The seaside village of Westward Ho! sits on the north coast of the Torridge district of Devon, England, known for a long sandy beach backed by dunes and the salt marshes of Northam Burrows - an ecologically important coastal common and SSSI that draws birdwatchers and walkers. The village was essentially created as a Victorian resort after Charles Kingsley’s 1855 novel Westward Ho! and is famed for being the only UK place name that includes an exclamation mark.
Today the local economy is largely driven by tourism: surfing, family beach days, holiday cottages and caravan parks dominate, while the nearby Royal North Devon Golf Club (one of England’s oldest courses) adds a historic sporting draw. Social life is distinctly seasonal, with a lively summer atmosphere giving way to a quieter, community feel in the winter, and the area still mixes heritage buildings with practical seaside amenities.
Postcode districts covering Westward Ho!
Most populated places nearby
- Barnstaple 8 miles12.9 km
- Bideford 1.9 miles3 km
- Ilfracombe 12.3 miles19.8 km
Neighbouring places
- Northam Built-up area 0.9 miles1.4 km
- Bideford North Ward 1.5 miles2.4 km
- Abbotsham Built-up area 1.6 miles2.6 km
- Bideford West Ward 1.7 miles2.8 km
- Appledore Built-up area 1.8 miles2.9 km
- Bideford Built-up area 1.9 miles3 km
- Bideford South Ward 2.4 miles3.9 km
- Instow Built-up area 2.7 miles4.3 km
- Westleigh Parish 2.7 miles4.4 km
- Bideford East Ward 3.2 miles5.1 km
- Alwington Parish 3.3 miles5.3 km
- Littleham Built-up area 3.5 miles5.6 km
Example postcodes in Westward Ho!
EX39 3FL, EX39 1GW, EX39 1FT, EX39 1LW, EX39 1UL, EX39 1HE, EX39 1TX, EX39 1HU, EX39 1AQ … See all
Transport links
- Exeter International Airport 41.5 miles66.8 km
- Cardiff Airport 45.8 miles73.7 km
- Barnstaple Railway Station 7.8 miles12.6 km
- Chapelton Railway Station 9.3 miles15 km
Hotels near Westward Ho! Ad
- The Commodore Hotel 3 2.5 miles4.1 km
- Seagate 2.1 miles3.4 km
- Hunters Lodge 5.9 miles9.5 km
- The Royal Hotel 2.2 miles3.5 km
- Croyde Bay Hotel Or Self Catering 4 6 miles9.7 km
- Saunton Sands Hotel Source Spa and Wellness 4 5.5 miles8.9 km
- Red Lion Hotel 4 7.6 miles12.3 km
- The Barnstaple Hotel 3 7.6 miles12.3 km
- The Park Hotel 4 8.2 miles13.3 km
- New Inn Hotel 7.7 miles12.4 km
Local points of interest
- Braunton Burrows Hill 3.7 miles6 km
- Saunton Sands Beach 4.3 miles6.9 km
- Putsborough Beach Beach 7.4 miles12 km
- Mouthmill Beach Beach 8.5 miles13.8 km
- Brownsham Wood Historic site 9.4 miles15.1 km