Exeter

Exeter has 49 hotels and B&Bs listed here, with 31 suited to families and 9 dog-friendly options. The city offers a compact cathedral centre with convenient access to Devon's countryside and coast, supported by strong accommodation and dining options.

Mill on the Exe is a riverside hotel on Bonhay Road with free on-site parking and a garden overlooking the water. Blue Ball Inn Sandygate operates as a pub-style hotel with its own bar and restaurant, positioned near Exeter Racecourse. The Devon Hotel at Matford contains 60 rooms along with a gym and indoor pool, unusual for the city in offering free parking. The Turks Head occupies Exeter's High Street as a traditional inn with adults-only rooms and no parking required. Woodleigh Coach House is a small guest house in the nearby Devon village of Cheriton Bishop with just six rooms and free parking. Woodbury Park Hotel and Spa sits in countryside near Exeter and includes its own golf course, indoor pool and spa facilities.

Ratings across the 45 listed properties with Google scores average 4.3 out of 5. Mill on the Exe rates 4.4 from 3704 reviews, whilst Blue Ball Inn Sandygate and The Turks Head both score 4.5 from 1593 and 978 reviews respectively.

Beyond your accommodation, Killerton, Canonteign Falls and Castle Drogo are nearby attractions worth visiting. For eating, Rosa's Thai is listed locally, and Crealy Great Adventure Park offers family options in the area.

Exeter offers 34 attractions and things to do, with 16 particularly suited to families and 5 dog-friendly options. The cathedral city sits within reach of Devon's countryside and coast, making it a practical base for exploring further afield to places such as Plymouth, Torquay, Barnstaple, Newton Abbot, Ilfracombe, Bideford, Tiverton and Exmouth.

The most visited attractions draw consistently high ratings. Killerton is a National Trust property with gardens, woodland walks and a Georgian house, plus wheelchair hire and baby facilities. Canonteign Falls features an 80-acre parkland and cascading waterfalls in the Teign Valley. Castle Drogo is an early 20th-century castle set on Dartmoor with gardens and collections. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery occupies a Victorian building and covers world cultures and natural history. Powderham Castle combines a grand historic interior with an adventure fort, climbing walls, suspension bridge and animal encounters. For indoor thrills, Raceworld Indoor Karting offers a racing track with on-site refreshments.

Most of the listed attractions have Google ratings of 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Canonteign Falls rates 4.7 out of 5, while Raceworld Indoor Karting rates 4.8 out of 5. Combined, the 29 attractions with ratings average 4.5 out of 5.

The city centre supports strong options for eating and staying. Nearby you'll find Thai dining at Rosa's Thai, while accommodation ranges from the Mill on the Exe to the Leonardo Hotel Exeter. Crealy Great Adventure Park is also within reach for families looking for additional activities.

Eating out here has real range. Situ and The Stand Off are good for a proper sit-down meal, Argee Bhajee and The Dragon's Den cover different corners of the world's cuisines, and Between Bread and Black Sheep Coffee are solid for something quicker. The Black Horse Inn is a reliable pub option, and St Thomas Community Food Hub is a reminder that Exeter's food scene isn't only about restaurants and cafés.