Hi, I’m Olivia, and I’m in my third year studying English with Film and TV Studies. Originally, I’m from Epsom, in Surrey. It’s a suburb just outside London, and so my childhoods were spent both in the city, but also surrounded by green spaces, little villages, and weekend markets.
When deciding on where to study for University, location was almost as important as the education. Although I love busying myself at cafes, shops, and people watching on a bustling street, the ability to escape to some greenery is, to me, unparalleled. Thankfully, Exeter is a city that has all this and more. So, if you’re already a student here and feel a little lost, or you’re thinking about studying at Exeter, here’s a list of my favourite places in and around Exeter. Whether you want countryside, seaside, and the wind in your hair, or you’re excited to live in a city and want to find the best, unique places to try out, this list is the perfect itinerary.
Firstly, before we even get into Exeter as a city, we must talk about the campuses – Streatham and St Luke’s. As most of my lectures and seminars are held there, I end up on the Streatham campus most days. Call me biased, but I think the campus, and its endless space, really allowed me to settle in in my first year. From studying to socialising, Streatham has not only the space but community to make it possible. Forum Library is great for both, with each floor having a different quiet level, as well as private rooms available. What’s more, if Forum is looking a little too busy, then Streatham has the perfect cafés which double as a study space. My favourite is Queen’s café, I love looking out the window and seeing all the green spaces Exeter has to offer, especially during the Spring. Another, somewhat rogue, option for studying and a reason I think Streatham campus is great, is its proximity to the Wetherspoons, the Imperial. Although studying at a pub sounds like an odd choice, The Imperial (and all ‘Spoons) offer a £2 hot drink refill. As a victim of the £4 Pret coffee, these £2 refills are really a lifesaver, especially during exam season.
When I’m not studying, however, I love spending time in nature. Both St Luke’s and the Streatham campus are, I feel, unique to other universities in this aspect. Despite Exeter being a city, it is certainly not lacking in green spaces or places for scenic walks in or around both campuses. St Luke’s is a particularly gorgeous campus, with Gothic architecture, and a large green field right in the centre. Grab a snack or coffee from Cross Keys, sit down on a bench with friends or even by yourself, and this is the perfect place to relax, in every season. Streatham campus, similarly, is dotted with fields, hills, and parks – spots to take a breather in when university life gets a little too much. However, my personal favourite is just off campus, the Hoopern Valley. The valley is right next to Prince of Wales Road, with multiple public walkways and entrances. If you walk through the valley and up the hill, there’s a small area with benches that gives you not just a great view, but an amazing sunset in the evenings. The spot is quiet and calming, and if you’re lucky, you may also spot a black cat or a family of bunnies hopping about.
Still, there’s more to Exeter than the University campuses. The city is the perfect size, not too busy whilst still having all the staples you need, plus some really great independent spots you can’t find anywhere else. Of course, there’s your usual shops: Boots, Sainsbury’s, Zara (it has two floors!), Hollister etc. Yet to me, the most enticing part about moving to Exeter was the range of independent shops, cafés, and restaurants. Exeter city centre is a hotspot for small business shopping, and if you don’t look for them, it’s likely you’ll miss them, so here are a few of my must-visit. Firstly, you cannot shop independently in Exeter without visiting a few of the amazing vintage shops. Flamingos Vintage on Gandy Street sells great quality vintage wear, and most items are priced by kilo. The Real McCoy Vintage located in McCoy’s Arcade on Fore Street is full of unique, reasonably priced items. This shop is great for stand-out pieces, from glittery clubbing tops to a wide variety of leather and bomber jackets. Another of my favourite small businesses in Exeter can be found on Magdalen Road, the art and stationery shop: Maker Maker. This sweet little shop is full to the brim with art prints, cards, notebooks, and home décor – I love picking up interesting prints here to decorate my university bedroom with.
More than just shopping, Exeter is also a great place for food. The city has all the usual spots: Wagamama’s, Nando’s, Côte, and more. But what’s the point of moving to a new city without trying out all the quirky cafés, pubs, and restaurants it has to offer? My number one spot for a quick bite to eat is Bon Gout on Magdalen Road. It is the perfect homey delicatessen, offering scotch eggs, pork pies, and sausage rolls for under £5. My go-to is their sage and apricot sausage roll, which was almost the size of my head, and delicious! Another lunch spot I wholly recommend, located slightly further into the city centre, is Between Bread. This café is offering up huge sandwiches, filled to the brim, with a range of different flavours. However, Between Bread sells out quickly, so make sure to get there early. Exeter, in particular, is a city with great food diversity, and you don’t have to look hard to try a range of cuisines. From kimchi fried rice at Oh My Kimchi on Blackboy Road, to lentil dahl at Ganges on Fore Street, there are unlimited options to try.
The city centre is also a brilliant area for both pub and club nights. If you’re looking for a low-key spot, the Holt, located just opposite Exeter Cathedral, has both seating inside as well as a lovely pub garden, perfect for summer. Another lesser-known spot is Pixy’s on Gandy Street. This bar is stocked with independent South Western ciders, lagers, and more, with cosy and casual seating. If you’re looking for a night out, I can’t recommend anywhere better than Cavern. Cavern hosts an Indie Tuesday night, which is quintessential to the Exeter student experience, with all your favourite Brit-pop hits.
I cannot write about Exeter without mentioning Exeter Quayside. To me, the Quay is the perfect combination of Exeter’s social community with its historic and natural beauty on the waterfront. The Quay plays host to a range of independent and chain restaurants and shops. I especially recommend Topsham Brewery, a pub selling a variety of independent lagers, ales, and ciders, as well as housing a wood-fired pizza van. The brewery, however, and many of the spots along the quay, would not be what they are without the beautiful view they offer. To me, nothing can replace sitting down with a view of the quay, swans swimming, surrounded by trees and greenery. Even if you’re hanging out with friends or taking yourself on a solo date, the quay is unmissable.
As I said, I grew up in the suburbs, and so I love small towns and the countryside. Unlike other university cities, Exeter is particularly well-connected to the rest of Devon. Taking a weekend day trip with your friends, significant other, or by yourself to escape the city is not only easy but cheap. For a relaxing day out along the estuary, I recommend Topsham. This town is small but has a lot to offer, with lots of vintage and antique shops to dig through. Personally, I like to grab a to-go pizza from Portal Pizza and eat down by the estuary. I also love The Lighter, which is perfect for the colder months, and makes a mean dark hot chocolate! Totnes is another town that is a quick train ride from Exeter. I suggest getting to Totnes early on the weekend, as their weekend market is something you can’t miss. From vintage clothing stalls, antiques and art to local produce, there is no way you won’t be enticed by Totnes’ market. What’s more, there is also a whole section of the market dedicated to freshly made food.
On my most recent visit, I tried out a stall selling Sri Lankan dosa and dahl, cooked right in front of me. Don’t worry, there are also all your usual stalls, selling pastries, rolls, and sandwiches. After the market, have a mooch around the high street with an ice cream from Delphini’s Gelato in hand, and make sure to try the pistachio flavour. In spite of this, the ultimate day trip is, of course, Exmouth beach. In the summer, it is the perfect spot to meet up with all your friends, housemates, and more, to swim and relax after a long term of studying. Exmouth is your typical beach town, with a chippy right on the shore, and the Sea Shore Ice Creamery, offering more flavour options than you can count on your fingers.
All this to say, I think Exeter is an extremely unique location, with an off-city campus, a bustling and historic city centre, and well-connected, so you can escape and explore as much as you like. Unlike many other locations, Exeter combines both the countryside and the city, the big brands and the small businesses, the sociable and the peaceful. I wholeheartedly recommend everything I mentioned in this blog, and even more – Exeter, both the university campuses and the city, always has something exciting and interesting to offer.