Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market 2025: complete guide to dates, stalls & insider tips

‘Tis the season for shopping, stirring concerts and dazzling light displays, and here in the UK we have plenty of Christmas markets to choose from.

While many will head for the big hitters like York, Bath and Edinburgh, there’s one city that deserves a trip this holiday season – Exeter.

This ancient city on the River Exe in southwest England is probably best known for its impressive Cathedral and world-class university, but it really goes all out during Christmas with festive markets, decorations and gallons of mulled wine.

Exeter’s Christmas season has already kicked off, and this year features gleaming new displays set to illuminate the city and bring festive sparkle to the cold winter nights.

From 14 November, the lights are on across the city, and now there are hundreds of twinkling lights adorning the high streets, cobbled lanes and swish shopping centres like Princesshay and Guildhall.

Take a wander, and you’ll also spot German sausage stalls, wreaths, and an impressive 8m tree in Princesshay Square.

If you love well-lit selfies, there’s also plenty of #festive photo spots, including Santa’s Sleigh, Angel Wings, and the popular walk-through JOY letters.

There is also a range of events this time of year with the Exeter Cathedral Choir, which will present a series of carol concerts inside the Cathedral on selected dates.

I’ve never visited Exeter at the most wonderful time of the year, so I jumped at the chance to spend a few days getting into the holiday spirit with my Christmas-loving husband Luke (who also produces my podcast – the Travel Goals Podcast, check it out).

If you love good mulled wine and a decent chance of finding a gift that doesn’t look like it came from a pound shop, here’s what Exeter has for Christmas 2025.

This article was created in partnership with Visit Exeter.

Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market 2025 – Key Dates & Opening Times

From 20 November to 19 December, from 10am to 9pm, Exeter Cathedral’s atmospheric grounds become an illuminated festive labyrinth.

Exeter’s Christmas Market, located on Cathedral Green, is a festive hub set among winding paths, all lit by fairy lights and the glow of chalets.

The market features a mix of local, regional, national, and international suppliers, with stalls selling crafts, gifts, seasonal food, and drink.

There’s global street food from pop-up cafes and bars, alongside local West Country produce, handcrafted gifts, and fabulous decorations.

The Christmassy scene unfolds beneath the medieval arches of Exeter Cathedral, adding to the market’s Hallmark movie feel.

Attracting over half a million visitors and generating tens of millions for the city, the market is a key part of Exeter’s Christmas season.

On busy days, the narrow walkways become crowded, with shoppers jostling between the stalls. For many, it marks the official start of Christmas.

Having not visited before, I had no idea what to expect, but as I arrived on opening day, the medieval Cathedral loomed overhead, while the winding lanes of stalls buzzed with energy.

Chatting to stall holders, I learnt that this year, over 100 chalets are selling your typical festive items, from handcrafted gifts to cheese, wine, decorations, and handcrafted gin. There’s also a new section in the Cloister Garden that hosts independent traders, adding a local twist.

There are far too many stalls to name, but a few of my favourites include Soctopus, Devon Cove Vodka, Barbuoy, Beevive, Viking Drinking Horns and Wild Wool.

What is Exeter Christmas Market like?

I will confess something that may get me blacklisted from every tourism board mailing list: I went into the Exeter Cathedral Christmas market, potentially expecting disappointment.

After years of trudging through “Christmas markets” that are essentially three sad stalls and a man selling churros for the price of a small mortgage, my bar is subterranean at this point.

So imagine my shock when Exeter actually delivered with stalls that don’t appear to have been salvaged from a bankrupt garden centre, mulled wine that didn’t financially ruin me, and local produce from companies like Salcombe Distilling Co and South Devon Chilli Farm, rather than the usual imported tat wearing a rustic price tag.

Is the Exeter Cathedral Christmas market worth visiting?

What started years ago as a small seasonal experiment has now become one of the only Christmas markets in Britain that hasn’t collapsed under the weight of its own clichés. It’s genuinely loved, popular with locals and tourists and has a picturesque setting.

Blame the mix of the city’s personality, the South West’s artisan obsession, and the fact that the Cathedral provides a dramatic backdrop usually reserved for BBC period dramas and low-budget Netflix medieval epics.

The market stands out from others because the Cathedral runs it, and many of the stallholders are local.

Yes, it’s evidently Jesus-approved, but don’t forget this is still a commercial venture, and you will pay higher prices than you would on Temu, like you would at any Christmas market in the UK.

Look, nothing in December is cheap; we all accept this. But Exeter manages something miraculous for a British city: high prices, but not “auction off your firstborn” high.

And if you’ve ever made the catastrophic decision to visit London’s Winter Wonderland, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

In a moment of madness, I once paid £8 for a hot chocolate and £16 for a hot dog that looked like it had come straight from the middle aisle at Aldi.

I think I had fallen for the holiday propaganda and forgot that it’s an ‘essential Christmas experience’ where mulled wine costs the same as a return flight to Spain, and everyone pretends that’s totally normal.

Meanwhile, Exeter, fast becoming my favourite festive city, quietly holds the line. You can still buy a mulled wine and a German sausage without gently weeping as you hand over your Mastercard.

The range is genuinely solid too. Street food that smells like Christmas rather than fryer oil despair, gift stalls run by actual humans rather than faceless distributors, and bars that aren’t charging £12 for a plastic cup of lukewarm Glühwein. For a medium-sized city, it’s winning outrageously compared to the capital’s festive chaos.

Exeter may not have the 60-foot LED reindeer or the theme-park-level hype, but it does have a Christmas market that feels festive without draining your bank account dry.

Honestly, it’s almost unsettling to enjoy a Christmas event in the UK without feeling financially mugged. But here we are.

If you want to make a weekend of it, there are plenty of city centre hotels near the markets. We stayed at Hotel Indigo, which is just around the corner from Cathedral Green and the Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market. Our room was very stylish, and the location couldn’t have been any better.

Stalls at Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market 2025

According to organisers, the market features a diverse range of highly curated stalls selling the best Devonshire produce and festive goodies.

My impression is that they aren’t just throwing up random stalls and hoping for the best. Everything seems very considered, with a focus on local goods and high-quality gifts, which in this case means fewer sad plastic trinkets and more Devon produce, craftsmanship, and things you might buy without regretting them on the walk home.

There are stalls selling jewellery, candles, chocolates and spirits, the standard market suspects, but then there are ones selling handcrafted wooden sculptures, coconut-shell bowls, and even Viking-style drinking horns.

I could almost see one perched on my wine shelf back home, filled with something warming and strong enough to numb the memory of writing this extensive guide. (Yes, I’m dropping hints, Santa.)

MillyKatz draws you in with handmade children’s clothes, colourful leggings, and reusable everyday items that feel thoughtful rather than disposable.

Nearby, AdHock Homeware showcases recycled candles, upcycled lamps, and refillable tealights, festive yet environmentally conscious.

If you want something stronger than mulled wine, BarBuoy offers ready-to-pour cocktails made from premium South West spirits, perfect for gifting or sipping on the spot.

Nautilus Designs trades as a Devon‑based jewellery studio, producing sea‑inspired pieces that avoid tacky tourist‑shop clichés and instead offer understated coastal charm.

Silkwood Traders delivers hand‑painted wooden homeware: vases, bowls, candle‑holders, trinket pots, and even balancing wine‑bottle holders, ideal if you want your kitchen to look like someone still cares about craftsmanship.

Nicola Mary Ceramics specialises in handcrafted ceramic decorations, useful, sustainable, small‑batch homeware that could survive more than one Christmas season.

Storeys & Tails supplies handmade accessories for dogs and their humans, thoughtful, practical pieces that bring a bit of class to pet gifting rather than the usual plastic squeaky toys.

There’s a huge range of stalls to browse, so your best bet is to get your walking shoes on, grab a mulled wine and shop till you drop. Or run out of money.

Food & Drink at Exeter Christmas Market 2025

My biggest tip is to turn up hungry, as the market has plenty of local produce stalls and a Global Street Food Village that refuses to settle for bland mince pies and lukewarm sausage rolls.

Expect flavorful German sausages that snap when you bite them, and sugar-dusted churros and crepes done properly. Then there’s food from as far afield as Nepal, Thailand, and Morocco, providing international flavours to a traditional Christmas market.

If you let me pick, I’d nudge you toward the lamb kofta on loaded fries from Street Food South West; it’s tangy, moreish, and has a generous portion.

For dessert or a cheeky breakfast the next morning, Dough Bros Bakery does doughnuts that might just be the best you’ve had this side of the M5. Flapjackery is where you grab artisan handmade luxury flapjacks locally made on the edge of Dartmoor.

Want proper comfort food? There’s a stall doing hog-roast rolls and loaded pork fries, pigs-in-blankets baps and bacon-and-cheesy-chips combos, ideal if you treat yourself with the subtlety of a drunk uncle at Christmas.

For something a bit lighter (or less pork-heavy), stalls serving Nepalese curries and pakoras offer a reminder that winter market food doesn’t have to involve meat sweats or predictable blandness.

Handcrafted on the Salcombe waterfront, Devon Rum Co. is a great choice for festive sips and blends quality Caribbean rums with Devonian spring water.

There’s also a large undercover German beer hall-style bar in the market serving local craft ales, Devonshire spirits and mulled wine.

Expect local pours like Dartmoor whisky, Cove Vodka, Exeter Gin, Sandridge Barton Wines, and house beers and ciders like Salcombe Pale Ale, Jingle All The Way and Fanny’s Bramble.

The price range for half pints is generally £3.00–£3.50, and for pints, £6.00–£6.50. Across the stalls, expect to pay anywhere from £6 to £8 for a mulled wine, pretty much in line with most UK Christmas markets.

When does the Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market 2025 Open, and what are the peak times?

The Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market is open daily from 20 November to 19 December, from 10am to 9pm.

The sweet spot is late afternoon on a weekday. Around 4pm, the daylight gives up entirely, as is tradition in the British winter, and the market gets a glow up.

Fairy lights snap on, the Cathedral looms dramatically like it’s auditioning for a BBC Christmas special, and everyone collectively decides it’s an acceptable time to start drinking warm alcohol out of a paper cup.

I feel like around 4pm is the ‘magical hour’ where the market hits a rare balance: enough people around to feel lively, not so many that you’re protecting your mulled wine from rogue elbows.

You can actually stop at a stall, look at things, and even ask a question without being shoved into a display of handmade candles.

If you want ambience without chaos, this is it. After 5pm, crowds thicken, the queues grow, and navigating the place becomes a mildly festive assault course.

What’s New at the Exeter Christmas Market 2025

This year, the market is refreshed. The Cloister Garden area adds a boutique flair, hosting independent traders selling unique gifts, including sustainably sourced crafts, artisan candles, quirky ornaments, and locally produced goodies.

After several mulled wines, I find myself lingering longer than planned, chatting with stallholders about their products and craft and discovering treasures I didn’t even know I wanted. I will not check my bank balance until at least the new year.

There are also subtle improvements, wider walkways to ease crowd flow, additional lighting, and enhanced signage.

It’s clear the organisers are thinking about visitor experience and promoting south west businesses, a refreshing change from Christmas supplied entirely by Amazon.

Exeter Christmas Lights

If you think Exeter’s festive charm is all about mulled wine and German sausages, think again. Take the time to wander the city centre, and you’ll spot Christmas lights and decorations absolutely everywhere, turning Exeter into a wintery wonderland that demands a camera at the ready.

The High Street has a brand-new star-themed display, with twinkling lights dancing across historic façades, while other landmark buildings along the way have been lit up with subtle, atmospheric projections that make the city feel like it’s auditioning for a Netflix Christmas special.

Don’t skip Gandy Street, a hub of indie shops, restaurants, pubs, and clubs, where lights festoon the street.

Evening strolls here are perfect for night-time photography, capturing the festive buzz of Exeter’s independent quarter under a glittering canopy of Christmas cheer.

Where to see Christmas lights in Exeter

The Royal Albert Memorial Museum also joins the fun with a dazzling light projection on its façade, giving the city’s cultural heart an extra festive glow.

Nearby, the Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market continues to shine, its own displays reflecting off the stonework and drawing visitors into the magical medieval setting.

Princesshay shopping area isn’t letting the lights contest go unchallenged either. Thousands of bulbs, light-up angel wings, and the famous walk-through JOY letters turn the square into an Instagrammable festive hub.

Plus, on select Thursdays in November and December, the shops stay open late so you can soak in the illuminations while ticking off some Christmas shopping.

What to Do in Exeter Outside the Christmas Market

If you think Exeter is all about the Cathedral Christmas Market, put the mulled wine down and think again.

There’s a lot more going on, and if you’re smart, you’ll spend a few hours exploring the city beyond the twinkling stalls.

Let’s start with the obvious heavyweight: Exeter Cathedral, the grand backdrop to the festive market.

Visit Exeter Cathedral at Christmas

Step inside under the Entry‑By‑Donation offer running during the Christmas market season, and you quickly realise Exeter Cathedral isn’t just a fusty old building with a few lights strung up for the Instagram crowd.

It’s home to 1,000 years of history, sitting right in the city centre, all soaring arches, carved stone, and surprising corners that you might miss if you are too busy doomscrolling. Put that phone away and look up.  

You can wander at your own pace, join one of the entertaining guided tours, or just sit quietly and soak in the holy vibes.

During the festive season, there are Christmas trees and decorations, free performances, and a range of ticketed events that make the Cathedral feel alive rather than just a photo backdrop.

For families, there’s plenty to keep children engaged, and if you fancy pretending you’re cultured while actually warming up from the cold, the cathedral cafe serves locally sourced hot drinks and light snacks.

But the real treat is the Library & Archive, where a special appointment gives you access to rare and ancient treasures.

Nothing says “I love Christmas and history” quite like peering at manuscripts that predate your great-grandparents by centuries. It all feels very Game of Thrones, and I’m here for it.

Christmas shopping in Exeter

Exeter really comes alive for Christmas shopping, mixing the convenience of big-name stores with the charm of independent boutiques. Princesshay and Guildhall Shopping Centres are packed with high street favourites and plenty of festive lights, making them perfect for ticking off your Christmas list in one go.

But for a more intimate experience, head to Gandy Street in the heart of historic Exeter. With its cobbled lanes, quirky shops, cosy cafes, bars and restaurants, and even beauty and hair salons.

Fun fact, Potter fans: J.K. Rowling apparently drew inspiration from Gandy Street’s winding lanes for Diagon Alley during her time at Exeter University.

If you’re looking for a gift that supports local businesses, the In Exeter Gift Card is a brilliant option. This MasterCard-based card works in over 130 independent shops, cafes and restaurants across the city, giving the recipient the freedom to choose.

Christmas at Princesshay

Just a short walk away, Princesshay offers Christmas shopping with over 70 of the best high street names.

Shop top brand names from Reiss, All Saints, and Oliver Bonas to high street favourites including Zara, Hollister and River Island. Large stores such as Next and New Look ensure that every fashionista’s style is catered for.

If you are a total Grinch, though (I’m thinking husbands dragged along on a shopping trip who would rather be in the pub), be warned: Princesshay goes big during the holiday season.

Expect twinkling lights, Christmas cabins, and just the right amount of Instagrammable sparkle to keep all the Christmas girlies happy.

Princesshay Exeter Christmas decorations

From 14 November, the entire centre lights up with thousands of warm LED bulbs, green wreaths, and a jaw-droppingly gorgeous Christmas tree in Princesshay Square.

And yes, the walk-through JOY letters and Santa’s Sleigh are back so that you can bag that shot for your socials.

The lighting scheme isn’t just pretty; it’s green: recycled aluminium, recycled plastics, and ultra-LED bulbs combine to make Exeter’s most environmentally conscious twinkle yet.

The cutesy Christmashay Village runs from mid-November to just before Christmas, featuring 17 festive cabins spread across the square, Bedford Street and the main mall.

There’s a mix of local traders and street food: churros, bratwurst, Yorkshire pudding wraps, all washed down with a warming mulled wine at the Mistletoe Bar. Try to bag a seat in the cosy wooden cabins, which come with heating.

Late night shopping extends on Thursdays until 8pm, which is perfect if you’re avoiding the midday crush or trying to justify a second mulled wine.

Charity Christmas Trees & Santa Sundays

For a dash of seasonal goodwill, the Charity Christmas Trees Festival lights up Bedford Street once again, celebrating its 13th year with 35 beautifully decorated trees supporting local causes.

It’s a subtle reminder that Christmas in Exeter isn’t just about sparkle and street food, but community too.

Families, brace yourselves: Santa Sundays return for the four weekends leading up to Christmas. Spot Santa in his golden sleigh beneath the glass canopy outside Space NK, wave, snap a photo, and let your little ones whisper their Christmas lists.

There’s a suggested donation of £ 2.50 per child, which goes to Vranch House, and each child takes home a jingle bell keepsake.

Princesshay keeps its doors open late on select Thursdays, perfect if you want a second round of festive window shopping or a cheeky mulled wine after a festive splurge.

Christmas at Guildhall Shopping Centre

When the weather turns properly British, Guildhall is your retail retreat to get all your shopping done while admiring the decorations.

Late-night shopping kicks off from 20 November and runs through December, and honestly, the combination of twinkling lights, opulent decorations, and buzzing festive energy makes Christmas shopping feel less like a chore and more like an experience.

Chandeliers glint, garlands drape elegantly across balconies, and even the most cynical shoppers can’t help but feel slightly Christmassy.

Families, rejoice: Guildhall pulls out all the stops. There are kid-friendly events, a magical winter wonderland play space where little ones can burn off some energy before nap time, and plenty of festive photo opportunities to document your sanity-preserving trip indoors.

Upcoming Family Events:

• 6 December: Gather around for enchanting storytelling with Christmas Belle, 11am–1pm.
• 13 December: The Grinch visits to spread his particular brand of naughty cheer, 11am–3pm.
• 18 December: The Grinch is back, 2pm–7pm, yes, he’s persistent, but hilarious in a slightly sinister way.
• 20 December: Storytime with Santa & Mrs Claus, 11am–3pm, snap the perfect keepsake photo and maybe whisper your Christmas list while no one’s looking.

Northernhay Gardens Winter Wonderland, Skating, Rides, Lights

If you want full-on festive energy, head to Northernhay Gardens for Winter Wonderland. Running from 21 November to 28 December, it has a covered real-ice rink, a light trail, a vintage carousel, fairground rides, street food and a Santa’s Grotto.  

It’s a chance to let go, enjoy the spectacle, and maybe even feel a little smug as you master an ice rink without falling flat on your backside.

Visiting mid-afternoon or early evening is best: the light is still good for photos, the crowds are manageable, and you can time your hot drink for maximum effect.

Christmas on Exeter Quay

For a festive outing with a slightly different vibe, Christmas on the Quay returns on 21 December. The historic quayside transforms into a waterfront wonderland with twinkling lights, independent stalls, live music and street food.

There’s a sense of space here you don’t get at the cathedral market, and the water reflects the lights in a way that almost makes you believe the festive magic exists outside of a marketing budget.

It’s great for families, friends, or anyone who wants to combine food, drink, music and a bit of charm without constantly navigating shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.

Christmas in Exeter – Local shopping and eating

After wandering through the Cathedral Christmas Market or gawping at the lights, the sensible human instinct kicks in: you need food.

Luckily, Exeter isn’t stingy in this department. Whether you’re chasing festive street food, a proper sit-down meal, or just somewhere to sip something that isn’t horrendously overpriced mulled wine, the city delivers.

Princesshay and Guildhall

Princesshay Shopping Centre has a great mix of your favourite chain haunts. Wagamama, and Yo! Sushi will fill you up quickly if you’re starving and looking for comfort food.

Local company Chandos Deli is another great shout. It’s a family business with the simple aim of offering fantastic food to its customers.

Proudly making as much as possible in-house, serving exciting and innovative toasted sandwiches as well as other delicious hot lunch offerings such as quiches and soup.

Meanwhile, Guildhall Shopping & Dining expands the options: Pho for a steaming bowl of broth that warms more than just your stomach.

Head to the Botanist for cocktails that feel like theatre, Tortilla for burritos, Turtle Bay for a Caribbean escape without leaving Devon, BrewDog for beer snobs or anyone pretending to be one, and Franco Manca for loaded sourdough pizza that will fill you up.

Ludo Sports & Live Lounge Exeter

If you think a sports bar is just a dim room with a flickering TV and sad nachos, you clearly haven’t been to Ludo Sports & Live Lounge Exeter. This place takes the phrase “sports bar” and spins it into something genuinely clever.

Ultra-HD screens everywhere ensure you never miss a second of the action, whether it’s football, rugby, NFL, or thrilling Formula One.

And when the sun comes out, the rooftop terrace gives panoramic city views, perfect for soaking up game-day buzz or pretending you’re at a rooftop bar in London without the price tag or attitude.

Ludo Sports & Live Lounge food

Forget the greasy “sports bar” clichés. Every dish at Ludo is made fresh from scratch, from pub classics and small plates to stone-baked pizzas, all designed to taste as good as they look.

Typical dishes include Fish & Chips, burgers, Chicken Schnitzel, sirloin steak and fish finger sandwich.

We opted for spicy Korean wings and the Kansas Chicken Pizza, loaded with pulled chicken, sweetcorn, peppers, jalapeños, and Kansas BBQ drizzle. It was zingy magnificence.

They’re big on dietary options too: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, they’ve thought of everyone here.

Drinks are another highlight. Beers, wines, spirits, and crafted cocktails that occasionally come with flaming garnishes (shout-out to manager Kim for ensuring I didn’t burn off my eyebrows) make it clear Ludo doesn’t just serve drinks, it stages them.

Ludo isn’t content with just sport and food; they’ve cornered the Exeter market on live music, too. Thursday and Friday nights bring in local talent who actually have personality.

We were lucky enough to catch Adam Moran, aka ‘Adam in the Hat’, a Devon-based funk/soul/jazz singer whose rendition of Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie” had the crowd whooping along.

None of the bland pub-singer vibes who insist on endless Pearl Jam covers here, Adam brings humour, skill, and a twist that actually makes you care about music again.

The Ivy Exeter

The city’s swankiest hangout, The Ivy Exeter, has already launched its 2025 Christmas Showcase menu featuring yuletide classics and wintry cocktails.

Sitting right on Cathedral Green, the restaurant welcomes both bookings and walk-ins so that you can pop in for a Christmas-themed cocktail amid opulent décor and tasteful festive adornments.

The festive set menu keeps things elegant and straightforward with warming French onion soup, duck liver parfait with cranberry chutney, or a tamarind beetroot and endive salad to start.

For mains, the kitchen serves turkey ballotine with apricot and cranberry, pan-fried sea bass in wild mushroom sauce, and a lentil and aubergine bake for plant-based diners.

Desserts stick to classics: flambéed Christmas pudding, the playful Ivy Santa (highly recommended), and the signature chocolate bombe, which I also happen to adore.

Across both menus, the chefs focus on seasonal ingredients, cranberries, chestnuts, truffles, caviar, and Champagne, used with restraint.

The à la carte options offer plenty of choice too, with highlights including a lobster and cheese soufflé, baked until light and rich, and chicken bourguignon layered with smoked pancetta, chestnut mushrooms, and a deep red wine sauce.

We both opted for the pan-fried sea bass, delicate, flaky, yet paired with rich, earthy flavours that feel both rustic and luxurious. Green beans and mash rounded it out perfectly, simple but essential.

Drink options match the food in class. Nyetimber leads the sparkling list with a refined English fizz, while Wild Idol offers a non-alcoholic alternative in white or rosé, available by the glass, bottle, or magnum.

The cocktail list mixes fruity with festive: a Snowman Colada sits alongside a cherry-and-chocolate sour, each carrying a strong seasonal personality.

Eat on the Green

Located in the heart of Exeter, Eat on the Green is an independent restaurant that makes you question why you ever settled for mediocrity.

Housed in a sixteenth-century building right on historic Cathedral Green, it manages to be both historic and modern, cosy yet airy and has enviable views.

The friendly team at Eat on the Green clearly loves food. They craft every dish using local, free-range produce, sourced directly from farmers and regional suppliers. Staff provide polished, attentive service and answer every dietary requirement question with ease.

Seating spreads across two floors, each offering cathedral views, while the expansive outdoor dining area lets you enjoy al fresco lunches whenever the rare Exeter sunshine appears.

They serve breakfast and brunch all day, and lunch from 12 pm to 4:30pm, and the menu strikes the rare balance between comforting classics and inventive twists that make you want to Instagram, even if you normally hate Instagram.

Afternoon teas start at 2pm and are serious business: traditional cream teas, Devonshire High Teas, and a rotating selection of homemade cakes that aren’t just sweet, they’re considered.

Every cup of tea is blended with care, and coffee comes from Porlock, Somerset, so you’re not suffering some pre-ground travesty masquerading as a latte.

Beers hail from St Austell, Cornwall, which is as local as it gets without venturing into “I brewed this in my shed” territory.

Where to Stay Near Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market

If you plan to stay overnight, city-centre hotels are ideal, or you can stay further out in self-catering accommodation and use public transport.

If you do your research and check sites like Booking.com, Holiday Cottages, and even Wowcher, you can find great prices on hotels and cosy self-catering stays, especially in the off-season.

I’m a Booking.com Genius Level 3 member, which means I receive extra discounts and perks, such as complimentary breakfast or complimentary room stays.

We stayed at Hotel Indigo, which is just around the corner from Cathedral Green and the Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market.

Hotel Indigo Exeter

Hotel Indigo Exeter gives you that polished, boutique city-break feel without ever tipping into corporate blandness.

The building once housed Colson’s, the department store opened in 1792 by the formidable Mrs Colson, a milliner who became a local legend.

Over the centuries, it evolved from Colson’s to Dingles to House of Fraser, and today the whole place has been transformed into a contemporary hotel that still nods affectionately to its retail roots.

The result is a hotel that feels connected to the fabric of Exeter rather than plonked in the middle of it.

Stylish rooms are built on that theme. There are 104 of them, each styled to reflect different neighbourhood stories, whether that is the old department store aesthetic or local landmarks woven into the design.

The amenities quietly elevate the experience, too, with Egyptian cotton linens, spa-style bathrooms, and 40-inch TVs.

Every room has air conditioning, a minibar, tea and coffee facilities, a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, and a proper work desk. Some have balconies, some have sweeping city views.

Hotel Indigo Exeter Spa

If you want to unwind, the Retreat spa offers a sauna, steam room and hot tub, plus treatments and massages for guests. There’s an additional charge for guest use, starting at £10pp on weekdays.

Food and drink are very much part of the experience. Breakfast offers a buffet, continental, and à la carte options, which is ideal whether you wake up craving pastries or something that involves more cutlery than you usually use before 10am.

Colson’s Restaurant and Bar serves contemporary British dishes with a creative edge. For something more glamorous, Beckett’s Rooftop Champagne and Cocktail Bar gives you panoramic views of Exeter with your bubbles.

The Dugout sits at the opposite end of the spectrum, a cosy sports bar with comfort food and the kind of relaxed energy that pairs nicely with big matches or low-key evenings.

Hotel Indigo‘s location is one of its biggest assets. You step outside and you are right in the centre of the city, close to the Cathedral, the independent shops, the Christmas markets, Princesshay and the Guildhall.

The neighbourhood has long been described as one of the jewels of the West, perched beside the River Exe, and staying here makes it easy to explore every corner on foot.

Sandy Park is a short drive away for rugby fans, and the coast and countryside are close enough for spontaneous day trips.

For dog owners, the hotel allows pups up to twenty pounds with a nightly fee. Dogs need to stay with their humans rather than snoozing solo in rooms, and booking the Pet Getaway package keeps everything simple.

Is Exeter at Christmas worth it?

So, after a few days wandering the Cathedral Christmas Market, sampling lamb kofta, mulled wine and doughnuts, sipping mulled wine that didn’t bankrupt me, and generally feeling like a festive insider, I can tell you that Exeter at Christmas is worth the trip.

Not just “oh, it’s cute for an afternoon,” it holds its own against the big hitters and is a really underrated UK Christmas market.

Be warned, it does get busy. Narrow lanes between stalls can feel crowded at peak times, making it tricky to browse everything at a leisurely pace. Some areas of the market have cobbled or uneven surfaces, so a little care is needed if you’re pushing a pram or have mobility concerns.

The food‑and‑drink section, which I praised earlier, can get chaotic too. Popular stalls often have queues that stretch into the main walkways, and prices are higher than your average supermarket, but that’s the trade-off for supporting local businesses and enjoying high-quality street food and festive drinks.

Still, those drawbacks are part of any UK Christmas market. And here’s why Exeter still beats many: you get the mix of local artisans, real West Country produce, international street food, lights, architecture, music and atmosphere, all packed into a reasonably compact city.

If you go mid‑afternoon on a weekday, avoid the peak weekend crush, and stay open-minded, you’ll likely have a brilliant time.

Are Exeter Christmas markets worth visiting?

Combine that with the Princesshay Christmas Village, Guildhall’s festive charm, Northernhay Gardens Winter Wonderland, and the Quay’s twinkling waterfront stalls, and you’re looking at a city that offers variety, spectacle, and moments of festive joy, without the commercial cynicism that blights so many seasonal events.

And when you’re hungry, Exeter has you covered with plenty of great street food stalls, chain restaurant favourites and independent restaurants and cafes.

The real charm of Exeter, though, is the way it feels like a city that wants you to enjoy Christmas, rather than in a rage for spending £12 on a plastic cup of mulled wine.

You can stroll the lights, peek in at the Cathedral, grab gifts that aren’t all disposable plastic, and feel like you’ve found a city that understands how to do the holiday season properly.

Exeter doesn’t need the tallest tree, the flashiest light show, or a giant LED reindeer to impress. It quietly does the basics brilliantly, markets, lights, food, drink, music and wraps it up in genuine Devonshire charm.

I think Exeter at Christmas isn’t just worth visiting. It’s worth bragging about. And if anyone dares tell you otherwise, gently sip your mulled wine, smile, and let them endure the London chaos while you stroll home with a Viking drinking horn tucked under your arm.

Getting to Exeter

Visiting Exeter is relatively straightforward by road, rail or bus. The city is a hub for rail links with connections to major cities via the South West Main Line from its main station, Exeter St David’s. There’s also another station, Exeter Central, which is closer to the city centre.

Arriving by Road

Exeter sits conveniently on the M5, making it an accessible drive from just about everywhere.

• From London: Take the M4 to the M5, or choose the A303 if you fancy a scenic route past fields, hills and an unexpected glimpse of Stonehenge.
• From Cardiff: Follow the M4 across the Severn, then join the M5 south.
• From Bristol & Bath: A quick slide down the M5.
• From Manchester & the North: Follow the M6 and then the M5 through the West Country.

Once you reach the outskirts of Exeter, the city centre is well signposted and easy to navigate.

Getting to Exeter by Train

Exeter is one of the South West’s biggest rail hubs, with fast routes from major UK cities and excellent regional links.

Most long-distance trains stop at Exeter St David’s, the city’s main station, with some services also calling at Exeter Central, closer to the shops and restaurants.

• From London: High-speed trains run from Paddington to Exeter St David’s. There’s also a more scenic route from Waterloo via Salisbury.
• From Bristol & Bath: Frequent direct services all day.
• From Cardiff: Direct trains run across the Severn into Devon.
• From Manchester: Convenient connections via Birmingham or Bristol.

Key Rail Lines

Exeter’s rail network is surprisingly extensive for a compact city.

• South West Main Line: Connects Exeter with major cities across the UK.
• East Devon Line: Runs from Exeter to Axminster, with onward links to Salisbury and London Waterloo.
• Dartmoor Line: Connects Exeter with Okehampton, perfect for moorland walks and day trips.

Getting Around Once You Arrive

Exeter is compact, walkable and pleasantly stress-free.

• On Foot: Exeter St David’s is about a 15-minute walk from the University’s Streatham campus; Exeter Central is roughly 20 minutes.
• Hire Services: Both main stations offer car hire and bike hire.
• Local Transport: Buses run frequently, and onward rail lines make day trips to the coast or countryside effortless

Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market FAQs