Exeter is a friendly cathedral city in the heart of South West England, boasting a long and rich history for business travellers to explore.
If Bristol is the gateway to the southwest, then Exeter is the gateway to… well, the rest of the southwest. It was the case in Roman times, when Exeter was the most south-westerly Roman fortification and the original Roman walls can still be seen in places. There were settlements in the area much earlier and, although there is no direct evidence, it is likely to have been an important town for the Dumnonii tribe who ruled Devon and Cornwall before the Roman’s. Indeed, the Latin name for Exeter is Isca Dumnoniorum, meaning ‘Water of the Dumnonii’.
Guests coming to Exeter accommodation will find it has excellent transport links. Located in East Devon, Exeter sits at the end of the M5 motorway. It also has good railway connections, with regular services running up country towards Manchester Piccadilly, Aberdeen, Glasgow Central and both London Paddington and London Waterloo. The city even has its own international airport.
Locally, Exeter is a focus for commuters and a lot of regional business happens there. The UK’s premier weather forecasting institution, the Met Office, relocated itself to Exeter in 2004 and is now one of the city’s largest employers, along with the renowned Exeter University, which attracts a lot of overseas students and the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. The university and hospital are also significant centres of research, and this may be among the reasons travellers come to serviced apartments in Exeter.
While staying in Exeter short term accommodation, there are some superb free attractions to try out, especially if you are interested in history. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum is free to enter – but with donations welcome – and has a good mix of natural history, human history and art on display. You can also walk along a section of the Roman wall.
Or, take a Red Coat tour, a variety of which are available with no cost and no need to book. Just turn up at the appointed location and time and look for the person in the red coat. The magnificent cathedral also well worth a visit and – although this one isn’t free – Exeter’s underground passages are good for those who don’t mind the odd tight space. If you are heading out of town during your time in our Exeter furnished housing, Exmouth is a short drive or train ride and has a long, sandy main beach. Or, head west onto Dartmoor, an astonishing area of wild beauty with many of its iconic locations within 30 minutes’ drive or less.
Exeter’s main shopping areas are Princesshay, which is best for clothing brands, the Guildhall and the High Street that connects the two. Gandy Street offers something a little more alternative and was apparently an inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter books.
There are plenty of good places to eat and drink when staying in our city apartments in the centre of Exeter, but it may be worth heading down to the Exeter Quay instead, as there you can hire a kayak, go climbing or sailing, check out a variety of eateries and even find a good pub or night club all in one place.
Exeter is SITU's hometown. This is where our journey started and where our head office is, therefore we provide best city apartments in Exeter. View this page and see our selections of beautifully furnished apartments with easy access to the city centre.
