Experience Devon 2017
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
EXETER<br />
1<br />
The history<br />
of Exeter<br />
is rich and<br />
long<br />
Exeter<br />
2<br />
Founded by the Romans in AD50, the history of Exeter<br />
is rich and long, evident in its stunning architecture and<br />
heritage visitor attractions.<br />
As you’d expect from a city with a 2,000 year history,<br />
Exeter has much to show off, and the city’s Royal Albert<br />
Memorial Museum (RAMM) is a good place to start.<br />
Housed in a beautiful Victorian building, the museum<br />
takes visitors on a voyage of discovery from pre-history to<br />
the present day through 16 galleries of displays. Discover<br />
Exeter throughout the ages then travel the world through<br />
the vast array of global collections.<br />
At the heart of the city lies Exeter Cathedral, one of the<br />
finest examples of Decorated Gothic architecture in the<br />
country. It lays claim to the longest stretch of unbroken<br />
Gothic vaulting in the world. Cathedral Yard is dotted with<br />
cafes and restaurants in which to sit and appreciate the<br />
Cathedral’s impressive West Front.<br />
Explore beneath Exeter’s streets through a remarkable<br />
network of subterranean passages, constructed in<br />
medieval times to bring fresh drinking water into the city<br />
from springs outside the city walls. Exeter’s Underground<br />
Passages survive largely intact and can be visited on a<br />
guided tour – an experience not for the claustrophobic!<br />
Find out more about the history of Exeter on a free guided<br />
tour with the city’s prestigious Red Coat Guides. Tours run<br />
daily throughout the year and there is no need to book –<br />
just turn up.<br />
The city’s compact size makes it the perfect shopping<br />
destination – a great choice of shops can be found<br />
within easy walking distance from each other. Browse<br />
large department stores such as John Lewis in the main<br />
shopping areas of Princesshay and the High Street,<br />
or head to the Castle and West Quarters for quirky<br />
independents and vintage clothing, tucked away in<br />
interesting arcades.<br />
Head to the Quayside to watch the world go by from<br />
one of the waterside pubs or cafés, or hire a bike or<br />
canoe to explore the Exeter Ship Canal. The south west’s<br />
largest indoor climbing wall can also be found here, in the<br />
Quayside’s Old Electricity Building, providing a majestic<br />
arena in which to climb.<br />
Exeter’s position on the River Exe lead to great wealth<br />
in the 17th and 18th centuries, largely due to the woollen<br />
cloth trade. In 1680 the Custom House was constructed<br />
on the Quayside, a beautiful building renowned for its<br />
sweeping staircase and ornate plaster ceilings. Today it is a<br />
visitor centre, bringing the history of the Quayside to life.<br />
Exeter’s location surrounded by lush farmland and close to<br />
many miles of <strong>Devon</strong> coastline makes it a melting pot for<br />
top chefs to create gastronomic delights from fresh, local<br />
ingredients. The choice of eateries here is vast, putting it<br />
firmly on the map as one of the foodie capitals of South<br />
14<br />
EXPERIENCE DEVON <strong>2017</strong> in partnership with www.visitdevon.co.uk