The exotic Exeter

Exeter is one of Britain's oldest cities and is the industrial cum literary nerve centre of the South West. Dive deep to forage its rich historic past in its many castles, palaces, churches and inns. Located in a stunning countryside, Exeter is famous for its tingling cider and English cream teas. Exeter basks under the glory of a rich history that dates back to the 2nd century BC, when a merchandising society of Celtic tribe took shape around the river Exe. Later on Romans ruled this part and constructed the city walls, parts of which still remain. Exeter was home to a thriving cloth industry, which was replaced by corn mills and breweries towards the end of the 18th century.

During the Second World War Exeter suffered heavy shelling and much of the city was scraped to dust. The St. Peter’s Cathedral Church and the Norman towers elegantly stand tall in the city centre. It is estimated that the construction of the Cathedral we see today was started in 1270 and took 100 long years to complete. It is a fine manifestation of the amazing Gothic architectural style and the Gothic fan vaulting, which is considered the longest in the world, deserves special mention. The oldest park in Exeter, Northernhay Gardens is another must see and at an arm’s length you can see the Exeter Central Library and the Devon Family History Society, which is well worth a visit.

The other points of tourist interest include the Guildhall and the Elizabethan Moll's Coffee House apart from the 14th century Royal Clarence Hotel, which boasts to have hosted many distinguished guests including Lord Nelson. The medieval underground passages are something quite exceptional to Exeter; originally constructed to bring drinking water from the natural springs from the periphery of the city, these pathways are best explored by a guided tour. The Quay House Visitor Centre on the Quayside takes you through the golden annals of Exeter through an interesting audio-visual presentation. The old Quay area offers an enchanting ensemble of quant inns, shopping facilities, cafes and pubs apart from water sports and riverside walks, making is a hot spot of this city! The history buffs cannot afford to miss the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery, which showcases an impressive collection of Roman remains and a rich collection of West Country art. The Northhcott theatre located in the university campus is another hot spot. This city also offers lots of sporting activities with football occupying the supreme slot in its sports calendar.

The Custom House dating to 1681 is thought to be the oldest custom house in and it remained in continuous use till 1989! Nearby there are old bonded warehouses, which have been refurbished to house craft and art shops , bicycle and boat hirers among others. A cruise along river Exe is yet another enthralling option. Exeter has an impressive festival calendar as well with many lively festivals enriched by the reverberation of jazz, opera, ballet and comedy; Exeter celebrates all year as there are festivities of some type or the other virtually everyday in this enchanting city!