Exeter Quayside, Exeter

Exeter Quayside occupies the banks of the River Exe where the city has traded for over a thousand years. Today it remains one of the most atmospheric quarters of Exeter, lined with Grade II listed Georgian and Victorian warehouses now converted into independent shops, galleries, restaurants, pubs and riverside cafes. The Quayside's cobbled streets reflect its maritime past; this was the heart of Exeter's port, and the striped awnings and weathered brick facades of the former trading houses evoke that commercial heritage. The restored Canal Basin, fed by a medieval watercourse, adds to the sense of arrival and discovery.

Visitors stroll between independent boutiques, browse second-hand bookshops and contemporary art galleries, then settle into waterside venues for a drink or meal with views across the Exe. The Quayside hosts markets and events throughout the year, transforming the cobbled forecourts into vibrant public spaces. The water itself, home to resident swans and herons, provides a sense of tranquility in the city centre. From the Quayside, it is possible to explore the wider city on foot, with the Cathedral and historic close lying just inland, making this quarter an essential starting point for understanding Exeter's past and present.