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Essential Exeter – 25 surprising facts, must-see places, events & hidden gems
It’s no secret that we love Exeter – after all, it’s why we made the city our base for our web design business. But whether you’re a local, visitor, are thinking about relocating, or looking for somewhere to start a business – you won’t want to miss our surprising insider’s guide to the city of Exeter.
Exeter in numbers – 5 stats and facts on the city
1. The city of Exeter is home to 130,800 people (2021 census).
2. Exeter has an impressive 8 train stations – that’s a lot for a small city!
3. St Nicholas Priory (Exeter’s oldest building) dates back to 1087.
4. Exeter is a sunny place to be, with 1747 hours of sunshine per year (compared to London with 1481, Edinburgh 1421, Manchester 1416 and Birmingham just 1364!)
5. The city centre has an average footfall of 1,364,000 people per month!
5 things you might not know about Exeter
6. Exeter is a former Roman fort town – it was called Isca and was home to Roman baths, forts and military depots.
7. The Exeter Guildhall is the oldest civic building in Britain! Some parts of it date back as far as 1160.
8. Exeter was awarded UNESCO City of Literature status in 2019. It’s just one of 42 Cities of Literature in the world.
9. From 2015 to 2018 Exeter had its own currency – the Exeter Pound. It was introduced to help ensure more money was spent with local businesses.
10. Exeter came out number 1 in a recent index of England’s cleanest cities, ranking highly on air quality, climate and water quality
5 Exeter places you must see
11. Exeter Cathedral is located in the heart of the city. Flanked by the picturesque Cathedral Green – a favourite lunch and event spot, it’s an impressive sight and well worth a visit.
12. You’ll find the impressive Exeter Guildhall on the main high street. It’s been the centre of civic government for the city for at least 600 years and is a Grade I listed building.
13. Exeter Quay is the city’s waterside leisure spot. You’ll find restaurants, bars, shops leisure and fitness centres and much more…including the QuayClick offices!
14. Quirky Gandy Street is a cobbled street lined with independent shops and is also home to the Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre.
15. Awarded Museum of the Year in 2012, the RAMM is host to diverse collections including zoology, anthropology, archaeology and fine art. For the last 100 years it’s also been home to Gerald – a 17ft, 500kg giraffe!
5 unmissable Exeter events
16. From mid-November to mid-December, Exeter Cathedral is host to the annual Exeter Christmas Market. It’s Devon’s biggest Christmas market and home to over 100 festive chalets selling food, drink, local produce, gifts, and more.
17. The curious Lammas Fair, held in July, involves the parading of the Lammas Glove (a big white glove) through the streets of Exeter before it is hoisted above the historic Guildhall. The ceremony dates back over 900 years!
18. The Exeter Respect Festival turned 25 in 2022 and brings together communities from across the city in an annual celebration of diversity. The festival will return to Exeter on 10 and 11 June 2023.
19. The 3-day Festival of Arts and Crafts takes place each year on Exeter’s beautiful Cathedral Green. It has been running for over 40 years and features 100+ local artists and makers.
20. Exeter Pride is one of the South West’s biggest celebrations of LGBTQ+ communities and won 2019 Event of the Year at the Exeter Living Awards.
5 insider tips – get to know these hidden Exeter gems!
21. Just off the high street and tucked behind Rougemont Gardens, you’ll find Exeter Castle. At its entrance, you can see the remains of an early Norman gatehouse in distinctive red stone.
22. Another hidden gem (literally) is Exeter’s Underground Passages. Guided tours have taken place since the 1930s, sharing stories of wars, plagues, sieges and more, all from underneath the city’s streets!
23. If you’re in Exeter Quay you have the opportunity to take a very short ferry crossing! The Butt’s ferry is hand pulled on a cable across the river and the journey spans just 150 feet / 450 m!
24. Did you know Exeter has its own cinema museum? The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum is located on the Exeter University Campus. They have a collection of over 86,000 items with over 1,000 of them on display to the public.
25. There can be few better ways to explore the city and its surroundings than from the water. Pick up a kayak from Exeter Quay and see the city’s iconic Cathedral and other landmarks from a different perspective. Plus, there are some great canal-side pubs to sample!
Exeter – it’s where we’re at!
We hope you’ve enjoyed our little insight into the wonderful world of Exeter. We’re QuayClick, a web design and digital marketing agency based in Exeter Quay. We’re passionate about the city and helping local businesses to achieve their web design and marketing goals. If you’re looking for help with your website or want to grow your business through digital marketing, then contact us today.
If you enjoyed this blog, you may also be interested in Relocating or starting a business? Here’s why
Exeter is a great place to live and work…
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We’re a website design and digital marketing agency based in Exeter. We help businesses grow online and have over 20 years of experience in Web Design. We offer several inbound strategies, including paid search and SEO. In addition, our content team can help with copywriting and email campaigns.