Exeter

Exeter sits on the banks of the River Exe in the heart of Devon, a compact city with a mix of waterside quays, leafy suburbs and a surrounding green belt. The city spills down towards the Exe Estuary, with the historic port area and nearby Topsham providing strong links to the coast and plenty of birdwatching and riverside walking.

Its roots go back to the Roman town of Isca Dumnoniorum, and the medieval core remains obvious: the long stretch of city walls, the impressive Norman and Gothic Exeter Cathedral, and the quirky Underground Passages are all reminders of its past. Contemporary cultural life is lively too, with theatres and arts venues such as the Northcott Theatre and the Phoenix cinema and arts centre, plus a student-driven programme of events around the University of Exeter.

The local economy blends public administration, education and healthcare with growing tech and creative sectors; employers include the university, the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and national services based in the city. Good road and rail links, including the M5, keep it connected while a busy city centre of shops, markets, cafés and independent businesses gives Exeter a friendly, civic-minded character that balances tradition with modern development.