This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Exeter.
Steeped in history and within easy reach of both the coast and the rugged Dartmoor National Park, the university city of Exeter is also a interesting stop-off point for those intending to visit the rest of Devon or Cornwall.
Its centrepiece is the Gothic St. Peter’s Cathedral; other interesting historical places to see are the Roman city walls and a network of underground tunnels built in medieval times. To discover more about this two-thousand-year-old city, there are free daily tours run by the Red Coat guides. These walking tours cover different themes ranging from waterside visits to the canal and quayside to nighttime "murder and mayhem" tours about the city’s more gruesome past.
There are a few options in terms of Exeter hostels. Whether you want to stay in the heart of the action or further afield but closer to nature, you should be able to find an Exeter hostel to suit your needs. Either way, hostels in and around Exeter all tend to be fairly accessible for the centre and onward transport links.
The history Quay is a lively spot on a sunny day, with several bars and restaurants overlooking the River Exe. It’s also home to the bizarre and quaint Butt’s Ferry -- a seventeenth-century tradition in which a ferryman pulls a platform of people from one riverbank to the other using cables stretched across the water. There are good cycle trails along the river and bikes and canoes are available to hire from the quayside.
Following the River Exe and its adjacent canal will lead you to Exminster Marshes Nature Reserve and continuing on, about eight miles out of town, lies Powderham Castle. Following the estuary for a couple more miles southwards will lead you toward the English Channel.
Exeter is well connected with an airport servicing a number of European destinations. It has two train stations, Exeter Central and St. Davids, which link London and Penzance. For those preferring to go by road, the bargain intercity Megabus has routes to Exeter, as do National Express coaches. There is a good local bus service operating here, too.
Written by local enthusiast for Exeter hostels
Laura T
