Exeter Is a City Worth Staying In, Not Just Passing Through
Too many people treat Exeter as a stop on the way to somewhere else — a quick change at St Davids before heading to the coast, a motorway break on the M5. That's a mistake. This compact cathedral city has a restaurant scene that's quietly become one of the best in the South West, a quayside that feels like it belongs in a different century, independent shops that put most high streets to shame, and a warmth that bigger cities struggle to replicate.
Whether you're visiting for a weekend, relocating and need a base while you flat-hunt, or coming down for one of our Dinners With Friends events, you'll want somewhere good to stay. Exeter's accommodation scene has real range — from boutique luxury to solid mid-range options to properly affordable beds — and almost everything is walkable once you're in the centre.
Here's our honest guide to the best places to lay your head in 2026.
Boutique and Luxury
Hotel du Vin Exeter
If you want the nicest hotel in Exeter, this is it. Hotel du Vin occupies a beautifully converted Victorian building — a former eye hospital, no less — on Magdalen Street, just a five-minute walk from the Cathedral. The conversion is striking: rooms spread across the original red-brick building, with an upscale bistro, a cocktail bar, and a spa set within the hotel's walled garden.
The rooms are chic without being fussy, with the brand's signature style — oversized beds, monsoon showers, Egyptian cotton, and a muted colour palette that lets the architecture do the talking. Some rooms overlook the garden; others face Bull Meadow Park. The bistro serves reliably good French-inspired food, and the bar is one of the better spots in Exeter for a pre-dinner drink.
What sets it apart is the outdoor heated pool, which sits in the tranquil walled garden. On a summer evening, it genuinely feels like you've left Devon for somewhere Mediterranean. Book directly through hotelduvin.com for the best rates and package deals.
Location: Magdalen Street, EX2 4HY — a 5-minute walk from the Cathedral, 10 minutes from the Quayside. Breakfast: Included in some rates; the bistro breakfast is excellent.
Hotel du Vin's midweek rates are significantly cheaper than weekends, and the spa and pool are quieter too. If you can visit Tuesday to Thursday, you'll get the best experience for the best price.
Southernhay House
Southernhay House is the hotel for people who find most hotels a bit impersonal. Set within a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse in Southernhay — one of Exeter's most elegant streets, a stone's throw from the Cathedral — it has the feel of staying in a very well-appointed friend's house.
The rooms are spacious and individually decorated, with modern touches (flat-screen TVs, DAB radios, luxury toiletries) layered over Georgian bones. The cocktail bar downstairs is a destination in its own right, drawing locals as well as guests, and the restaurant serves refined seasonal cooking that has quietly built a serious reputation.
What makes Southernhay House special is the atmosphere. It's grown-up without being stuffy. The staff are warm rather than formal. And the location, tucked into one of Exeter's best neighbourhoods, means you're moments from the Cathedral, the independent shops, and the best of the city's dining scene.
Location: 36 Southernhay East, EX1 1NX — 2 minutes from the Cathedral. Breakfast: Available; the restaurant is well regarded.
The Salutation Inn, Topsham
Technically not in Exeter itself, but Topsham is only a few miles down the estuary and feels like an extension of the city. The Salutation Inn is a former coaching inn that has been lovingly restored by the Williams-Hawkes family into something genuinely special — individually decorated en-suite rooms plus a self-catering flat, a restaurant, a fishmonger, and even a yoga studio.
The rooms are beautiful, with beds hand-made in Topsham by Naturalmat, and the restaurant serves fresh seafood, steaks, and seasonal dishes. Check availability at salutationtopsham.co.uk. Breakfast uses ingredients that were probably swimming or growing earlier that week.
Topsham itself is a charming estuary town with independent cafes, antique shops, and waterside pubs. It's a perfect base if you want something quieter than the city centre while still being close to everything.
Location: 68 Fore Street, Topsham, EX3 0HL — about 4 miles from Exeter city centre. Breakfast: Residents' breakfast available; check current times when you book.
Solid Mid-Range
Mercure Exeter Rougemont Hotel
The Rougemont is Exeter's grand Victorian hotel, and while it's not as polished as Hotel du Vin or as intimate as Southernhay House, it has a character and a location that are hard to beat. Sitting directly opposite Exeter Central station on Queen Street, you can step off the train and be checking in within two minutes. The Cathedral is five minutes on foot.
The rooms have been refurbished to a comfortable modern standard. The ground-floor restaurant serves traditional British food, and there's a lounge bar for quieter moments. It's the kind of hotel that does the fundamentals well — clean rooms, decent beds, central location, friendly staff — without trying to be something it's not.
Parking is limited and charged on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you're driving, arrive early or use one of the city's car parks.
Location: Queen Street, EX4 3SP — directly opposite Exeter Central station. Breakfast: Available in the hotel restaurant.
Queens Court Hotel
A smaller, more personal option than the big-name chains, Queens Court is a three-star hotel in a Georgian building dating back to 1840. It has a restaurant, the Olive Tree, and a bar — all within a ten-minute walk of both St Davids and Central stations.
What guests consistently praise is the warmth of the service. This isn't a hotel where you're a room number. The staff are genuinely friendly, the breakfast is better than it needs to be, and the Olive Tree restaurant is a proper destination in its own right. For the price, it's hard to beat.
Location: 6-8 Bystock Terrace, EX4 4HY — 10 minutes from both train stations. Breakfast: Highly rated; the cooked options are particularly good.
Leonardo Hotel Exeter
Formerly Jurys Inn, the Leonardo sits on Western Way, close to both the Quay and the city centre. It's a modern, purpose-built hotel with a restaurant, a bar and a coffee shop on site. It won't win any design awards, but the rooms are spacious, clean, and well-equipped, and the location is genuinely useful — Princesshay shopping centre is a two-minute walk away, and the Quayside is about five minutes on foot.
This is a solid choice for families (rooms can accommodate two adults and two children) or anyone who values practicality and a reliable standard over boutique charm.
Location: Western Way, EX1 2DB — 2 minutes from Princesshay, 5 minutes from the Quay. Breakfast: Available; the restaurant is open to non-guests too.
Hotel Indigo Exeter
Hotel Indigo is one of the newer additions to Exeter's hotel scene, and it brings something the city was previously missing — a boutique chain with genuine personality. Occupying a smart building on Catherine Street, just off the Cathedral quarter, it combines IHG's reliability with the kind of design-led touches that make a stay feel considered rather than corporate.
The rooms are comfortable and modern, with local artwork and details inspired by Exeter's heritage. But the real draw is upstairs: the hotel's rooftop bar and restaurant, currently trading as Dottie's, perched above the city with panoramic views. There is also a spa. If you're visiting for a weekend and want somewhere with a social buzz beyond the lobby, Hotel Indigo delivers.
The location puts you within a few minutes' walk of the Cathedral, Gandy Street, and most of the city's best restaurants. For exploring on foot, it's hard to beat. Book at exeter.hotelindigo.com.
Location: 3 Catherine Street, EX1 1EU — 3 minutes from the Cathedral. Breakfast: Available; the rooftop restaurant also serves food.
The Turk's Head
For something with real character, the Turk's Head sits next to the Guildhall in the heart of the city and now includes its own microbrewery. With only a handful of rooms, it's intimate in a way that larger hotels can't replicate — staying here feels like being in on a secret. The pub downstairs serves proper ales (including their own brews) and good food, and the location on the High Street puts you at the epicentre of Exeter's independent scene. It's ideal for a weekend visit where the pub is as much part of the experience as the room.
Location: 202 High Street, EX4 3EB — 5 minutes from the Cathedral. Breakfast: Pub breakfast available.
voco Zeal Exeter Science Park
If you're visiting for business at the Science Park or simply care about sustainability, the voco Zeal is worth noting. It's IHG's first net zero carbon hotel, located at the eastern gateway to Exeter Science Park off the M5. The rooms are modern and well-equipped, and the hotel has been designed from the ground up with environmental credentials that go well beyond the usual greenwashing. It's a fifteen-minute drive from the city centre, so it suits business travellers with access to a car more than leisure visitors — but the standard is high and the rates are competitive.
Location: Exeter Science Park, EX5 2FN — near Junction 29 of the M5.
If you're visiting Exeter for a weekend, the city centre is compact enough that almost every hotel on this list puts you within walking distance of the Cathedral, the Quayside, Gandy Street, and the best restaurants. You genuinely don't need a car once you're here.
Budget-Friendly
Premier Inn Exeter Central St Davids
There are no surprises with Premier Inn, and sometimes that's exactly what you want. The Exeter Central branch sits less than 200 metres from St Davids station, making it the easiest option if you're arriving by train. The rooms are the standard Premier Inn formula — clean, comfortable, purple, predictable — and the price is usually among the lowest in the city for a private room with an en-suite.
It's not glamorous, but it works. And the money you save on the room can go towards dinner at one of Exeter's excellent restaurants instead.
Location: Bonhay Road, near St Davids station.
Exeter's hostel provision changes from year to year, so if you're travelling solo and want a dorm bed, check what is currently open before you set off rather than relying on an older listing. If you're new to Exeter and travelling alone, a central base is worth more than a few pounds saved on the room.
Self-Catering and Airbnb
Exeter has a healthy selection of self-catering options and holiday rentals, particularly if you're staying for more than a couple of nights or travelling as a group.
The best areas to look are:
City Centre — The most convenient option, with everything on your doorstep. Expect to pay a premium for the location, but the walkability makes it worthwhile.
St Leonards — A quiet, leafy neighbourhood just south of the centre with a village feel. Properties here tend to be in handsome Victorian and Edwardian houses. It's one of Exeter's more expensive residential areas, which translates to well-maintained, characterful holiday lets.
The Quayside — Converted warehouses and waterfront apartments with character. You're a short walk from the centre and right on the doorstep of some excellent pubs and restaurants.
Topsham — If you'd prefer to be slightly outside the city, Topsham's holiday rentals put you in a charming estuary town with its own excellent food scene. Many properties are dog-friendly, and the cycle path into Exeter makes commuting easy.
Rates climb sharply in peak season, though you can usually find smaller flats for considerably less midweek or off-season.
A Note on the Royal Clarence
You may see references to ABode Exeter, formerly the Royal Clarence Hotel, which overlooked Cathedral Green from what is widely described as England's first purpose-built hotel. The building was severely damaged by fire in October 2016, and after years of uncertainty over its future the site is now under restoration, with planning consent for apartments and commercial units on the ground floor and basement.
The reconstruction is intended to rebuild the original external facade — the famous crests, original ironwork, stained glass windows, and the Royal Clarence lettering — using the original moulds where possible. When it's finished, it will be a landmark moment for Exeter's Cathedral quarter — and we'll update this guide accordingly.
Where to Stay: Our Honest Recommendation
If money is no object, Hotel du Vin is the clear winner — the combination of the rooms, the spa, the pool, and the location is unmatched in Exeter. For something with more personality, Southernhay House delivers a boutique experience that feels genuinely special.
For most visitors, the Rougemont or Queens Court will do everything you need at a sensible price, with the bonus of proper restaurants on site. And if you're watching your budget, the Premier Inn by St Davids proves that a good night's sleep in Exeter doesn't have to cost a fortune.
Whatever you choose, the beauty of Exeter is that it's small enough to walk everywhere. Check in, drop your bags, and head out to explore. The Cathedral, the Quayside, Gandy Street, the markets, the restaurants — they're all within fifteen minutes on foot.
If you're visiting for a Dinners With Friends event, many of our venues are in the city centre or on the Quayside. Staying centrally means you can walk to dinner and not worry about driving home — which is exactly how a good evening should work.
And once you've found your bed for the night, Exeter has plenty to keep you busy. The restaurant scene is thriving, the pubs are among the best in Devon, and the cocktail bars are worth a late-night detour. If you're planning a weekend, our perfect 48-hour Exeter itinerary will help you make the most of your stay — and don't miss the best brunch spots for the morning after. For those new to Exeter or just visiting, our guide covers everything from the best neighbourhoods to the city's thriving coffee shop scene. And if you're visiting from further afield and want to explore beyond the city, our North Devon coast day trip guide and Dartmoor guide are excellent ways to fill a spare day.
If you time your visit right, you might catch one of our dinners — which is, after all, the best way to discover a city.