Exeter's Red Coat Guided Tours
Red Coats Guided Tours Programme
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, and may be subject to cancellation without notice. Please note that there is a limit to the number of people that can join each tour.
There is no need to book in advance.
Our walking tours depart from the Hooker Statue on Cathedral Green (apart from the Historic Quayside tour) and last approximately 90 minutes, unless otherwise stated. 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.
GROUPS TOURS & TALKS
Red Coat Group Tours, Coach Commentaries and Illustrated Talks
Group Tours, Coach Commentaries and Talks must be booked in advance and incur a small charge. A minimum of 14 days' notice is required.
If you wish to make a group booking, please contact guidedtours@exeter.gov.uk
SPECIAL TOURS
Online booking essential in advance
All special tours start at the Hooker Statue on Cathedral Green unless otherwise stated.
Thursday 14 November at 11.15am
Tuesday 24 December & Wednesday 1 January at 11am
Thursday 6 March 2025 at 11.15am
Saturday 8 March 2025 at 11.15am
Enquiries:
Exeter's Red Coat Guides, Exeter Tickets, 89 Fore Street, Exeter EX4 3HX
T: 01392 265866 Email: redcoat.admin@exeter.gov.uk
Custom House Visitor Centre, The Quay Exeter EX2 4AN
T:01392 271611 Email: customhouse@exeter.gov.uk
WINTER PROGRAMME 2024/2025
1 October 2024 – 31 March 2025
Daily Tour Programme until 31 March 2025
Please note that online booking is no longer required.
No tours on 25 & 26 December 2024.
Throughout the period of Exeter Cathedral's Christmas Market all tours (unless stated otherwise) will start outside the Devon & Exeter Institution, No 7 Cathedral Close
|
Day |
Tour (approximately 90 minutes) |
Start time |
|
Monday |
Forgotten Exeter & St Nicholas Priory |
11.00am |
|
|
Medieval Exeter |
2.00pm |
|
Tuesday |
Cathedral to Quay |
11.00am |
|
|
Tudor Exeter |
2.00pm |
|
|
Ghosts & Legends |
7.00pm |
|
Wednesday |
City Wall |
11.00am |
|
|
Introducing Exeter |
2.00pm |
|
Thursday |
Forgotten Exeter & Tuckers Hall |
11.00am |
|
|
Exeter Old & New |
2.00pm |
|
Friday |
Georgian Exeter |
11.00am |
|
|
Cathedral to Quay |
2.00pm |
|
Saturday |
Royalty in Exeter |
11.00am |
|
|
Medieval Exeter |
2.00pm |
|
Sunday |
Exeter’s Historic Quayside* |
11.00am |
|
|
Introducing Exeter (1 hour) |
2.00pm |
*Starts outside the Custom House Visitor Centre
Forgotten Exeter
Monday 11.00am & Thursday 11.00am
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.
This tour is not accessible to wheelchairs & mobility scooters
Medieval Exeter
Monday 2.00pm & 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.
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.
Ghosts & Legends
Tuesday 7.00pm
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.
Exeter Old & New
Thursday 2.00pm
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.
Introducing Exeter
Wednesday 2pm & Sunday 2.00pm (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’s Historic Quayside
Sunday 11.00am
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.
Tudor Exeter
Tuesday 2pm
Some of the surviving buildings from the turbulent Tudor period.
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.
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!
Please note that online booking is no longer required.
If you wish to make a group booking, please contact guidedtours@exeter.gov.uk