Things to do in Barnstaple and North Devon

The Market trades every day of the week on butchers row and hosts regular food festivals. A great place to browse for local produce.

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Arlington Court is a beautiful family estate, which has been held by the Chichester family for over 500 years, with an impressive house, excellent gardens and unique carriage museum.

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Fantastic shopping with over 30 stores from famous national brands, offering a fantastic variety of offers on normal retail prices. Clothes, food and drink, children's play area and regular events - what more could you want from a shopping trip? Open seven days a week.

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Devon's premier fly fishing venue, with lakes stretching over five acres. There is also a great range of activities for youngsters.

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Air Extreme, in Barnstaple, is a trampoline filled centre of fun, where guests can bounce, bounce and bounce some more. 

Extreme Jump Sessions include the use of all 8 adrenaline activities, such as the Battle Beam, Performance Trampolines, FreeStyle, Dodgeball and Airball - so there's something for all the family. By booking a set session in advance, you get your own time on the trampoline, for as much space and fun as possible. 

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Explore the brilliant displays and collections at Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

Among the many things to see are the Tarka Gallery, the Story of North Devon, and the Regimental Collection of the North Devon Yeomanry.

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The Barnstaple Hotel is conveniently located for many local bowls clubs including Bideford Bowling Club, Bideford Victoria Park Bowls Club, Torrington Bowling Club, South Molton Bowling Club, and Kingsley Indoor Bowls Club at Westward Ho!

Broomhill Sculpture Gardens are where art and culture meet in magical surroundings. This was created in 1997 and has now become one of the largest permanent collections of contemporary sculpture in the south west.

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Castle Hill house and gardens are steeped in history and are, and have been for centuries, a home to the Fortescue family. Today it is loved and cherished by the Earl and Countess of Arran and is a wonderful visitor attraction. Visit castle hill’s open gardens and stay to enjoy refreshments at their new tearoom.

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World famous for its cobbled, traffic-free street, donkeys, sledges and historic harbour. The stunning views, peaceful tranquillity and cobbled, traffic-free, high street of this fishing village, built into a cleft in a 400' high cliff, tumbles its way down past whitewashed cottages festooned with flowers to the tiny working port.

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We can organise a day of coasteering in Croyde with local specialist, Rock and Rapid Adventures. They will provide all the equipment and training you need for an amazing experience, as you swim, climb and jump your way along the dramatic North Devon coast.

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At Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, you can see some wonderful wildlife including wolves, sea lions, meerkats and African Lions. Also featured are impressive dinosaur models and some unusual attractions, such as swimming with sea lions and experiencing birds of prey at close hand.

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Exmoor adventures provides a range of award winning outdoor activities including coasteering, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing, raft building, archery, stand-up paddle boarding, tree climbing, orienteering and team building activities across north devon, west somerset, exmoor and the quantock hills.

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See the world famous range of Dartington Crystal and try your hand at glass blowing. From the Visitor Centre, you'll learn all about the glassmaker's history, see their famous creations and shop to you drop for homeware and gift items. Then it's time for a tour of the factory to see the glassmakers at work, blowing and shaping glass to create pieces you may have at home. We take a look at this via our Dartington Crystal News piece.

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Exmoor Zoo is an award winning zoo that has a mission to promote education and conservation.  It’s a  friendly zoo which allows visitors to get really close to the animals in its care.

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There are tubes slides, bumpy slides, crawl tubes, ball cannons, rope bridges, spider webs, dangly snakes, gliders, scramble nets, ball pools, log ramps, punch bags, edu blocks and so much more including a specially dedicated area for the under 3’s to enjoy. Even the grown ups can join in the fun as the play frame is designed for adults to enjoy to.

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Hartland Abbey with its beautiful gardens and grounds welcomes visitors from the end of March until October. It is the cherished home of the Stucley family with treasures and memorabilia collected over many generations.

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The famous Heddon Valley has exceptional walks and stunning views. Starting from the National Trust Visitor Centre, there is a selection of beautiful walks to choose from. The picturesque cobbled beach at Heddon's Mouth is only accessible by footpath.

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Haynes International Motor Museum at Sparkford near Yeovil in Somerset, England, contains over 400 cars and motorcycles and a collection of other automobilia.

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This exciting award winning, all weather, fun, educational attraction provides a fascinating insight into the watery world of North Devon... The aquarium offers Local Aquatic Exhibits and showcases a diverse collection of animals displayed within beautifully recreated natural habitats.

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In a place of wide spaces and big skies, without roads, cars or pollution, simply walking is a profound pleasure. Lundy has a milder climate than the mainland, with more sunshine and less rain. Book a day trip on the MS Oldenburg to Lundy from Bideford quay.

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Right next door to the Barnstaple Hotel, Let's Go! is great fun for the whole family to enjoy.

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The famous Lynton and Lynmouth funicular Cliff Railway is the highest and the steepest totally water powered railway in the world! The Cliff Railway connects the twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth providing stunning coastal views that will be the highlight of any visit. 

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Only 4 miles from Barnstaple, Marwood Hill Gardens is an excellent 20 acre private garden and lakes, with a Garden Tea Room and wonderful views.

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Located in the stunning landscape of North Devon and only 10 minutes away from the coast, North Devon Wake Park boasts the best of both worlds. The WakePark has a variety of outdoor activities for all ages which include wakeboarding, Paddleboarding, slacklining and their unique aquapark. 

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Take a guided tour around the interesting displays and exhibits and learn fun facts about the honeybee before you take a closer look inside the working hives. Nowhere in the world can you get so close to live bees without needing protective equipment! The Happy Bee play hive is a large indoor soft play area, this is where you will also find the café offering homemade food and our special Devonshire cream tea with honey! 

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At Rosemoor gardens, you can enjoy 65-acres of beautifully planted flower beds, set within a pretty wooded valley. Around every corner there's a lovely surprise. The gardens are home to plants from around the world. Events take place through the year, there's lots of shopping to be done and children's activities keep little green-fingers amused.

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Only a short drive from The Barnstaple Hotel, Scott cinemas has 4 screens showing today's best blockbusters.

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Try an amazing range of sports delivered by trained staff. Activities include climbing, zip wire, archery, surfing, bodyboarding, and kayaking.

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Our North Devon surfing beaches and surf schools are the closest in the southwest to London, the Midlands and the north of England. Travel time from London to Croyde, Devon is 3-4 hours by car and we are only 45 to 60 minutes from the M5, much closer than surf beaches in Cornwall. Croyde Bay in North Devon is renowned as one of the best and most consistent surf beaches in the UK

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Tapeley is a historic estate in the parish of Westleigh situatied between Bideford and Instow. It features Italian terrace borders, a traditional walled Kitchen Garden, a lake with massive ThujaPlicata trees, Granite Labyrinth. Falconry Displays each Sunday at 11:30am and 3:30pm, weather permitting. Animals including Highland Cattle, Peacocks and Berkshire Pigs. Childrens Play Area 'hidden' in the Wild Garden. 

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Tarka Pottery is a pottery painting studio offering an exciting range of fun creative activities for kids, teens and adults alike! It's a great chance to get creative and relax in the pottery studio where plenty of help is on hand. You can choose from making a bowl on the potter’s wheel, painting a pot or joining a clay workshop or pottery class.

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There are 6 indoor courts and 4 outdoor courts at this ‘Pay and Play’ tennis centre in Barnstaple.

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Ewe will love this family day out, with live shows, farmyard animals, rides and entertainment. From tractor driving to feeding the baby animals, there's a little bit of everything to keep children and adults amused. Make the most of the sheep racing, duck herding, shearing displays and donkey rides. All between playing in the indoor and outdoor play areas. You'd be BAAArmy to miss it. 

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The Milky Way in North Devon is an all-weather theme park full of thrilling rides and other great family attractions. Fill a day here with interactive rides, outdoor play, indoor drop slides and ball pools, a famous bird of prey display and general fun for the whole family. 

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At The Queens Theatre in Barnstaple, there is something for everyone, whether that’s a play, musical, ballet, opera, band or comedian. It’s fun and exciting, which makes it a fabulous venue to bring somebody you want to impress.

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The much-loved book Tarka The Otter was the inspiration for this famous series of footpaths and cycle paths around North Devon . Experience the wonderful variety of the local countryside, including rugged moorland, gorgeous wooded valleys, cliff top views and beautiful sandy beaches. Bikes can be hired locally at Tarka Trail Cycle Hire in Barnstaple.

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Based at Abbotsham, near Bideford, this centre offers a host of exciting activities, including coasteering, mountain boarding, high ropes and climbing wall.

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Walking on Waves offer surf lessons to all abilities on Saunton beach. As we all know, North Devon is a surfers paradise and no trip to the area would be complete without giving it a go too! Based within meters of the beach, you can get 30% off your surf lesson with boards included. An opportunity not to be missed. 

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On the outside, this is a Victorian Castle. But behind the walls lie a family theme park with rides, a maze, dungeons, play areas and beautifully landscaped gardens. Little ones will enjoy the castle treasure, the water show and the toboggan run whilst adults will enjoy learning about the history of the castle and will secretly love the rides too! 

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