Exeter Red Coat Guided Tours

Autumn/winter tour programme - 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025

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 will only go ahead with a minimum of two people on the tour and may be subject to cancellation without notice, there is a limit to the number of people that can join each tour.

Our walking tours depart from the Hooker Statue on Cathedral Green (*apart from the Historic Quayside and Canal Trip tours) and last approximately 90 minutes. All tours start promptly at the time advertised.

Only assistance dogs are permitted on tours, and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

There is no need to book in advance

Group bookings

If you wish to make a group booking please contact guidedtours@exeter.gov.uk.

Our tours

Please note that online booking is no longer required.

Forgotten Exeter

Monday 11am & Thursday 11am

Be intrigued by hidden corners and curios of the city, long since gone from memory. The tour is mainly focused on the North West corner of the city within the city walls. Monday's tour finishes outside St. Nicholas Priory and Thursday’s tour finishes outside Tuckers Hall on Fore Street.

Please note this tour is not accessible to wheelchairs & mobility scooters

Medieval Exeter

Monday 2pm & Saturday 2pm

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.

Cathedral to Quay

Tuesday 11am & Friday 2pm

Starting in the picturesque Cathedral Close, proceed into elegant Southernhay before viewing the impressive city wall. The tour then continues to the river Exe and finishes on Exeter’s Historic Quayside.

Tudor Exeter

Tuesday 2pm

Some of the surviving buildings from the turbulent Tudor period.

Ghosts & Legends 

Tuesday 7.pm

Find out why Exeter is reputed to be one of the most haunted cities in the country. Visit many of Exeter’s historic buildings and listen to chilling tales about their ghostly history. Suitable for all ages.

City Wall

Wednesday 11am

Discover the fabulous history of the Roman's City wall, of which 70% still remains. Some uneven surfaces and steep slopes.

Introducing Exeter

Wednesday 2pm & Sunday 2pm (1 hour)

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.

Exeter Old & New

Thursday 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.

Georgian Exeter

Friday 11am

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

Saturday 11am

A new 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

Sunday 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.

SPECIAL TOURS

Online booking essential in advance

All special tours start at the Hooker Statue on Cathedral Green unless otherwise stated.

Red Coat Mystery Tour

Tuesday 24 December & Wednesday 1 January at 11am

Writers Around Exeter

Thursday 6 March 2025 at 11.15am

Herstories

Saturday 8 March 2025 at 11.15am