Are you wondering what are the best things to do in Devon? I have been to Devon a number of times and it is one of our (my husband and me) favourite holiday destinations in the UK. I love to share with you some of our top places to visit and things that you can do around Devon.
Devon offers access to the countryside, the coast, historic sites, cutting-edge malls, amazing festivals, and just about anything else you can imagine. There are a ton of attractions and activities spread out across the area, making it the ideal vacation spot for families, couples, groups, and business travelers alike.
Devon is one of the best locations for climbing, rafting, horseback riding, and a variety of other risk-taking activities to challenge and excite you if you’re an adrenaline junkie. You can spend some time exploring the southwest coast path or one of the many nearby walking and cycling routes if you’re looking for something a little more leisurely. There are activities for everyone here, both indoor and outdoor.
There are a lot of things to do in Devon, but the UK has a lot more to offer. Check out the best places to visit in the UK.
Here are the Best Things to Do in Devon, UK
1. Exeter
The Exeter Cathedral and Exeter Quay are two locations in Devon that you simply must see during your time there. After a day spent adventuring in the countryside, you might find yourself missing the hustle and bustle of a city. If this is the case, stop in Exeter for some retail therapy and a stroll through the city before heading back to the rolling hills.
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter, was initially constructed in 1133 but has undergone significant renovations throughout the centuries to become what is now known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter.
The present ornate facade that can be found on the building’s west entrance was constructed during the 1300s, while other features, such as its magnificent astronomical clock, were constructed during the 1400s during a period of renovation and expansion.
It is highly recommended that visitors take part in a guided tour of the cathedral. The magnificent library, complete with manuscripts that predate the cathedral, and the breathtaking city views from the roof are two of the highlights of the visit, along with learning about the cathedral’s enormous stone vaulted ceiling, which is the largest medieval structure in Europe. Those who would rather travel without a companion can pick up a convenient audio tour at the box office.
Exeter Quayside
Near the city’s cathedral, Exeter Quayside often comes as a pleasant surprise to first-time visitors. The area was developed in the 16th century around the River Exe, despite its location inland from the coast, following the opening of a canal that led to the Exe Estuary and, from there, the ocean.
For centuries, the quays were vital to the economy, but with the advent of ships too large to fit through the canal, their significance gradually waned. The oldest of the city’s original storage buildings, the 17th-century Custom House, which is now the city’s visitor center, miraculously survived.
The Medieval Exe Bridge can be reached by following the river downstream from the numerous restaurants and shops along the riverbank. This impressive building dates back to the early 13th century and is more than 590 feet in length with eight of its original arches still standing.
2. Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor, one of England’s national parks, is stunning. There is a good reason why this place is protected as a national park.
Also unique about Dartmoor is its sparse population. It’s the biggest and most sparsely populated open area in the south of England. In other words, if you’re looking for a place to get away from it all and enjoy the great outdoors, this is one of the top destinations in Devon.
Lots of local legends have also been passed down through the generations. This is a place rife with folklore, from headless horsemen to Devonshire fairies to mysterious beasts! The third Sherlock Holmes novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hounds of the Baskervilles, was inspired by Dartmoor.
Whatever the case may be, once you reach Dartmoor, the highest points in Southern England, the tors are a must-visit despite any urban legends that may have preceded your arrival. The park is full of them, and they tend to be located on the highest points (the highest being High Willhays Tor). The area is ideal for a stroll because most of the structures date back to the Bronze Age.
Then, travel to Brentor, on the outskirts of Dartmoor, to see the historic St. Michael’s Church. It has been there since the 12th century and is a prominent landmark in the park’s backdrop.
Last but not least, if you still haven’t had your fill of Dartmoor, head over to the picturesque village of Lustleigh. In addition, you can easily combine this with a trip to the nearby 70-foot-tall Becky Falls.
Do you know that the UK has a lot of National Parks? If you are interested, check out the different national parks you can visit in the UK.
3. Jurassic Coast
The stretch of South Devon coastline between Exmouth and Seaton, known as the Jurassic Coast, is a popular tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This special stretch of England’s southern coast is home to a wide variety of features that emerged when the region was still populated by dinosaurs millions of years ago.
Popular family activities in the area include cliff diving, beachcombing, and fossil hunting, all of which take advantage of the region’s abundance of fossil deposits. This area is popular with fossil hunters.
Hikers can access most of the coast via clearly marked trails, and a particularly accessible section is the Exmouth and Orcombe Point Walk, which links up with the much longer South West Coast Path.
There are 95 miles of Jurassic Coast that stretch from Dorset to Devon. It runs from Exmouth in the south to Lyme Regis in the north of Devon. Some of the best coastal walks I’ve ever done can be found in this UNESCO World Heritage site, which features some of the most stunning beaches I’ve ever seen (anywhere, not just in the UK).
Jurassic Coast is just one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the UK. If you want to know more about the others, check out the list of UNESCO world heritage sites in the UK.
4. Hartland Devon Heritage Coast
The Atlantic Ocean batters the 60 miles of coast here, creating stunning, rocky cliffs that attract many surfers. North of Bude, the coast begins with sandy beaches popular with sunbathers. But before you hit the sand, stop by the Bude Visitor Centre’s Heritage Coast Exhibition.
Sandymouth, a National Trust beach, is also a popular surfing spot, but walkers should beware of the swiftly-changing tides.
In the churchyard of Morwenstow, you can visit the graves of sailors who perished at sea and were buried there by the oddball poet Parson Hawker.
Hartland Abbey, now a beautiful residence, was originally built as an Augustinian priory. The nearby craggy cliffs of Hartland Quay are breathtaking, and a short stroll will lead you to the dramatic waterfall of Speke’s Mill Mouth, which divides the cliffs in two.
The postcard-perfect village of Clovelly, one of Devon’s most popular tourist spots, can be found to the north of Hartland Point, the point from which the coastline gets its name. Clovelly’s whitewashed cottages, dating back to the 16th century, perched precariously on a cliff above the harbor.
Clovelly’s High Street is so winding and steep that driving is prohibited. Donkeys are used to transport guests up and down the hill. Alternately, a Landrover service is available to transport guests along main roads for those who would rather avoid the excitement of the backcountry.
5. Ilfracombe
Located on the North Devon coast, the historic fishing village of Ilfracombe makes a lovely base for a vacation. You see, not only are there many fantastic activities available in Ilfracombe but there is also a wealth of options in the surrounding area.
Don’t forget to visit Verity, the massive art installation conceived by Damien Hirst, once you get here and are in the harbor area.
The stainless steel and bronze sculpture Verity towers at a towering 20.25 meters in height, making it difficult to miss. The statue of Verity depicts her as a pregnant woman holding the Sword of Justice in one arm while perched on a stack of books. Verity’s exposed muscles and the fetus in her womb are quite a sight from the back.
Take a stroll down the pier and you’ll see her right next to the Chapel of St. Nicholas.
From Verity, you can take a beautiful walk along the cliffs above Tunnels Beach and visit the Chapel of St. Nicholas.
The pebbly but pristine beaches of Tunnels and Ilfracombe are located along the dramatic coast of the region’s cliffs. Additionally, the incoming tidal waters are used to fill a Victorian-era bathing pool.
Check out the nearby Valley of Rocks while you’re here.
6. Paignton Zoo
Paignton is a wonderful little place to visit if you want a seaside vacation in Devon. It is located just to the west of Torquay.
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a wonderful place for families to spend the day, and it’s only a short drive away from Torquay. The beautiful grounds of this 80-acre attraction can be explored, and highlights include touring the animal enclosures of the zoo’s over 2,000 creatures (or as many as you can see in a few hours).
A group of bachelor lowland gorillas, giraffes, Sumatran tigers, and zebras are among the attractions that draw the most attention at the zoo. Facilities such as snack and beverage kiosks, a restaurant with full service, and a souvenir shop are all located on-site. Other on-site amenities include a souvenir shop.
7. Plymouth
A trip to Devon is missing something important if it does not include a stop at the Plymouth Gin Distillery.
Plymouth’s Black Friars Distillery, which has been producing gin continuously since 1793 and has the distinction of being England’s oldest still-operating gin distillery, can be found in the city’s historic harbor district.
In the year 1620, prior to their departure on the Mayflower, it is possible that some of the Pilgrim Fathers dined here before they set sail. This building was originally an annex to a Dominican Priory that was established in the year 1431.
In 1793, the Coates family made the purchase of the building with the intention of transforming it into a distillery that produced “Plymouth Gin.” It is therefore England’s oldest gin distillery, and it is still in full production to this day, with significant amounts being shipped to the United States.
Its gin has the “Appellation Controlee” designation, which means that it can only be distilled in Plymouth and nowhere else, and it is called out by name as the primary mixer in approximately 27 distinct cocktails, such as the American “Charlie Lindbergh.” In addition, the building has a well-known restaurant that is connected to it and a public cocktail lounge with vaulted ceilings and roof timbers located on the first floor of the historic refectory.
8. South Devon Railway
In addition to being one of the most well-liked tourist destinations in both Devon and the West Country as a whole, the South Devon Railway also holds the distinction of being the most long-standing steam railway in the region’s southwest, having been preserved for more than half a century at this point.
The SDR is a former branch line of the Great Western Railway that was constructed in 1872. It spans a distance of seven miles and runs between Buckfastleigh and Totnes along the breathtaking valley of the River Dart. We operate steam trains using heritage rolling stock and provide a wonderful attraction open all day and throughout the year for people of all ages and families of all sizes.
9. Beer Quarry Caves
In Devon, close to Beer, are the Beer Quarry Caves. They are a sizable network of artificially constructed caverns that were excavated over many years from the famed Beer Stone.
Since Roman times, the stone has been mined and quarried, with cathedral and church features receiving special preference. The caves were used to store illegal goods in the 19th century, including by smuggler Jack Rattenbury.
Early in the 20th century, quarrying at the location came to an end, and since then, some of the caves have been used to grow mushrooms. The caves offer guided tours from spring to fall. It is imperative to make reservations in advance for their guided tours, which last an hour and take you through the sizable man-made complex of underground cavers with vaulted roofs and pillars that has been compared to a sizable underground cathedral.
You will be able to observe the techniques used to extract and transport the massive blocks of stone, as well as the working conditions, difficulties faced, and daily dangers that the workforce faced. Please bring warm clothing since the caves are cool.
10. Buckfast Abbey
Devon’s Buckfastleigh is home to Buckfast Abbey. It was first inhabited by an abbey in 1018 and is a part of a functioning Benedictine monastery. When the monasteries were dissolved in 1539, this was left in ruins and destroyed. Later, the location was rebuilt as a monastery in 1882 and restored in 1902.
The abbey is situated in the middle of a picturesque valley on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park, and the gardens and shops are open every day (visitors are not permitted during service times).
There are themed gardens to explore, and their roomy grounds make a lovely setting for a picnic. This ancient Benedictine monastery produces a well-known fortified wine with a fair amount of caffeine.
11. Royal Albert Memorial Museum
Include the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery (RAMM) on your itinerary if you intend to spend at least one day in Exeter and preferably more time exploring the city’s many attractions.
Numerous paintings created by nationally and internationally renowned artists are among the highlights of a trip to this world-class museum, which was established in 1868 and houses over one million artifacts. Examples of paintings from the museum’s permanent collection as well as those from temporary exhibits are always on display.
An extensive collection of fossils discovered along the Jurassic Coast and displays relating to Devon’s one-of-a-kind geology deserve special recognition within the museum’s offerings. On-site amenities include a delightful little café as well as a souvenir shop.
12. Bicton Park Botanical Garden
An 18th-century botanical garden, Bicton Park has formal gardens, greenhouses, indoor and outdoor play areas for kids, a train, and a cafe.
The park, which is home to numerous endangered and exquisite plant species from around the world, is spread out over 64 acres. A palm house, a tropical house, an arid house, and a temperate house can all be found in the greenhouses. There is a bird hide in the arboretum. The arboretum is traversed by the Bicton Woodland Railway (small additional charge). There is also a large outdoor museum nearby. Traction engines, antique equipment, tractors, and other items are displayed in a sizable exhibition hall.
The gardens also have an Italian garden theme, complete with a stone obelisk, smaller fountains, and a tiered fountain. There are rose gardens, Mediterranean, and American gardens along streams. Additionally, kids will adore the Hermitage garden and the Fernery and Shell House. An indoor soft play area with a ball pool, slides, climbing walls, an inflatable helter-skelter, and a section for children under five is available at Bicton Park.
There is a sizable adventure playground outdoors with a zip line, tunnel slides, drop slides, and other features. In addition, there is crazy golf, a football field on artificial turf, tiny thatched playhouses, and pedal-powered tractors. Children under the age of 12 are permitted on the playground.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Everything Zany
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Everything Zany Travel Blog exploring the UK and beyond. Sharing travel guides, tips, history, and culture. Our travel media brand is founded by travel and hotel industry expert – Ryazan Tristram, a Dual Citizen (British – Filipina) based in Birmingham, UK. Everything Zany is a reputable and award-winning travel blog. Our work and contributions have been featured in Huffington Post, CNBC, Discovery Channel, GMA, Readers Digest, and Lonely Planet. Our missions are to build a great travel community and resource of travel tips, visas, and travel guides for travelers. Join us as we travel around the UK and beyond with a mission to share the best of the world.
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