Exeter the Medieval Powerhouse: From Roman Ruins to Leafy Quayside

Nestled in Devon, Exeter is one of England’s most historically significant cities, where Roman ruins meet medieval splendor. On this walking tour, you’ll explore a former Roman fortress that became a wealthy medieval trading center that exported valuable cloth. Along the way, you’ll discover the radical people and ancient places that give Exeter its distinctive character.

The tour starts at Exeter Central Station. You’ll weave through historic streets and past the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery, with treasures like Gerald the Giraffe and the Exeter puzzle jug. You’ll walk alongside sections of the Roman wall that’s defined the city for nearly 2,000 years, and pass through ancient gateways that once controlled access to this prosperous city.

As you stroll down to the leafy quayside, you’ll learn about the Prayer Book Rebellion and discover how Exeter’s waterways powered its trade and industry for centuries. You’ll see the remains of Exeter’s medieval bridge and hear tales of the city’s resilience during multiple sieges. The tour ends in Northernhay Gardens, first built in 1612, making it the oldest public open space in England.

During this 60-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to:

• Marvel at Exeter Cathedral’s stunning vaulted ceiling – the longest continuous medieval stone vault in the world
• Walk the site of East Gate, where William the Conqueror laid siege to the city in 1068
• Visit the striking red-brick Custom House on the quayside, the earliest building in England specifically designed for customs administration
• Discover the “House that Moved” – a 15th-century merchant’s home that was daringly relocated in the 1960s
• See Exeter’s oldest building, St Nicholas Priory, built in 1087
• Explore Stepcote Hill, one of the city’s oldest streets, which once served as the main route from the river

By the end of this tour, you’ll have a sense of how this ancient city has continuously reinvented itself while preserving the best of its past.