Date spot in Exeter
The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum
Browse a free museum of film and the moving image on the university campus, from magic lanterns and peep shows to old cinema posters and film-star souvenirs.
The Old Library, Prince of Wales Road, University of Exeter
Address: The Old Library, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter EX4 4SB- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
Why it's a good date: Quiet, quirky and lovely for film fans, and it costs nothing. Pair it with a show at the Northcott, which is a short walk across campus.
Photo: Ridiculopathy, CC0 (cropped and resized)
More from our Exeter guide
Exeter Quayside
The Quay, below the city walls
Address: Custom House Visitor Centre, The Quay, Exeter EX2 4AN- Outdoors
- Free
- Romantic
Stroll the old quay by the river, cross the little bridges past the 17th-century Custom House and the brick warehouses, and stop for a drink by the water.
Why it's a good date: One of the prettiest spots in the city, and lovely as the light goes. Poke around the craft and antique shops in the old cellars, then pick a pub on the water.
Photo: Simon Cobb, CC0 (resized)
Cycle the canal to the Turf
From Exeter Quay to Turf Locks, about five miles south
Address: Saddles & Paddles, 4 Kings Wharf, The Quay, Exeter EX2 4AN- Activity
- Outdoors
- Cheap and cheerful
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Active
Hire bikes on the quay and ride the flat towpath down the Exeter Ship Canal, past Double Locks, to the Turf, a pub at the sea lock where the canal meets the Exe estuary.
Why it's a good date: There's no road to the Turf, so arriving by bike feels like an achievement. Check it's open before you set off, as it's seasonal, and grab a table on the lawn to watch the boats come in.
Photo: Tim Heaton, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Northernhay and Rougemont Gardens
Queen Street and Castle Street, city centre
Address: Northernhay Gardens, Northernhay Place, Exeter EX4 3QE- Outdoors
- Free
Slip off the high street into England's oldest public gardens, where the paths run beside the Roman and Saxon city wall below the ruins of Rougemont Castle.
Why it's a good date: A calm green pocket a minute from the shops, with benches and old trees. Bring a takeaway coffee or a picnic, and look out for open-air theatre here in summer.
Photo: Simon Cobb, CC0 (resized)
