final up to date 2024*
PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN EXETER WITH KIDS
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Exeter tunnels photographs courtesy Go to Exeter, all others copyright MummyTravels
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