Cathedral Green is the best place to stay in the heart of Exeter, and it has private free parking just 6 minute's walk away. This romantic suite of five rooms, including a hallway, and a terrace within a vast apartment on the first floor of an antique mansion, is a unique experience in a desirable location. It has its own front door and, just inside, space to receive luggage, a seated entrance area with antique armchairs, a dresser, and artwork. Two steps lead to a flowering terrace outside the bedroom window and a table to enjoy morning tea/coffee in the sunshine until midday. The bedroom is en suite to a bright walk-in shower room, loo, wash basin, etc. Unlike in many boutique hotels, the window opens, and there is proper daylight and lighting for ladies to do their make-up. Two opposing mirrored floor-to-ceiling double wardrobes via the en suite bedroom create a dressing room area. Expect Bedlinen and towels from The White Company, Nespresso machine, undefloor heating and WiFi. Breakfast at The Ivy, just a few steps away, is included in the price.
What do you think makes a stay at Cathedral Green unique?
Exeter ranks number 1 in the list of "Best 24 Hour City Trips" i.e. amongst the smallest cities in the UK. Unlike other city centres Exeter sits on top of the hill with large green areas and minimal noise and traffic. Cathedral Green has its own secure parking in the castle which is easily accessible and is in the heart of the city. On the first floor of this 18th-century mansion, there are wide views over the Cathedral, the pageants and frequent fairs, the sky and copse of mature trees. The Ivy is just two doors away and where guests enjoy breakfast!
At the bottom of the hill, a "must" within easy walking, is the picturesque, bustling quayside, on the river Exe and the 1680 Custom House, the UK's most ancient port.
On the Quay, Rockfish cooks all day 'a la plancha' or charcoal grilling, the whole range of fish caught locally during the previous 24 hours. There are live oysters when in season, lobsters, fresh crabs, whitebait, John Dory, red mullet and whole soles on the bone etc. Crave is new competition, less picturesque, but with a bar and meat dishes too.
Behind the building, next to the Guildhall, the Turk's Head pub goes back to 1298 and on the corner of Cathedral Yard is The Ship said to be a favourite of Lord Nelson.
Tell us more about the rooms and facilities at Cathedral Green?
Cathedral Green is a large private apartment in the heart of Exeter with free parking. It sleeps two adults (plus a baby and a cot). It's a hop and skip from the best shops, cafés and restaurants and just a 10-minute walk from St Sidwell's Point, Exeter's new leisure centre, if you fancy a spa session or a swim.
Can you suggest any activities or things to do while staying in the Exeter area?
You should book with Free Red Coat Guides on Tours of the Historic & Heritage ie 900 year old Cathedral, and its medieval underground passage -. This gives you the opportunity to meet and talk to locals and be made aware of local treasures. St Nicholas Priory founded by William the Conqueror in 1087, Exeter Guildhall with 800 years of civic life including transportation, beheading from Judge Jeffries, wealth and prominence from the woollen cloth industry evidence on the Historic Quayside, plus Exeter's 2000 year-old Roman city wall of which 70% still remains.
The City is within a 30/45 minute drive radius of the sea, all around Lyme Bay, the fossil beds of the Jurassic Coast and good beaches at the resorts of Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Torquay etc. Brixham, the port with the most valuable fish catch in England, has daily tours of the fish market.
Dartmoor with its 23 clear rivers, wild horses, and National Park is not much further.
Powderham Castle is 20 minutes away and has a famous food fair in October and a Christmas Fair. On the south east perimetre of the city is Dart Farm, one of the best Farm Shops in the Country.
Where can guests enjoy food and drink?
There are 20 Michelin listed restaurants in Devon of which four are within taxi range of Exeter. The one with 'a Rosette'( (and highest prices!) is Michael Caine's at Lympstone Manor 10 miles away.
The Dartmoor Inn at Lydford in mid moor is a favorite for Sunday lunch but needs early booking.
The Ivy in Exeter is just two doors away from Cathedral Green and successfully follows the elegant designer style and proven menu endorsed by international film and theatrical, legendary, world stars in Covent Garden more than 25 years ago and now expressed through exciting variations in each of 30 locations throughout London and Southern England.
You can enjoy a cooked breakfast at The Ivy as part of your stay at Cathedral Green.
Two doors away on the other side there is a long established branch of Cote Brasserie, well known in Sloane Square and 80 branches in the UK offering classical French bistro cooking. You can choose to have breakfast here as well ie. choose between The Ivy.
Rockfish is an unsurpassed experience of cooking fish just out of the water - highly recommended.
The highest rated cooking inside the city, accessible on foot are the tiny Michelin listed, eccentric, Stage with its "surprise" menus: Goto (Japanese) and Babylon (Lebanese/ Turkish) cooking - but within 100 yards are also very simple VIetnamese, Lebanese, Thai,, Italian, Indian and Chinese places, run by indigenous chefs.
Other Information
For stays of 4 nights or more, £120 per night.