A Guide to 24 Fabulous Hours in Exeter – City of Literature

Exeter is a small and ancient university city and the capital of Devon.

Whether you’re looking to spend a week or simply a weekend in Exeter, there’s so much to see and do! We spent 24 hours there uncovering all its links to Literature as Exeter was awarded a UNESCO City of Literature designation in 2019 in recognition of “outstanding contributions to culture and creativity” and the wealth of literary heritage in the city.

Here’s your ultimate guide to the best things to do in Exeter.

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Best things to do in Exeter

Exeter St Davids – Literary Artwork on footbridge

A permanent installation of artwork is showcased at Exeter St David’s station to celebrate Exeter’s UNESCO City of Literature status.

The artwork, created by local artists Billy Ruffian (an artist alias of Isabel Keen) and Jack Ratcliff, honours Devon’s rich literary history and is supported by Great Western Railway’s (GWR) Customer and Community Improvement Fund.

The artwork is located on the footbridge and lift footbridge at the station and visible for all commuters travelling through Exeter St David’s.

Exeter St Davids  – Penguin Books Vending Machine

There is a Penguin Books vending machine at Exeter St. David’s station and there is a lovely reason why!

It was back in 1934 that publisher Sir Allen Lane struggled to find a good book to read at Exeter St Davids whilst returning home after a meeting with Agatha Christie.

The dilemma led to Sir Allen Lane forming Penguin Books and the rest is history!

Now almost a century later, modern-day commuters won’t face the same problem as Penguin’s founder had all those years ago, thanks to the installation of a Penguin Books vending machine at the station – a partnership between Penguin Books, Exeter UNESCO City of Literature and Great Western Railway

The machine is fairly simple to use; you just type in the number that corresponds with the book you want, enter your card and your chosen book pops out!

I think it’s a really great idea and profits from the vending machine support Bookbag Shop, a beloved local independent bookstore, and Exeter City of Literature, who promote literacy and celebrate books in the local area.

Visit The Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM)

This free to visit museum opened in 1868 and used to be a free library & reading room. This iconic Exeter building is home to fascinating collections and many cultural activities.

It is fun for all ages (meaning it’s the perfect Exeter activity for kids) and a few years ago the museum underwent intense renovations, to make it the great cultural hub that it is today.

Highlights include exhibitions about the history of Exeter and rotating photography exhibits.

I was amazed to find the Kenyan Kanga there!

Riddle Sculpture

This 6.5 metre high sculpture was created by Michael Fairfax in 2005.

It is made up of eight panels, each featuring an Old English riddle, originally recorded in the Exeter Book around 950CE.

Definitely worth a look when you are on Exeter High Street.

Discover Harry Potter inspiration on Gandy Street

 

Did you know that JK Rowling actually studied as an undergraduate at Exeter University?

Throughout the city there are traces of the Harry Potter inspiration she used to create her novels.

For example, Gandy Street is not only well worth a wander along because it’s full of quirky and unique shops, but also because it’s thought to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the books.

Elsewhere in the city, a door on the Cathedral Green is thought to be the inspiration for the Room of Requirement Door, while the Firehouse at the other end of town may well be the basis for the ‘Leakey Cauldron’ in the books.

10 Cathedral Close, Exeter, Devon, England: the ancient door which inspired JK Rowling’s ‘room of requirement door’ in Harry Potter

Relax at the historic Exeter Quay

First used as a port during prehistoric times, Exeter Quay is also often referred to as ‘Exeter quayside’. Located alongside the River Exe, the waterway from which Exeter gets its name, commercial shipping had largely subsisded here by the 19th-century in favour of rail.

A hand operated ferry known as ‘Butts Ferry’ is one of the last of its kind to still be in operation in the UK to this day. Today, the ancient quayside lies just a ten-minute downhill walk from the city centre.

Once there, it feels like you’ve left the city entirely and are instead in an oasis of calm populated by offbeat cafés and antique shops.

Visit Exeter Cathedral

The city’s cathedral was first constructed in the 15th-century and escaped much of the devastation that WWII bombing caused in the rest of the city (displays on what life in Exeter was like can be found in its award-winning museum, RAMM). Key highlights of the cathedral include an astronomical clock and beautiful vaulted ceilings.

Exeter Library

A fixture of the city centre since 1965, since being refurbished in 2014 Exeter Library has been a thriving community hub, with over 1km of shelves & hidden stacks with over 150,000 books. It has an exciting and varied programme of events and activities that celebrate the local community.

The Devon & Exeter Institution

The Devon & Exeter Institution in Cathedral Close is a thriving independent historical library and educational charity established in 1813. It is housed in a beautiful medieval building, originally owned by the Cathedral, and was home to the first female librarian at an independent library in 1849!

The two galleried libraries hold a unique historical book collection, virtually unchanged, and collections of maps, prints, drawings and their fine and decorative art.

Join a free public tour every Wednesday afternoon between 1 – 4pm, no need to book.

Visit Independent Book Shops

Book-Cycle, 7 West Street, Exeter, EX1 1BB

 

Book-Cycle is a UK based volunteer run charity that seeks to empower children worldwide through the provision of free books and educational resources. Exeter was their first branch, and is housed in a beautiful historic building on West Street.

Choose what to pay for up to 3 items per day – you do not have to bring them back, they are yours to keep! Proceeds are used to send educational books to schools and orphanages around the world and create tree planting projects with primary school children in the UK.

Bookbag, 7-10 McCoys Arcade, Fore St, Exeter EX4 3AN

Situated in McCoys Arcade in Exeter’s indie West Quarter, Bookbag is an independent bookshop stocking a select range of books for all ages, including fiction and non-fiction, books and stories with a local-global feel.

Hospiscare Books, 84 South Street, Exeter EX1 1EQ

Hospiscare is an independent local charity, supporting people in Devon living with life-limiting illnesses for over 40 years. Support them through the purchase of a book at their shop on South Street.

I found some old editions of The Wind in the Willows and Treasure Island from the 1985’s and 1949 respectively.

Getting to Exeter

Exeter has its own airport, train station and many coach connections, so it’s very easy to get here from other parts of the country, such as London.

The train takes about 2 hours and 20-30 minutes to London Paddington station.

Where to stay in Exeter

Leonardo Hotel

I would recommend Leonardo Hotel, which is close to the train station and Exeter city centre. They have parking available nearby too (at a discounted charge).

I was hosted in Exeter by Visit Exeter but all views and my opinions are my own.