Exeter

While much of Devon is given over to moors, coastline and scattered villages, Exeter is the county's city, and it feels like it the moment you arrive. Streets built around a working cathedral sit close to the quay, and the centre has a density of shops, bars and places to eat that you won't find elsewhere in the county. It works well as a base precisely because it is compact: you can walk most of it, then head out into wider Devon when you fancy a change of pace.

Exeter's attractions lean active rather than purely historic. Saddles and Paddles gets you onto the water or a bike, Go Ape Haldon puts you up in the trees just outside the city, and Devon Activity Centre, Go Segway and Exeter Segways Paintball and Laser cover off a good afternoon of doing something different. Prodigy Escapes suits a rainy day, and the Exeter Woollen Trail is a nice way to dig into the city's history on foot without it feeling like a formal tour.

What makes Exeter distinct from the rest of Devon is this combination: a genuine city centre with the shopping, dining and cathedral setting to match, but with the moors, coast and countryside that define the county still within easy reach. It suits people who want a proper base with things to do on their doorstep, rather than a purely rural retreat.