Devon is a scenic coastal and rural county in South West England with historic towns, national parks, and popular seaside resorts, accessible by rail and bus.
Overbeck's Garden at Sharpitor is a Grade II registered Edwardian garden in Devon featuring a subtropical collection of plants, themed garden areas, and a historic house housing a museum with maritime exhibits and unique displays like a secret door and musical box.
7 Oct, 14 Oct…
Join Overbeck’s gardeners for a guided walk through the garden, with insights into its unusual plants, gardening techniques and coastal setting. The tour is intended for everyone from keen gardeners to casual visitors.
Salcombe is a picturesque resort town in Devon known for its historic maritime heritage, sailing activities, sandy beaches, and charming waterfront, attracting tourists with its natural beauty and cultural events.
Dartmoor Zoological Society is a 33-acre zoo in Devon, England, featuring over 73 species including endangered animals, housed around the historic Goodamoor House. The zoo offers conservation, education and breeding programs, inspiring the book and film 'We Bought a Zoo'.
Bayard's Cove Fort is a 16th-century artillery blockhouse located at the entrance of Dartmouth harbour in Devon. It features historic military architecture with multiple gunports and is managed by English Heritage, open to the public for exploration of its significant coastal defence heritage.
12 Sep–21 Oct (another 12 days)
An outdoor exhibition presents shortlisted photography and film exploring nature, people, places and environments, including the impacts of and adaptations to climate change. The exhibition takes place throughout the garden at Coleton Fishacre.
Dartmouth is a historic town in Devon, England, known for its medieval streetscapes, maritime heritage, and riverside setting. It offers cultural festivals, historic castles, and walking trails along the scenic River Dart.
Hawker's Hut is a small historic timber hut near Morwenstow, Cornwall, built by poet Robert Stephen Hawker and offering coastal views. It is maintained by the National Trust and accessible by foot along a coastal path.
The Royal Citadel is a historic 17th-century military fortress in Plymouth, Devon, built on the site of an earlier Tudor fort. It features large defensive walls, historic architecture, and remains an active military base with guided tours for visitors.
23 May–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A display at Saltram brings together two companion portraits by Joshua Reynolds and explores the story of ‘Jersey’, an enslaved boy depicted in one of them. Visitors can encounter historical research and conservation insights through audio, scent and touch.
Restormel Castle is a well-preserved Norman shell keep castle near Lostwithiel in Cornwall, notable for its unusual circular design and historical significance. Visitors can explore the outdoor ruins and enjoy its scenic riverside setting with a picnic area, maintained by English Heritage.
14 Oct, 21 Oct…
A friendly weekly group walk at Lanhydrock, offering gentle exercise, time outdoors and the chance to chat with others. The walks follow a slow-to-medium-paced route over varied paths, including some hills.
Dartmouth Castle is a historic artillery fort in Devon, built from the 14th century onward to protect Dartmouth harbour with significant gun batteries and fortifications. Now managed by English Heritage, visitors can explore both indoor historic buildings and outdoor gun platforms, enjoy scenic views, and learn about its military history from medieval times to World War II.
7 Oct, 14 Oct…
Little Acorns is a term-time session for children under five at Coleton Fishacre. Families can explore the garden on a welly walk and take part in creative outdoor activities.
The Old Bakery, Manor Mill & Forge in Branscombe is a National Trust property featuring a historic thatched bakery, a restored working watermill, and England's only thatched forge, with a tea room and blacksmith selling ironwork.
Castle Drogo is the last castle built in England, located in Devon. It is a Grade I listed country house designed by Edwin Lutyens, featuring a mix of medieval and Tudor revivalist architecture. Visitors can explore the castle's interiors, formal gardens, and enjoy facilities including a café and shop provided by the National Trust.
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
An exhibition at Castle Drogo revealing unusual objects kept in the house’s collection, including items requiring special storage and large objects displayed in custom-built frames.
Burrow Mump is a historic hill in Somerset featuring the ruins of a 15th-century church atop a Norman motte, offering visitors panoramic views and a significant war memorial managed by the National Trust.
Dunster Working Watermill is a restored 18th century watermill in Dunster, Somerset, featuring working overshot wheels to grind organic flour, set within the grounds of Dunster Castle. Visitors can explore the historic mill machinery indoors and enjoy the surrounding outdoor area including the castle grounds and a cafe.
10 Oct, 17 Oct…
A guided tour takes visitors through Dunster Castle’s Victorian kitchen and larders, with stories about the cooks, maids and other staff who worked there.
Fyne Court is a National Trust nature reserve and visitor centre in Somerset, featuring historic estate grounds with woodland, ponds, meadows, and remnants of a 19th-century country house. Visitors can explore outdoor natural habitats as well as indoor visitor facilities including a café and shop.
6 Oct, 13 Oct…
Toddler Tuesdays is a term-time session for under-fives and their carers, with nature play, stories, crafts and gentle walks.
Berry Pomeroy Castle is a Tudor mansion ruin within a late 15th-century castle in South Devon, known for its picturesque romantic ruins and reputed hauntings. It is managed by English Heritage and open to the public as a historic site with extensive outdoor exploration.
Morte Point is a coastal headland on the north west coast of Devon, England, known for its natural beauty and historic shipwrecks. It is managed by the National Trust and offers outdoor experiences including seal watching during the summer.
Lambert's Castle is an Iron Age hillfort in Dorset, open to the public as open access land and designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Visitors can explore steep natural slopes, historic earthworks, and enjoy views from Lambert's Castle Hill, with nearby parking available.
Knightshayes Court is a Victorian country house near Tiverton, Devon, known for its architecture by William Burges and extensive historic gardens. The Grade I listed house and Grade II* listed gardens offer a blend of indoor heritage and outdoor landscape experiences, including rare features like a stické court and a golfing memorabilia exhibition.
Okehampton Castle is a medieval motte and bailey castle ruin in Devon, England, historically serving as a fortification and later a luxurious hunting lodge with extensive deer park grounds. The site offers scenic views and insight into medieval noble life, operated by English Heritage as a tourist attraction.
Okehampton is a historic market town on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon, England, known for its Norman castle, medieval religious sites, and vibrant outdoor and cultural activities. It offers rail access, local public transport, and a walkable town center surrounded by scenic countryside and historic landmarks.
Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park is a 28-acre wildlife sanctuary in Devon featuring live animals like meerkats and lemurs alongside animatronic dinosaurs, a dinosaur museum, a soft play area, and a miniature railway ride, offering a family-friendly mix of indoor and outdoor experiences.
7 Oct, 14 Oct
Join the gardeners for a short talk on a different garden theme each week, covering what is looking good, gardening tips and the work carried out by the team. Talks meet at the garden entrance and may include a gentle stroll around the garden.
Penhallam Manor is a historic medieval fortified manor house site in Cornwall featuring exposed foundations and moats. Visitors can explore the ruins and surrounding outdoor area managed by English Heritage, reflecting an important Norman to medieval heritage site.
Dupath Well, near Callington in Cornwall, is a Grade I listed historic well-house built in 1510 over a natural spring, featuring distinctive granite architecture and medieval religious significance. Visitors can explore the well-house and its ancient water trough in a scenic outdoor setting.
7 Oct–15 Nov (another 37 days)
Visitors can follow a sensory trail around the garden, moving through interactive installations inspired by the picture book and animation ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ as they search for the bear.
Exmoor Zoo is a conservation centre in North Devon, specializing in rare and smaller animals with a focus on conservation breeding programmes. It offers outdoor animal exhibits including rare carnivores and birds, alongside visitor facilities including the African Café. The zoo provides an engaging family-friendly experience in a scenic national park setting.
9 Oct
A guided walk with a local foraging specialist explores Arlington Court’s hedgerows, stream edges and trees. Participants learn to identify local edible plants and poisonous lookalikes, as well as hearing about the folklore and medicinal uses of plants.
Cadson Bury is an outdoor Iron Age hillfort near Callington, Cornwall, featuring a large oval enclosure with curved ramparts and ditches, owned by the National Trust and accessible to the public.
King Doniert's Stone is an outdoor historic site featuring two granite cross-shaft fragments from the 9th century with intricate interlace decoration, an ancient inscription commemorating a Cornish king, and an underground rock-cut chamber possibly related to ancient mining or worship. The site is freely accessible with parking and open during daylight hours on Bodmin Moor near St Cleer.
Finch Foundry is a 19th-century water-powered forge in Devon, England, preserved by the National Trust, showcasing historic agricultural and mining hand tool production with operational demonstrations of water-powered hammers.
Buckland Abbey is a 700-year-old Grade I listed former Cistercian abbey in Devon, converted to a historic house museum notable for its connection to Sir Francis Drake. Visitors can explore the unique architecture, museum collections, and extensive grounds including historic barns and gardens.
10 Oct–1 Nov (next week)
October half-term at Buckland Abbey features a nautical theme, with visitors invited to look out for sea monsters including the Kraken, leviathan and Sirens.
Dunster Castle is a historic motte and bailey castle and 17th-century manor house in Somerset, featuring medieval gates, Victorian Gothic remodeling, and extensive gardens including a National Plant Collection. It offers both indoor and outdoor experiences as a National Trust property.
8–9 Oct, 15–16 Oct…
A guided tour takes visitors through Dunster Castle’s Victorian kitchen and larders, exploring the work and stories of the cooks, maids and other staff who kept the castle running.
Killerton is an 18th-century Georgian country house in Devon with extensive gardens and an estate including ancient hill forts and Roman sites, open to the public under the National Trust with historical costume displays indoors and scenic outdoor walks and landscapes.
7 Oct–13 Nov (another 35 days)
Explore an outdoor trail featuring 30 Pikachu cards illustrated by different artists, discover facts about the character and design a Pikachu trading card.
Lundy is an English island in the Bristol Channel, known for its rich wildlife including puffins, and as Britain's first Marine Conservation Zone. Managed by the Landmark Trust, it offers both outdoor natural exploration and indoor historic sites and accommodations, attracting many visitors by boat and helicopter.
Launceston Castle is a historic Norman castle ruin in Launceston, Cornwall, England, featuring extensive medieval stone fortifications including a motte, keep, high tower, gatehouses, and curtain walls. Serving as the administrative center of the earldom of Cornwall and later a county gaol, it is now a publicly accessible heritage site managed by English Heritage with archaeological remains and scenic views over the former deer park.
Launceston is a historic market town in Cornwall, England, known for its Norman castle, heritage railway, and rich cultural and historical heritage. It offers walkable town center attractions, including Georgian architecture, museums, and active cultural events.
Saltram House is a well-preserved Georgian country house near Plympton, Devon, featuring exquisite interiors by Robert Adam and a fine art collection including works by Joshua Reynolds. The estate includes expansive gardens and parkland, offering both indoor and outdoor visitor experiences.
Sandymouth Beach in Cornwall is a long sandy beach with cliffs, rock formations, and strong surf, popular for surfing and managed by the National Trust. The site offers a café, toilets, and seasonal lifeguard patrols, appealing to beachgoers and surfers.
The Hurlers is a group of three prehistoric stone circles located on Bodmin Moor near Minions in Cornwall. Visitors can explore these ancient outdoor monuments along with nearby standing stones called the Pipers, managed by the Cornwall Heritage Trust and recognized as a Scheduled Monument.
Bolberry Down is a scenic clifftop area in South Devon offering coastal views over the English Channel, owned by the National Trust and situated within a protected natural area.
10 Oct, 17 Oct…
A free weekly 5km parkrun at Bolberry Down, open to people running, jogging or walking the route, which follows a tarmac path and coast path with sea views.
Hound Tor is a granite rock formation on Dartmoor in Devon featuring weathered granite outcrops, ruins of a medieval village, and nearby prehistoric remains, offering an outdoor experience popular for rock climbing and cultural history.
Cleeve Abbey is a medieval Cistercian monastery in Somerset featuring some of the best-preserved monastic buildings in England, including cloisters, a refectory with a wooden vaulted ceiling, medieval tiled floors, and historic wall paintings, open to public visits under English Heritage.
Tropiquaria Zoo in Somerset is a small zoo and tropical house located in a historic Grade II listed former BBC transmitting station. It features a tropical hall, aquarium with rare fish, and outdoor animal enclosures, along with play areas and a café, offering a diverse wildlife experience for families.
Cotehele is a Grade I listed medieval and Tudor manor house in Cornwall with extensive historic gardens, a working restored mill, and riverside quay, offering both indoor and outdoor historic experiences. It features original Tudor interiors, chapels, and has been used as a film location.
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
An exhibition at Cotehele exploring tapestries and other textiles in the collection, including how they were made and their significance to the property’s history. Visitors can see items such as cushions and natural dyes, along with objects that have been stored away.
Trethevy Quoit is a well-preserved Neolithic dolmen located in Cornwall, England. It features large standing stones capped by a massive slab and is accessible to the public for free. The site is managed by Cornwall Heritage Trust and is part of the region's rich ancient heritage.
Diggerland is a chain of theme parks in England and the USA where visitors can operate heavy construction machinery such as diggers and JCBs, offering a unique outdoor family-friendly experience with various rides and activities.
Plymbridge Woods is a National Trust managed woodland in Devon featuring historic Plymbridge bridge, walking and cycling trails including the Drake's Trail, diverse wildlife, and recreational activities such as orienteering and mountain biking. It is open year-round and free to visit.
Watersmeet House is a National Trust property in Devon featuring a historic fishing lodge with a tea room and shop, nestled at a river gorge confluence and serving as a gateway to extensive woodland and riverside walks. The site includes a notable area of ancient oak woodland designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Lydford Castle is a medieval castle in Devon, England, historically significant as an early purpose-built prison and a centre for forest and stannary law enforcement. Visitors can explore the castle ruins managed by English Heritage and the adjacent Anglo-Saxon earthworks owned by the National Trust, reflecting law, order, and medieval authority in the region.
2 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Visitors use the Stranger Folk app to follow a folklore-themed adventure around Lydford Gorge, guided by the Crone and taking on a mission to seal a rift between the spirit and human worlds. The app also shares facts about local folklore along the waterfall trail.
Baggy Point is a scenic headland on the north coast of Devon, England, featuring walking and cycling trails, diverse wildlife including seals and birds, and geological and botanical significance as a protected area within the North Devon Coast AONB.
Gallox Bridge is a 15th century narrow stone packhorse bridge in Dunster, Somerset, crossing the River Avill. It is a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument, managed by English Heritage, and notable for its historic architecture and rural setting near Dunster Castle.
5 Oct–2 Nov (another 24 days)
An exhibition marking 50 years of the National Trust at Dunster Castle, featuring golden objects from the castle’s collection, including its rare gilt leather hangings. Visitors can also learn about the castle’s gift to the Trust and view a film presenting a virtual gallery of the hangings.
St Catherine's Castle is a 16th-century Henrician coastal fortification in Cornwall, England, overlooking the mouth of the River Fowey. Originally built to defend against invasion, it features a distinctive D-shaped stone blockhouse and historic gun platforms, and is now a preserved ruin managed by English Heritage for visitors to explore its historic military architecture and coastal views.
Totnes Castle is a well-preserved Norman motte and bailey castle in Devon, England, featuring a 14th-century stone keep on a commanding hilltop above Totnes. It is managed by English Heritage and offers a historic outdoor experience showcasing medieval architecture and fortifications.
Totnes is a historic market town in Devon, England, known for its medieval castle, rich heritage, vibrant arts and alternative lifestyle community, and scenic riverside location near the River Dart estuary.
Coleridge Cottage is a 17th century historic cottage in Nether Stowey, Somerset, where poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge lived and wrote some of his famous works. Now a National Trust writer's home museum, it features period rooms, a garden with wildflowers, and serves as the starting point for the Coleridge Way walking trail.
8 Oct, 15 Oct…
A volunteer-led tour through the rooms of Coleridge Cottage explores the women who influenced Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s life and writing, including Sara Fricker and Dorothy Wordsworth.
Blackbury Camp is an Iron Age hill fort in Devon featuring large earthwork ramparts and an oval enclosure, situated within a scenic natural area. Visitors can explore the outdoor archaeological site and enjoy views of the surrounding valleys.
Holnicote Estate is a historic country estate in Somerset within Exmoor National Park featuring extensive natural landscapes, historic villages, walking trails, and a hotel-operated hunting lodge. The estate includes notable hills such as Dunkery Hill and Selworthy Beacon, ancient monuments, and a National Trust-managed nature reserve.
A la Ronde is an 18th-century, 16-sided historic house near Exmouth, Devon, notable for its unique octagonal design, intricate Shell Gallery, and beautifully crafted interiors. The site includes Grade II listed gardens and the adjacent Grade I listed Point-in-View chapel. Owned by the National Trust, it offers a blend of indoor and outdoor historic experiences.
7–11 Oct, 13–18 Oct…
An exhibition about the 18th-century Grand Tour and the travels of Jane and Mary Parminter, whose journey through Europe influenced A la Ronde. Visitors can see travel souvenirs, pages from Jane’s diary and an original board game to play.
Exmouth is a historic seaside resort town in Devon known for its long sandy beaches, marina, watersports, and status as the western gateway to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. It offers Victorian architecture, walking and cycling routes, and a vibrant town centre with leisure and cultural amenities.
Compton Castle is a fortified manor house in Devon, England, notable for its medieval architecture, historic connection to the Gilbert family and Newfoundland colonisation, restored interiors, and small formal gardens.
Paignton is a historic seaside town in Devon on the English Riviera known for its beaches, Victorian architecture, cultural events, and heritage railways, offering family-friendly tourism and coastal walking experiences.
The Wellington Monument is a 175-foot tall triangular obelisk located on the Blackdown Hills near Wellington, Somerset. It commemorates the Duke of Wellington's victory at the Battle of Waterloo and offers an outdoor historic landmark experience with an internal viewing platform. Owned and maintained by the National Trust, the monument was restored and reopened in 2021.
The Butter Cross in Dunster is a historic 15th-century market cross, a Grade II* listed building and scheduled ancient monument, managed by English Heritage and the National Trust, offering visitors a glimpse into medieval market traditions in Somerset.
The Yarn Market in Dunster, Somerset, is a historic Grade I listed octagonal building from the early 17th century, originally built to support the local wool and cloth trade, featuring a unique central pier with timber roofing and marked by Civil War history.
7 Oct–1 Nov, 7–8 Nov…
Explore Dunster Castle’s refreshed display of seventeenth-century gilt leather hangings depicting Antony and Cleopatra. The display presents new research and examines the hangings’ craftsmanship and place in art and culture.
Bradley Manor is a medieval manor house in Devon featuring a detached early 15th-century chapel, medieval wall paintings, and a collection of Pre-Raphaelite art and Arts and Crafts furniture. Set in limestone woodland and meadows, it offers both indoor historic exploration and outdoor natural beauty.
Newton Abbot is a historic market town on the River Teign in Devon, known for its Victorian railway heritage, thriving markets, cultural venues, and historical landmarks like St Leonard's Tower and Bradley Manor.
Antony House is an early 18th-century Grade I listed historic house museum in Cornwall, featuring fine 18th-century furnishings and a notable art collection. It is complemented by Georgian landscaped gardens and a large woodland garden with walking paths, offering both indoor and outdoor visitor experiences.
7–8 Oct, 13–15 Oct…
Visitors follow clues through Antony’s house and gardens to find ingredients for an enchanted potion. Halloween costumes are encouraged.
Torpoint is a planned town on the Rame Peninsula in southeast Cornwall, notable for its ferry link to Plymouth, historical roots, and naval training connections offering a scenic riverside visit.
Old Shute House is a Grade I listed medieval manor house in Devon, featuring a 14th-century great hall with the largest medieval fireplace in Britain, Tudor expansions, and an Elizabethan gatehouse. Managed by the National Trust, it offers a mix of historic indoor architecture and outdoor grounds reflecting centuries of English history.
Coleton Fishacre is a historic Arts and Crafts style country house with 24 acres of rare, exotic gardens running down to the sea in Devon. Owned by the National Trust, it offers visitors a combination of beautifully preserved interiors and scenic outdoor garden walks along the coast.
9 Oct
A guided garden tour led by the Head Gardener explores how Coleton Fishacre is adapting its gardening practices to support nature, improve habitats and increase biodiversity. Attendees can learn about the measures in place and get ideas for supporting wildlife in their own gardens.
Grimspound is a late Bronze Age prehistoric settlement located on Dartmoor in Devon, England, featuring 24 stone hut circles enclosed by a massive granite wall. Visitors can explore the extensive outdoor archaeological site surrounded by natural Dartmoor scenery, gaining insights into ancient settlement structures and early human activity in the region.
The River Heddon in Devon offers scenic outdoor experiences with coastal river views, natural walks along the National Trust land, a cobbled beach, and historical ruins including a Roman fortlet and a lime kiln, making it a well-rounded nature and heritage destination.
Greenway House is a historic Georgian estate on the River Dart in Devon, once home to Agatha Christie. Visitors can explore the house, riverside gardens with diverse plants, and the Barn Gallery showcasing local art, with connections to Christie's literary legacy.
12 Oct (next Monday)
Join a Greenway Gardener for a walk around the garden to learn about tree safety management, tree decay fungi, structural defects and the ecological importance of trees.
Lydford Gorge is a dramatic and scenic gorge on the River Lyd in Devon, featuring the tallest waterfall in the area, ancient woodlands, and notable geological formations. It is a National Trust protected site known for its natural beauty and biodiversity.