This was my first time visiting Exeter, and I was blown away by how walkable and historic the city was. Here is what I (Bronia, social media manager at Independent Hostels) and my friend Lily (tiktok content creator at Independent Hostels) got up to at during our 48 hour stay.
Exeter, is a historic city located in the county of Devon. Exeter has a history dating back over 2,000 years, and its historic architecture and landmarks, such as Exeter Cathedral, Roman city walls, and medieval buildings, showcase its fascinating past. The city’s history provides a sense of continuity and connection to the past, making it a great destination for history enthusiasts.
Stay
Exeter Globe Backpackers – We stayed at Exeter Globe Backpackers. This hostel is an unsung hero in Exeter. It is conveniently located a 10-minute walk out of the city centre. It is also a quick 2-minute walk to the quayside. We were overjoyed when we opened the door to our room to discover the four-poster bed, vintage furniture including a wardrobe, table and chairs, chest of drawers and a desk. Not to mention the lovely decor and tea and coffee-making facilities within the room. Paul, on reception, was a ray of sunshine and there are two spacious communal rooms as well as a fully equipped kitchen.
Eat
Sacred Grounds Vegan Cafe – This vegan cafe was completely amazing. The vegan egg really looked and tasted like an egg. It even had a yolk! And the smoked carrot ribbons tasted just like real smoked salmon. I would come back here in a heartbeat as everything on the menu looked so appetising.
The Botanist – Oliver, who is the son of Caroline and Paul who run the hostel, invited us to dine at his place of work and take advantage of his 50% friends and family discount. I had a chicken bang bang noodle salad and Lily chose their iconic hanging kebab.
Drink
The Turks Head -This pub has been around since the 12th century and it is truly worth a visit as it looks tiny from the front but opens up into a huge drinking hole once you get inside.
The Prospect Inn -This pub is right next to the quayside, so the views are beautiful – especially at night when all the buildings light up with fairy lights which are reflected into the water.
The Fire House – We visited Exeter on a bank holiday Monday. The town was pretty much deserted as who in their right mind wants to go out after a bank holiday weekend? This pub, however, was bursting full of people. It was full of young, trendy people having a great night. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves here.
The Vaults – When we arrived at 1am, there was a grand total of 4 people on the dancefloor. I am convinced that the Dj was just playing one song and then overlapping it with the next song rather than actually mixing. Also, I think he had bought some kind of royalty-free music cos all the songs were so generic (aside from one pitbull song) The only bonus was it’s free entry and when I asked for a lime soda and got it for free!
Explore
Riverside Valley Park – This park was very accessible from the hostel. We walked down the path to the quayside and then took a left turn to walk along the water’s edge. There were many little paths and bodies of water to explore and it would have been a great location for a picnic.
Charity Shops – We visited Oxfam, British Heat Foundation and Hospicecare. Hospice care was the stand-out charity shop as it had an entire wall dedicated to arts and crafts.
The town – Exeter is the kind of magical place where you can explore without a destination in mind and find an amazing place. There were so many cobbled streets, historical architecture and crumbling castle ruins to explore.
