10 Tips For A Family Visit to Exeter
Having spent an action packed 72 hours in vibrant, attractive and interesting Exeter we have compiled our top 10 things to do for families in the city. We hope our guide enables you to make the most of your visit to this small city which really does pack a punch.
1. TAKE A TRIP TO CREALY ADVENTURE PARK
For anyone whose visited the South West, you’ve probably heard of the fantastic family friendly Crealy Resort / Attraction on the outskirts of Exeter. If you hadn’t it’s well worth a visit (perhaps even out of season, as the ride queues are almost nil!) If your children like the odd thrill seeking ride, plenty of outdoor space, water rides and animal barns… then this place could just be the ticket for a family day out. We can’t wait to return in the summer to find out just how brilliant this adventure park could be…
2. TAKE YOUR CHILDREN TO WATCH A LIVE SPORTS FIXTURE
With some fantastic sports on offer in Exeter, we’ve been amazed at the quality of the leisure facilities across the town… but for inspiring your kids to be more active, surely nothing can beat a Saturday afternoon inside the inner sanctums of Sandy Park (home to the Premiership Rugby Team – Exeter Chiefs). So we headed out on Saturday afternoon to see the ‘Tribe’ take on the mighty Wasps… both girls loved the thrill of watching live sport and the healthy 52-5 scoreline led to some happy faces as we traipsed out of Sandy Park…. So it’s not just for boys, girls can love rugby too! #thisgirlcan
3. DELVE UNDER EXETER’S HIGH STREET AND EXPLORE THE UNDERGROUND PASSAGES
You’d be amazed at just what is under towns/cities in the UK, but we would never have guessed that tunnels dating back to the 1300’s would snake underneath the city… so grabbing a hard hat and a guide, we explored just why they were built and how this links to the stunning Norman Cathedral at the heart of Exeter
4. GRAB A PADDLE AND SEE EXETER FROM A DIFFERENT VIEW
Our girls love anything and everything to do with water, so this was always going to be something they enjoyed. But we reckon the great staff at Saddles & Paddles could help every family find an adventure (no matter how big or small). It’s much easier paddling than Dubrovnik proved and at least we didn’t lose another GoPro camera like Eidfjord!
5. GOT SOME RUMBLING TUMMIES! HEAD FOR THE GUILDHALL AND A
CULINARY ADVENTURE
Well, if you want a view then you could eat on the Quayside at the Waterfront, but we’d perhaps suggest a trip to the recently refurbished Guildhall or City Centre and a chance to experience world cuisine from Lebanese to Italian. We ate at Cafe Rouge, The Stables & Comptoir Libanais and loved each!
6. TEST YOUR INNER MONKEY & FIND A NEW CHALLENGE FOR ALL AGES
Perhaps if you only had time for one thing, we’d suggest every family grab their trainers and head for the Clip’n’Climb at Quay Climbing. We were amazed at the variety of ages & abilities of those participating… it was truly inspiring to see so many people having fun together and getting some exercise in to! So if your kids need an hour to challenge, inspire, motivate themselves… they’d love this place!
7. DISCOVER JUST WHAT PARTS OF THE WORLD ARE ON SHOW AT THE RAMM!
RAMM stands for Royal Albert Memorial Museum and is an eclectic museum with so many brilliant sections, it could easily keep you occupied for a day! From Egyptian mummies to Japanese Silk Paintings… it really does cover natural history through to everyday life in Exeter over the years… It’s free too… so why not!!
8. DISCOVER THE HEART OF EXETER’S SUCCESS AT TUCKERS HALL
If you’re struggling with how to start your tour of Exeter (and are there on a Thursday morning) try and head for Tuckers Hall… a fantastic museum that covers all aspects of the cloth trade in Exeter. It’s brilliantly done and very good for kids to learn at their own pace before they see that truly stunning Tuckers Hall!
9. SPARE THE TIME TO HUNT OUT SOME TURKISH DELIGHT
Well, we hope we’re not the only family with a sweet tooth and if you’ve done some of the above, you’re probably ready for some sweet treats!! So head for Comptoir Libanais and explore the most amazing array of Turkish Delight and sweet pastries! You’ll be blown away be the colourful, happy restaurant!!! (PS Try the Pistachio ones!!)
10. BUILD A BRICK AT A TIME IN EXETER CATHEDRAL
For fans of Lego… you might just want to take a peek inside Exeter Cathedral… in 2017, they’re building a replica model of the cathedral and your kids can add to the building (for a £1 donation)… but then stay a while and enjoy the stunning Cathedral or take a Red Coat Tour (daily free tours from the West Gate)
Need a map to help you?
EXETER
so where did we park the bus for the night?
Our Newsletter
