Exeter Red Coat Guided Tours

About

Spring/Summer tour programme - 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024

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 on the tour and may be subject to cancellation without notice, there is a limit to the number of people that can join each tour.

Our walking tours depart from the Hooker Statue on Cathedral Green (*apart from the Historic Quayside and Canal Trip tours) and last approximately 90 minutes. 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.

There is no need to book in advance

 

Group bookings

If you wish to make a group booking please contact guidedtours@exeter.gov.uk.

 

Our tours

Please note that online booking is no longer required.

 

Forgotten Exeter

Monday 11am & Thursday 11am

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. Monday's tour finishes outside St. Nicholas Priory and Thursday’s tour finishes outside Tuckers Hall on Fore Street.

This tour is not accessible to wheelchairs & mobility scooters.

 

Tudor Exeter

Monday 11.30am & Friday 11am

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.

 

Medieval Exeter

Monday 2pm, Wednesday 11am & Sunday 11.30am

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.

 

Introducing Exeter

Tuesday 11am (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 Historic Quayside

Tuesday 11.30am & Saturday 2pm

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.

 

Churches, Cemeteries and the Catacomb

Tuesday 2pm

Visit some of the city’s medieval churches and burial grounds, and, if the bats allow, discover the cathedralesque Victorian Catacomb

 

Canal Trip

Wednesday 11am ( July - August, 1 hour, subject to a fee)

A brief description of the Historic Quayside, followed by a 20-minute one-way trip along the canal as far as Double Locks pub. This tour starts at the Custom House Visitor Centre. Please pay for your boat trip on the vessel, you may wish to buy a return ticket.

 

Exeter's City Wall

Wednesday 11.30am & Sunday 11am (2 hours)

Discover the fabulous history of the Roman's City Wall, of which 70% still remain. Some uneven surfaces and steep slopes.

 

Heart of Exeter & the Devon & Exeter Institution

Wednesday 2pm ( April - June)

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.

 

Cathedral Close & Bishop's Palace Garden

Wednesday 2pm ( July – September)

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

Please note that this tour is not accessible to wheelchairs & mobility scooters

 

Exeter Old & New

Thursday 11.30am & Saturday 11am

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.

 

Markets, Merchants & Mariners

Thursday 2pm

Exeter's commercial prosperity, past and present, will be highlighted by this walk through some of its lesser-known areas. It will also introduce you to some truly fascinating characters whose lives contributed to the story of this ancient city. A new tour for this year.

 

Ghosts & Legends

Thursday 7pm

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.

 

Cathedral to Quay

Thursday 11.30am & Sunday 2pm

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

Friday 2pm

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.

 

Royalty in Exeter

Saturday 11.30am

A new tour that highlights visits to the city by Royalty, from Alfred the Great in the 9th century to Queen Elizabeth II, and they weren't all gracious visits!

 

Special tours

Please note that online booking in advance is essential for these tours

All special tours start at the Hooker Statue on Cathedral Green unless otherwise stated. All special tours need to be booked in advance.

 

Exeter Blitz

Saturday 4 May at 11.15am & 3pm

Discover how Exeter was affected by the air raids of 4 May 1942 and how this event shaped the city we see today.

 

Tales of the Land and Songs of the Sea

Sunday 26 May & Sunday 8 September at 2pm

An introduction to Exeter's maritime history in stories, pictures and recorded songs and music.

Please note: these talks are taking place at the Custom House Visitor Centre on Exeter’s Historic Quay

 

Heritage Harbour Tour

Sunday 9 June at 11am, 1pm & 3.pm

Celebrate the history of Exeter’s Quay, during the Heritage Harbour Festival.

Please note: these tours start outside the Custom House Visitor Centre)

 

Royalty in Exeter

Saturday 15 June at 11.15am

On the same day as Trooping of the Colour celebrate King Charles III  official birthday on this new tour that highlights visits to Exeter by Royalty. The visits were not always gracious!