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 may only exceed 15 people at the guide's discretion.
Tours will only go ahead with a minimum of two people, and may be subject to cancellation or alteration 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 Canal Boat tour) and last approximately 90 minutes, unless otherwise stated.
Exeter's Historic Quayside and Canal Boat Tour depart from the Custom House Visitor Centre on Exeter's Quay.
All tours start promptly at the time advertised.
Only assistance dogs are permitted to accompany owners on the tours.
Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Adults remain in charge of the children and are responsible for their care and control.
Some tours contain steps, slopes, and steep or rough ground.
All tours except for the Canal Trip, Churches, Cemeteries and the Catacomb, Cathedral Close & Bishop's Palace Garden and Forgotten Exeter are accessible by wheelchair and mobility scooter, or have an alternative route.
GROUPS TOURS & TALKS
Red Coat Group Tours, Coach Commentaries and Illustrated Talks
Groups of 10 or more are not permitted on public tours.
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 Devon War Memorial on Cathedral Green unless otherwise stated.
Halloween Tour
Friday 31 October 2025 at 6pm & 6.15pm
Red Coat Mystery Tour
Wednesday 24 December 2025 & Thursday 1 January 2026 at 11am
Writers Around Exeter
Thursday 5 March 2026 at 11.15am
Herstories
Sunday 8 March 2026 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 2025/2026
1 October 2025 – 31 March 2026
NO tours on 25 and 26 December.
Mystery tour on 24 December and 1 January at 11am.
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 |
|
|
Exeter Old & New |
2.00pm |
|
Tuesday |
Cathedral to Quay |
11.00am |
|
|
Tudor Exeter |
2.00pm |
|
|
Ghosts & Legends |
7.00pm |
|
Wednesday |
City Wall (2 hours) |
11.00am |
|
|
Cathedral Close & Bishop’s Palace Garden** |
2.00pm |
|
Thursday |
Forgotten Exeter & Tuckers Hall |
11.00am |
|
|
Medieval Exeter |
2.00pm |
|
Friday |
Cathedral to Quay |
11.00am |
|
|
Georgian Exeter |
2.00pm |
|
Saturday |
Medieval Exeter |
11.00am |
|
|
Royalty in Exeter |
2.00pm |
|
Sunday |
Exeter’s Historic Quayside |
11.00am |
|
|
Introducing Exeter (1 hour) |
2.00pm |
** Access to the Bishop’s Palace Garden may be restricted at short notice
Forgotten Exeter
Mondays & Thursdays at 11am
Discover some hidden curiosities in the Northwest corner of the city.
Monday's tour finishes outside St. Nicholas Priory and Thursday’s tour finishes outside Tuckers Hall on Fore Street.
Exeter Old & New
Monday at 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.
Cathedral to Quay
Tuesdays & Friday at 11am
Starting in picturesque Cathedral Close, proceed into elegant Southernhay before viewing the impressive city wall. Continue down to the river and Exeter’s Historic Quayside.
Tudor Exeter
Every Tuesday at 2pm
Discover what life in Exeter was like in Tudor times and see some of the surviving buildings from the turbulent Tudor period.
Ghosts & Legends
Every Tuesday at 7pm
Learn why Exeter is reputed to be one of the most haunted cities in England and hear some chilling tales from the past. Suitable for all ages.
Exeter's City Wall (2 hours)
Every Wednesday at 11am
Discover the fabulous history of the Roman's City wall, of which 70% still remains. Some uneven surfaces and steep slopes.
Cathedral Close & Bishop's Palace Garden
Every Wednesday at 2pm
Learn how the buildings in the Close have evolved through time, and visit the peaceful Palace gardens.
Medieval Exeter
Every Thursday at 2pm & every Saturday at 11am
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.
Georgian Exeter
Every Friday at 2pm
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
Every Saturday at 2pm
This 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
Every Sunday at 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.
Introducing Exeter (1 hour)
Every Sunday at 2pm
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. On the Wednesday afternoon tour there is an opportunity to finish the tour with a visit to the Devon & Exeter Institution.