Freedom – this encapsulates the best things to do in Devon. This lush county sits in southwest England, stretching from the Bristol Channel in the north to the English Channel in the south.

Rugged coastal paths, wild moors, towering cliffs, hedge-lined lanes, and scenic beaches create a feeling of expanse and a landscape where anything is possible. Go over this list and pick your own adventure.

Beaches

1. Bantham Beach

Sun in your hair, a fresh breeze wrapping you in its embrace, and the sound of the waves lulling you into relaxation – hitting the beach is indeed one of the best things to do in Devon. The finest in the South Hams is Bantham. Picturesque and raw, this beach at the mouth of River Avon is framed by a ring of sand during the high tide, which transforms into a gold expanse when it is low – great for little kids for wading and paddling.

Price: Free
Location: Bantham, Kingsbridge TQ7 3AN, United Kingdom

2. Slapton Sands

Privacy and solitude reign supreme in Slapton Sands. This pebble beach is three miles long backed by Slapton Ley, the largest freshwater lake in the southwest. If you are tired of the crowds and is looking to recharge and gather yourself, there is no better place to visit.

Price: Free
Location: Near the A379 road between Kingsbridge and Dartmouth

Outdoors

3. Dartmoor National Park

Vast, wild, and mysterious, Dartmoor National Park features granite-topped hills, marshy bogs, and patches of purple heather – a sight all too familiar to Sherlock Holmes fans that have read or watched the Hound of the Baskerville. The landscape and weather prove dramatic and eerie but still makes for a magnificent walk amidst the mist. Horse riding, climbing, and seasonal guided tours are available, too.

Price: Free
Location: Devon in southwest England

4. Dawlish Warren

Sand spits, dunes, grasslands, salt marshes, mudflats, wild fowls, wading birds – the outdoor beckons!

Price: Free
Location: Five miles north of Teignmouth, The Warren, Torquay in Devon, southwest England

5. Braunton Burrows

This sand dune system is the biggest in the United Kingdom. If you love the outdoors, count on it – this is definitely one of the best things to do in Devon. Sandy hummocks and salt marshes are everywhere, plus seas of purple thyme, pyramidal orchids, and yellow hawkweed. You are sure to fall in love with the landscape!

Price: Free
Location: North Devon coast, England

Wineries

6. Sharpham Wine & Cheese

Sparkling whites crown this prestigious vineyard. Enjoy the steep vine-covered hills and head to the shop for a taste after.

Price: £8.95
Hours: 10 AM to 6 PM during May to September; 10 AM to 5 PM during March to April; 10 AM to 3 PM during October to December (Booking is required for some tours)
Location: Three miles south of Totnes, off the A381

7. Yearlstone Vineyard

More than the award-winning wines, it is the location and ambience of Yearlstone Vineyard that puts it on the list of the best things to do in Devon. It is on the same latitude as Moselle Valley and is enveloped by sloping hills and the River Exe.

Price: £3 admission; tours range from £3.50 to £50
Hours: 11 AM to 4 PM every Wednesday to Sunday from Easter to November
Location: The outskirts of Bickleigh Village, 10 miles north of Exeter on the A396

Historic Sites

8. Castle Drogo

Grand and outlandish, Castle Drogo is a country house and castle that opened in 1930. Its Tudor and Medieval architecture attracts visitors from around the world. Apart from the spectacular building, the woodland trails below it features mesmerising alpine-esque views that overlooks Teign Gorge.

Price: £9 for adults and £4.45 for children
Hours: 11 AM to 5 PM from mid-March to October
Location: near Drewsteignton, Chagford, Dartmoor, in Devon, England

9. Greenway House

At the top of every list of the best things to do in Devon is a visit to Greenway, the summer home of famous crime writer, Agatha Christie. Readers also know Greenway as the Nasse House in the book, Dead Man’s Folly. Part-guided tours reveal parts of the house seemingly frozen in time.

Price: £10.30 for adults and £5.10 for children
Hours: Open daily from 10.30 AM to 5 PM
Location: Greenway Rd. on the River Dart near Galmpton in Dartmouth, Devon, England

10. Coleton Fishacre

Built in the 1920s, the Coleton Fishacre is a Jazz Age beauty that is the former home of the D’Oyly Carte family of theatre impresarios. Art deco embellishments delight guests and the croquet patio charms with subtropical gardens and sea vistas.

Price: £10.30 for adults and £5.10 for children
Hours: Open daily from 10.30 AM to 5 PM
Location: Brownstone Rd. near Kingswear in Dartmouth, England

11. Exeter Cathedral

Dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries, The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, commonly known as Exeter Cathedral, is an Anglican cathedral that is one of the most impressive ecclesiastical sights in Devon. Its soaring ceilings, Gothic vaults, collection of 14th-century sculpture, carvings, and ancient galleries prove to be local treasures. There are daily guided tours but the best and most dramatic experience of the place is through the roof tours every Tuesday and Friday.

Price: £7.50 for adults; children go free
Hours: 9.30 AM to 5 PM every Monday to Saturday; 11.30 AM to 3.30 PM on Sunday
Location: 1 The Cloisters, Exeter EX1 1HS, United Kingdom

Museums

12. Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery

No doubt, RAMM is more than the average Victorian Museum. Interactive displays captivate and exhibits enthral, including Roman-era artefacts, local Tudor carvings, and ethnographic displays. A little brush with culture sure goes a long way here.

Price: Free
Hours: 10 AM to 5 PM every Tuesday to Sunday
Location: Queen St., Exeter in Devon England EX4 3RX

13. Museum of British Surfing

An instant shoe-in on the coolest things to do in Devon, the Museum of British Surfing stands out with spirited surfboards and vintage wetsuit-lined walls. More than anything, a walk along the museum is a smooth ride of surfing stories. From 18th century Brit sailors surfing in Hawaii to the surf pioneers of England in the 1920s, the exhibits here prove that surfing is forever!

Price: £2 for adults; children go free
Hours: 11 AM to 3 PM every Wednesday to Monday from Easter to December
Location: The Yard, Caen St, Braunton EX33 1AA, United Kingdom

Recommended Hotels

Budget – The Castleton Hotel

Mid-Range – Holiday Inn Express Exeter

Luxury – Boringdon Hall Hotel & Spa

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