Exeter Red Coat Guided Tours

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Take a look at the Exeter Red Coat Guided Tours 2021 leaflet here!

 

Daily tour programme 2021

Discover one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in England with Exeter’s Red Coat Guides.

These FREE guided walking tours operate daily throughout the year, offering a wide range from which to choose.

Meet your Red Coat Guide at the starting point and discover historic Exeter for yourself.

Tours will only go ahead with a minimum of two people and may be subject to cancellation without notice, there is a limit of 5 people per tour.

Our walking tours depart from the Hooker Statue on Cathedral Green (apart from the Historic Quayside tour) and last approximately 90 minutes, unless otherwise stated. All tours start promptly at the time advertised.

Only assistance dogs are permitted on tours, and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

All tours must be booked in advance, and by 4.00pm of the day before. 

 

Current Tour Programme – Until 30 June

Monday

Cathedral to Quay - 11.00am

Starting in the picturesque Cathedral Close, proceed into elegant Southernhay before viewing the impressive city wall. The tour then continues to the river Exe and finishes on Exeter’s Historic Quayside.

 

Tuesday

Exeter’s Historic Quayside - 11.00am

Discover the port of Exeter, once one of Britain's busiest, and hear about its fascinating history. Stroll out and back along the river and canal.

Please note: This tour starts and finishes outside the Custom House Visitor Centre on Exeter Quay

  

Wednesday

Medieval Exeter - 11.00am

This tour celebrates the time when Exeter grew rich from the woollen cloth trade. See many of the surviving medieval buildings, including "the house that moved", then walk across the Medieval Exe Bridge to view the restored Cricklepit Mill. The tour finishes on Exeter’s Historic Quayside.

 

Thursday

Forgotten Exeter - 11.00am

Be intrigued by hidden corners and curios of the city, long since gone from memory. The tour is mainly focused on the North West corner of the city within the city walls. The tour finishes on Fore Street.

Ghosts & Legends - 7.00pm

Exeter is reputed to be one of the most haunted cities in the country. Hear chilling stories about many of the historic buildings within the city. Suitable for all ages

 

Friday

Cathedral to Quay - 11.00am

Starting in the picturesque Cathedral Close, proceed into elegant Southernhay before viewing the impressive city wall. The tour then continues to the river Exe and finishes on Exeter’s Historic Quayside.

 

Saturday

Medieval Exeter - 11.00am

This tour celebrates the time when Exeter grew rich from the woollen cloth trade. See many of the surviving medieval buildings, including ‘the house that moved’, then walk across the Medieval Exe Bridge to view the restored Cricklepit Mill. The tour finishes on Exeter’s Historic Quayside.

 

Sunday

Exeter Old and New - 11.00am

Discover the history of Exeter from pre-Roman times to the present day. Visit the 11th century Castle Gatehouse, probably Britain’s oldest surviving Norman building, and Northernhay Gardens, the first public garden in the country. The tour finishes outside the Guildhall.

 All tours must be booked in advance, and by 4.00pm of the day before. 

 

 

Tour Programme- 1 July - 31 October 2021

Booking for the tours listed below is not available until Monday 21 June 2021

Medieval Exeter – Monday 11.00am & Friday 11.00am

This tour celebrates the time when Exeter grew rich from the woollen cloth trade. See many of the surviving medieval buildings, including ‘the house that moved’, then walk across the Medieval Exe Bridge to view the restored Cricklepit Mill. The tour finishes on Exeter’s Historic Quayside.

Oddities & Curiosities – Monday 2.00pm

An entertaining wander through areas in and around the city centre, intertwining some of its historical details with some of its stranger or more unusual facts, with a few surprises along the way. This tour finishes in Cathedral Close

Forgotten Exeter – Tuesday 11.00am & Thursday 11.00am

Be intrigued by hidden corners and curios of the city, long since gone from memory. The tour is mainly focused on the North West corner of the city within the city walls. Tuesday’s tour finishes outside St. Nicholas Priory and Thursday’s tour finishes outside Tuckers Hall on Fore Street.

Cathedral to Quay – Tuesday 2.00pm & Thursday 2.00pm

Starting in the picturesque Cathedral Close, proceed into elegant Southernhay before viewing the impressive city wall. The tour then continues to the river Exe and finishes on Exeter’s Historic Quayside.

Georgian Exeter - Tuesday 2.30pm

Hear how Exeter’s transformation came about, from industrial hub into an elegant Georgian city. Discover how trade was replaced with commerce. Explore the architectural splendours of Southernhay and find out about some of the colourful characters that resided in Exeter at the time. This tour finishes in Princesshay.

Exeter’s Historic Quayside – Wednesday 11.00am & Saturday 2.00pm

Starting at the Custom House, discover the port of Exeter, once one of Britain's busiest, and hear about its fascinating history. Stroll out and back along the river and canal and finish at the Custom House                                                 

Cathedral Close & Bishops Palace Garden – Wednesday 2.00pm

See how the buildings in Cathedral Close have evolved through time before exploring a section of the City Wall and entering the Bishop's Palace Garden itself, enjoying unique views of the Cathedral and learning of the development of the Palace and its uses over 800 years. This tour finishes on Cathedral Close

Heart of Exeter – Wednesday 2.30pm

From the quiet and tranquillity of the Cathedral Close to the hustle and bustle of the High Street, follow the development of Exeter from Roman times to the present day. This circular tour ends outside the Devon and Exeter Institution which occupies one of Exeter’s historic buildings and houses some of the city’s most important books and literature, and will be open to the public.

Exeter Old & New – Thursday 2.30pm & Sunday 2.00pm

Learn about Exeter’s history from pre-Roman times to the present day. Visit the 11th century Castle Gatehouse – probably Britain’s oldest Norman building – and Northernhay Gardens, the first public gardens in the country.

Ghosts & Legends - Thursday 7.00pm

Find out why Exeter is reputed to be one of the most haunted cities in the country. Visit many of Exeter’s historic buildings and listen to chilling tales about their ghostly history. Suitable for all ages.

Tudor Exeter - Friday 2.00pm

This tour looks at buildings which survive from the Tudor period and gives an idea of what life was like for the citizens of Exeter during this turbulent period .Finishes on the Historic Quayside

Introducing Exeter- Saturday 11.00am (1 Hour)

This circular taster tour does exactly what it says in the title; glimpses of over 2,000 years of history, and introducing visitors to Exeter of its rich and varied past

Exeter’s City Wall – Sunday 11.00am (2 hours)

Discover the fascinating history of the City Wall which dates back to Roman times. Despite attacks by Vikings, William the Conqueror, King Stephen, Perkin Warbeck, Cornishmen in the Prayer Book Rebellion and both sides in the English Civil War, 70% remains standing. Finishes in the city centre

 

All tours must be booked in advance, and by 4.00pm of the day before. 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic we have had to introduce some further restrictions:

All tours must be booked in advance, and by 4.00pm of the day before.

NHS Track & Trace details will be collected when a booking is made.

Tours will limited to a maximum of 5 people.

Face coverings are not mandatory but strongly recommended.

A social distance of 2 metres must be maintained at all times.

Do not attend a tour if you are feeling unwell

Tours will only enter sites or properties that are covid secure.

 

Please do not just turn up to a tour if you have not booked, the guide will not let you join the tour.