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Exeter Christmas Experience
Exeter is the perfect destination for all your Christmas shopping, family shows, Father Christmas, festive lights and entertainment. When you need a break or a treat there's a great choice of cafes and restaurants.
Bags More Time For Shopping on Thursdays
Many city centre shops are open until 9pm on Thursdays, from 24 November, when the city's Christmas lights will be switched on!
Park & Ride runs late too on Thursdays with the last High Street bus leaving at 10pm.
Exeter City Council car parks will close at their usual times on the Thursday late night shopping nights, except for Guildhall and King William Street car parks which will close at 23:00.
For shopping hours at a glance please click here.
Enjoy community entertainment around the real 10 metre high tree in Princesshay, with a skating rink in Princesshay Square on Thursday 24 November and again from Monday 12 - Saturday 31 December. To find out more, visit the Princesshay website.
Shopping
If you're looking for that unusual gift look no further. Exeter has over 300 independent and individual specialist shops with brilliant gift ideas, antiques, vintage clothes, stylish boutiques, galleries and crafts.
There's seasonal style with all you favourite brands and designer labels. Shop undercover in spacious shopping centres and stores or explore the many small shops in unusual places. Use the search facility on this site to track down your favourite brands and explore our shopping pages for ideas.
Christmas Markets
On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, you'll find Christmas Markets brimming with gifts, crafts and produce. For tasty fresh food, visit the the weekly Farmers Market on Thursdays at the top of Fore Street/South Street.
Members of the Mid Devon Crafts Guild will be showcasing their unique handcrafted Christmas gifts and decorations at the Harlequins Shopping Centre Craft Market on Saturday 3 and 10 December.
Festive Food & Drink
There's a great choice on the menu for wining and dining with over 200 eateries. In Princesshay, you can choose from several restaurants including Giraffe, Carluccio's and Coal.
Around the Cathedral choose from the Cathedral Cafe, Michelin-starred Michael Caines at ABode and a host of places in the city centre. Don't forget Magdalen Road, the historic Quayside and port of Topsham for more great food with waterside views. Click here to find places to eat in Exeter.
Family Fun
Exeter's celebrations kick off with the Christmas lights switch-on in Princesshay on Thursday 24 November, with family entertainment including a skating rink, which will return from Monday 12 - Saturday 31 December.
Traditional pantomimes include Cinderella at the Exeter Barnfield and Dick Whittington & His Cat at the Exeter Corn Exchange. At Exeter Phoenix there's a family winter show The Princess & the Goblin, or visit the Exeter Northcott to enjoy We're Going on a Bear Hunt!
Join in with the real spirit of Christmas at Exeter Cathedral with a carols, services, events and special celebrations.
Father Christmas and his reindeer will once again visit Exeter for their annual Christmas parade down the High Street on Saturday 19 November. Father Christmas will then be in his grotto at the Guildhall Shopping Centre every Saturday from 19 November, 10am - 5pm and every Sunday from 20 November, 11am - 4pm, and also on late night Thursdays from 1 December, 4pm - 8pm.
Visit our what's on pages to view a full list of Christmas events in Exeter or click here to download a printable guide.
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Download a copy of the Exeter Winter in the City leaflet to find out what's on in Exeter from November until March 2012.
With a comprehensive events calendar and city centre map, plus information on what to do, where to go and what to see from heritage and culture, sport and leisure, museums and galleries, to wide-open spaces, theatre and cinema, this compact guide is invaluable when planning a day or evening out in Exeter.
To order a copy of the Winter in the City leaflet through the post, contact Exeter Visitor Information & Tickets on 01392 665700, email evit@exeter.gov.uk.
Travel & Transport
Getting around by bus from surrounding towns is easy and routes take you right to the city centre.
Regular train services run from all over the South West to Exeter to Exeter St David's Station and Central Station.
For fares & timetable information for all public transport visit www.traveline.info or call 0871 200 22 33.
Shopmobility and Ring & Ride
Exeter Community Transport Association can offer assistance to those who are unable to or have difficulty using public transport. Call 01392 494001 or visit www.exetercta.co.uk. Electric scooters and wheelchairs are also available to hire from their shop on Paris Street located on the ground floor of the Princesshay car park.
