Move to Exeter: Expert property finder’s advice
Because of its enduring appeal, many people looking to relocate to the South West consider a move to Exeter.
Exeter is a city that is easy to settle into. A compact historic centre radiates from the Cathedral Close, independent streets slip down to the revitalised Quayside, and in under half an hour you can swap city pavements for estuary paths or open moorland.
Exeter has been among the UK’s quickest-growing cities over the last decade; Centre for Cities ranks its 2012–2022 population growth 4th nationally, which is a helpful signal for long-term vitality and housing demand.
You are not just choosing pretty streets and quick coast access. Exeter has a quietly heavyweight economy.
Beyond the Met Office headquarters, there is a cluster of professional and financial services, and an innovation scene at Exeter Science Park that spans digital, life sciences, and climate-tech, supported by a strong renewables community.
Here, Jennie Petersson, experienced property finder for Garrington, provides helpful insights for those planning a move to Exeter.
Property in Exeter
Exeter’s housing is a confident mix of periods and price points with Georgian and Victorian streets near the centre, gardened family homes on the hills, riverside apartments by the Quay, and newer developments at the edge of the city.
There are elegant terraces and larger period homes close to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and the independent shops and cafés on Magdalen Road. It remains one of the city’s most consistently sought-after areas with an easy stroll into the centre.
Just west of the centre and moments from Exeter St David’s station is a characterful slice of the city.
Expect Georgian and Victorian villas and terraces, many sensitively converted, plus that “walk to everything” convenience.
Above the city near the University’s Streatham campus, you will find larger detached homes on leafy roads such as Streatham Rise, often with generous plots and views. Handy for city access without feeling urban.
Across the river, St Thomas offers good family value, parks, and local shopping around Exe Bridges, with quick hops back into the centre and easy routes out via the A30 and A38.
Thinking beyond the core? Heavitree, east of the centre, has a friendly and established feel, with Victorian terraces and semis, a useful high street on Fore Street, and green space at Heavitree Pleasure Ground. It is also handy for the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
The Quayside for warehouse-style conversions, and newer neighbourhoods to the east and north are well worth a look, depending on your brief and budget.
Exeter’s connectivity
One of the many reasons homebuyers choose to move to Exeter is the city’s robust transport links.
Exeter’s rail hub at St David’s puts London Paddington a little over two hours on the fastest Great Western Railway services, with typical journeys a touch longer depending on the train you choose.
The M5 starts at the city’s edge, the A38 drops south west towards Plymouth, and the A30 runs towards East Devon and Cornwall.
For flights, Exeter Airport offers a changing roster of UK and European routes, so it is sensible to check the official destinations map when you plan.
Things to do in Exeter
Begin in the Cathedral Close, then head a few minutes north to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery.
RAMM’s collections and changing exhibitions make for an easy couple of hours, and it is a useful rainy-day option with visiting family.
In the evening, look to Exeter Phoenix for gigs, film and contemporary art, or book ahead at the Northcott Theatre for touring drama, comedy and dance.
Exeter has a few one-offs that are worth calling out. The Underground Passages beneath the city centre run as guided tours and offer a memorable look at medieval Exeter.
Down at the Quayside, you can hire kayaks or bikes and follow the canal and river paths out towards the estuary or join instructed watersports sessions from local operators.
Fifteen minutes by car, Haldon Forest Park adds waymarked walking and cycling in big woodland, with a high-ropes course for those who want it.
Live sport is part of the rhythm of the city. At Sandy Park you can watch top-flight rugby, while at St James Park you can catch Exeter City on home match days, both a short hop from the centre.
Eating well, from city plates to estuary producers
Exeter’s food scene swings happily between modern tasting menus and unfussy classics done well. In the city, Stage keeps things seasonal and inventive.
The Holt Exeter sits tucked inside Cathedral Close in a beautifully preserved 12th-century building with a terrace and secluded garden. It is a pub and restaurant serving seasonal dishes and wood-fired pizza.
Nearby in Topsham, The Salutation Inn and The Galley bring polished cooking close to the water.
If you like to browse and graze, begin with Exeter Farmers’ Market on Thursday mornings by Fore Street and South Street.
Then make time for Darts Farm near Topsham. Part farm shop and part celebration of the West Country larder, it is also home to The Farm Table.
In March 2025, Darts Farm won Best Farm Shop (UK) and Best Farm Café/Restaurant (The Farm Table) at the Farm Retail Association Awards, which simply confirmed what locals already knew.
It is also a useful barometer when you are weighing up neighbourhoods: many buyers considering a move to Exeter find themselves popping back most weekends while they decide where to live.
Shopping
Exeter’s compact core is easy to cover on foot. Princesshay, just behind the Cathedral, mixes national names with independents in open-air streets.
A few steps away, Guildhall Shopping and Dining sits around the historic St Pancras Church and blends retail with places to eat. It is the sort of area where errands easily turn into a leisurely lunch.
For one-off finds, wander the West Quarter and Gandy Street for boutiques, vintage, music, and design stores.
Over in St Leonard’s, Magdalen Road feels like a village high street within the city. Butchers, delis, and specialist food shops sit alongside gift and homeware stores, and recent improvements have made it even more pleasant to stroll.
Schools in and around Exeter
Families weighing up a move to Exeter will not be disappointed by the excellent range of schools in the area. Below are just a few examples:
Independent schools
- Exeter School (7 to 18)
- The Maynard School (girls, 4 to 18)
- Exeter Cathedral School (prep)
Primary Schools (state)
- St Leonard’s C of E Primary
- St Michael’s Church of England Primary Academy
- Ladysmith Infant & Nursery School, & Ladysmith Junior
- The Topsham School, Topsham
Secondary Schools (state)
- St James School
- Isca Academy
- St Peter’s C of E School
- St Luke’s C of E School
- Clyst Vale Community College, Broadclyst
There are many outstanding state schools all over Exeter. Depending on where you choose to live, catchment areas can be tight in certain parts of the city for particular schools.
For higher education, the University of Exeter, a Russell Group institution with campuses at Streatham and St Luke’s in the city, adds research depth, cultural life and a steady pipeline of talent that benefits local employers and families alike.
Living outside the city
Many of our clients planning a move to Exeter extend their search beyond its boundaries, maybe seeking more space and quieter streets, but still wanting easy access to the city.
The Exe Estuary
The Exe estuary is the natural first stop. Topsham sits only minutes from the city and mixes handsome period houses with waterside apartments and smart townhouses.
Daily life revolves around independent shops, cafés, and the quay, and there are regular trains on the Avocet Line into Exeter, which keeps commutes simple.
Exton, a small estuary village, has become increasingly popular. Green Lane and Exton Lane run to River Front (via Station Road), where many houses enjoy estuary views.
Exton’s Puffing Billy Inn sits near the station, which offers services to Exeter, Topsham, and Exmouth.
The Exe Estuary Trail runs nearby and offers a mostly flat, scenic ride: about 10 minutes to Topsham, roughly 20 to Exmouth, and around 30 to Exeter Quay.
Lympstone feels more intimate, with pretty cottages, a village station, and footpaths that drop straight to the shoreline.
Living by the sea
If you prefer to live by the sea, Budleigh Salterton and Sidmouth are quieter coastal towns east of the city, known for their Regency streets, pebble beaches, and slower pace.
Many areas sit within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which helps protect the landscape and contributes to that settled feel.
The Darmoor fringe
For buyers who want more peace and do not mind a longer run into town a couple of days a week, the Dartmoor fringe can be very appealing.
Chagford and Moretonhampstead are the best known, with stone-built houses, independent shops, and beautiful countryside in every direction.
The choice of where to live usually comes down to a balance of school priorities, commute patterns, and the type of street you want to come home to.
We help you test that balance on the ground so that when you pick an address, it fits for the long term.
How Garrington can help with your move to Exeter
At Garrington, we represent the buyer. That means clear search briefs, early sight of suitable opportunities including off-market, and negotiated outcomes grounded in local context: schooling, commutes, micro-locations, and price.
If Exeter and East Devon are on your list, we will help you land well.
If you are considering a move to Exeter, we would be delighted to help. Please do get in touch for a no-obligation discussion about your requirements.
