Exeter Red Coat Guided Tours

Exeter Corn Exchange, Market Street, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1BW

Tel: 01392 265203

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Exeter Red Coat Guided Tours

About

Autumn/winter tour programme - 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025

Discover one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in England with Exeter’s Red Coat Guides.

These FREE guided walking tours operate daily throughout the year, offering a wide range from which to choose.

Meet your Red Coat Guide at the starting point and discover historic Exeter for yourself.

Tours will only go ahead with a minimum of two people on the tour and may be subject to cancellation without notice, there is a limit to the number of people that can join each tour.

Our walking tours depart from the Hooker Statue on Cathedral Green (*apart from the Historic Quayside and Canal Trip tours) and last approximately 90 minutes. All tours start promptly at the time advertised.

Only assistance dogs are permitted on tours, and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

There is no need to book in advance

Group bookings

If you wish to make a group booking please contact guidedtours@exeter.gov.uk.

Our tours

Please note that online booking is no longer required.

Forgotten Exeter

Monday 11am & Thursday 11am

Be intrigued by hidden corners and curios of the city, long since gone from memory. The tour is mainly focused on the North West corner of the city within the city walls. Monday's tour finishes outside St. Nicholas Priory and Thursday’s tour finishes outside Tuckers Hall on Fore Street.

Please note this tour is not accessible to wheelchairs & mobility scooters

Medieval Exeter

Monday 2pm & Saturday 2pm

This tour celebrates the time when Exeter grew rich from the woollen cloth trade. See many of the surviving medieval buildings, including ‘the house that moved’, then walk across the Medieval Exe Bridge to view the restored Cricklepit Mill. The tour finishes on Exeter’s Historic Quayside.

Cathedral to Quay

Tuesday 11am & Friday 2pm

Starting in the picturesque Cathedral Close, proceed into elegant Southernhay before viewing the impressive city wall. The tour then continues to the river Exe and finishes on Exeter’s Historic Quayside.

Tudor Exeter

Tuesday 2pm

Some of the surviving buildings from the turbulent Tudor period.

Ghosts & Legends 

Tuesday 7.pm

Find out why Exeter is reputed to be one of the most haunted cities in the country. Visit many of Exeter’s historic buildings and listen to chilling tales about their ghostly history. Suitable for all ages.

City Wall

Wednesday 11am

Discover the fabulous history of the Roman's City wall, of which 70% still remains. Some uneven surfaces and steep slopes.

Introducing Exeter

Wednesday 2pm & Sunday 2pm (1 hour)

This circular taster tour does exactly what it says in the title; glimpses of over 2,000 years of history, and introducing visitors to Exeter of its rich and varied past.

Exeter Old & New

Thursday 2pm

Learn about Exeter’s history from pre-Roman times to the present day. Visit the 11th century Castle Gatehouse – probably Britain’s oldest Norman building – and Northernhay Gardens, the first public gardens in the country.

Georgian Exeter

Friday 11am

Hear how Exeter’s transformation came about, from industrial hub into an elegant Georgian city. Discover how trade was replaced with commerce. Explore the architectural splendours of Southernhay and find out about some of the colourful characters that resided in Exeter at the time. This tour finishes in Princesshay.

Royalty in Exeter

Saturday 11am

A new tour that highlights visits to the city by Royalty, from Alfred the Great in the 9th century through to the present day. And they weren't all gracious visits!

Exeter’s Historic Quayside

Sunday 11am

Starting at the Custom House, discover the port of Exeter, once one of Britain's busiest, and hear about its fascinating history. Stroll out and back along the river and canal and finish at the Custom House.

SPECIAL TOURS

Online booking essential in advance

All special tours start at the Hooker Statue on Cathedral Green unless otherwise stated.

Red Coat Mystery Tour

Tuesday 24 December & Wednesday 1 January at 11am

Writers Around Exeter

Thursday 6 March 2025 at 11.15am

Herstories

Saturday 8 March 2025 at 11.15am

Book Tickets

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
AdultFree
Adult Group£6.00 per ticket
ChildFree
Child Group£3.00 per ticket

Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

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    • Very Good
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      Directions

      Road Directions

      Guided tours start from Cathedral Green or the Historic Quayside.

      Public Transport Directions

      Exeter is easily reached by bus or train. Nearest train station is Exeter Central, or catch a bus to Exeter Bus Station or Exeter High Street. All Park & Ride services will drop you within a short walk of the Cathedral Yard.

      Facilities

      Accessibility

      • Guide Dogs Permitted

      Event Facilities

      • Free Entry

      Key Features

      • Approx length of visit - 1hr 30 minutes
      • In town/city centre
      • Max group size - 100
      • Min group size - 10
      • No Smoking Attraction
      • Of historic, literary or architectural interest
      • Open by appointment outside normal opening times
      • Outdoor Attraction

      Parking & Transport

      • On Bus Route
      • Parking (charge) - Please park in city centre car parks.

      Payment Methods

      • Blue Badge Guides admitted free
      • Booking essential - Booking essential for groups
      • Special group rates
      • TIC Staff Admitted Free

      Specialist Features

      • Marketed towards children
      • Marketed towards families
      • Marketed towards senior citizens
      • Marketed towards student/youth

      Tours and Demonstrations

      • Educational Visits Accepted
      • Guided Tours Available for Groups
      • Guided Tours Compulsory for Groups
      • Guided Tours Compulsory for Individuals

      Venue Facilities

      • Groups Accepted - Need to pre-book.

      Opening Times

      Exeter Red Coat Guided Tours (1 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024)

      * Tours not available on Christmas Day or Boxing Day

      Awards

      • TripAdvisor AwardsTripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award 2024
      • Regional and MiscellaneousThe Queen's Award for Voluntary Service The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2020

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