     
"Exeter is not an easy place to love", says Bill Bryson in Notes From a Small Island, but follow our whistle-stop tour of the city and you might just find a special place for it in your heart!
Shops
if you're looking for a bargain in a designer boutique, an original 60s dress or something bespoke, you'll find down the hidden streets of the city.
Gandy Street is a trendy cobbled street boasting boutiques and wine bars. Look out for White Stuff, Fat Face, Moko, Iris Boutique, Indulge and Head. Little Castle Street is home to Crede - an exclusive designer store with unusual lines such as Nocturne, Sheen and Hoss Homeless. Definitely worth a look and almost next door is fabulous jeweller, Michael Spiers.
Not for the faint hearted, Fore Street is in the increasingly fashionable West Quarter. You'll find colourful characters and quirky shops such as Kitsch 'U' Like, the Real McCoy, and Love Shack. The West Quarter is also home to tattoo artists, body piercing, second hand bookshops, an arthouse cinema, and even a pub frequented by Exeter's outlaw motorcycle group - the Satan's Slaves.
Pick up the tourist trail at the Cathedral or the Quay. There are good guided tours to show you the history of the city - ask at Reception for details.
Down at the Quay find the craft cellars and watch the craftsmen at work. Furniture makers, ironwork art and design, bespoke jewellery and antiques can all be found in this fascinating part of the city.
Pubs and Bars / Clubs and Culture
Double Locks - This lively pub is off the beaten track but a favourite with the locals for its outdoor seating, hearty food and real ales. You can hire a canoe or a bike from Saddles & Paddles on the Quay.
The Phoenix, Exeter's main arts centre is where you can see exhibitions, enjoy the bustling café, and watch theatre, dance, films or live bands almost every night of the week. Galleries that are also worth a visit are Spacex (Preston Street) for cutting-edge contemporary work, or the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (Queen Street) for more mainstream exhibits.
Festivals
In the summer the Exeter Festival attracts a good crowd as does the Fringe and the 'Shakespeare in the Gardens' season. Dates vary year on year so ask at reception for more details.
At Night
The Firehouse or downstairs in the cellar bar at Coolings on Gandy Street. If you are feeling glamorous try Michael Caines Champagne Bar on Cathedral Close.
The Cavern, just off Gandy Street, is an underground venue with an 'alternative' atmosphere. On week nights it's a punk rockers' paradise with loud guitars and boys in eyeliner, but on the weekends the serious clubbers move in, with nights varying from house to hip hop.
Blow the Cobwebs Away
In Exmouth you can try your hand at surfing, wind surfing, kite surfing and sailing.
Dartmoor offers rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking and even pony treks.
Or maybe you just need a quiet seaside stroll and a good pub lunch? Check out Beer or Branscombe near Sidmouth, two of the prettiest coastal villages in East Devon. |
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Click below to book an online reservation with this hotel.
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£105 Single
£125 Double
£135 King
£145 Twin (Large King)
£145 Large King
Alias the Weekend ...from £245.00
Weekend Premium: One night stays at the weekend (Friday and Saturday) are subject to availability and incur a £5 surcharge per room.
Cancellations: Our cancellation policy is 2pm prior to day of arrival for midweek bookings, and 7 days for leisure bookings
Prices valid until 30/12/08
For a downloadable pdf of our map, please click the link below.
Approximate size 400k.
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Want to be part of the future? We are set to expand into new cities. E-mail jonathan.dawson@aliashotels.com for more information
"Quite simply one of the hippest hotels in Britain" - Lonely Planet 2005
Devon Today Nov 05 - "With this much love and care going into the food, one can only imagine what will be coming to a dinner table near you."
The Saturday Times Sept 05 - "Full marks to Archambault (head chef. His...)approach is typical of a movement that...include(s)local food and traceability on menus. In fact, he places daily orders for the restaurant in person with a fishmonger, a deli, a baker and a butcher, based at a parade of shops on his way to work. Now that's what you call local."
Kino - Top 50 UK Cocktail Bar - Independent 2005
"Best Bar in the Southwest" Observer 2004
"It's the height of Urban Cool, and it's right in the heart of Exeter." Daily Mirror 2003
"It's vivid, positive and has plenty of attitude and brings a breath of fresh air to our hotel world"
Mail on Sunday November 2002
"This extraordinary place re-invents the British hotel experience"
Alistair Sawday's Special places to stay 2002
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