Guidebook for Axminster
Food Scene
Very good variety and quality of food, with a warm and cosy country pub feeling. More based towards a restaurant than a general pub.
29 locals recommend
The Tytherleigh Arms
Very good variety and quality of food, with a warm and cosy country pub feeling. More based towards a restaurant than a general pub.
Indian restaurant and takeaway.
Personally I don't do Indian food, but everyone I know who does has really raved about this one.
14 locals recommend
Cinnamons
10 South StIndian restaurant and takeaway.
Personally I don't do Indian food, but everyone I know who does has really raved about this one.
Very good local Chinese with both Restaurant and takeaway options.
My personal favourite.
Golden House Restaurant
1 Lyme StVery good local Chinese with both Restaurant and takeaway options.
My personal favourite.
Eleos
28 Fore StSmall independent barista with a passion for coffee. Great coffee and staff.
Really great looking coffee shop and atmosphere, although the staff were a little rude the last time I visited.
Coffee#1 Honiton
125 High StReally great looking coffee shop and atmosphere, although the staff were a little rude the last time I visited.
The Ridgeway Inn is set in our local village, and within a 5-10 minute walk (relatively steep hill).
Good food, but opening days and times are very erratic, so definitely call ahead if you'd like to book.
Ridgeway Country Hotel
Smallridge RoadThe Ridgeway Inn is set in our local village, and within a 5-10 minute walk (relatively steep hill).
Good food, but opening days and times are very erratic, so definitely call ahead if you'd like to book.
Sightseeing
Great seaside town, with a lovely, flat walk along the sea front. Nice shops, and cafes.
Highly recommend going to Jacobs Ladder cafe at the far end of the beach - nice gardens up there too.
105 locals recommend
Sidmouth
Great seaside town, with a lovely, flat walk along the sea front. Nice shops, and cafes.
Highly recommend going to Jacobs Ladder cafe at the far end of the beach - nice gardens up there too.
Axe Valley Wildlife Park
Wildlife Park - small
Abbotsbury Swannery
New Barn RoadIf you like Swans...
The last time I went here the parking was free and you had free access to the cafe before commiting to buyinga ticket for the gardens.
The lane down to the gardens also leads down to the beach.
128 locals recommend
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
Bullers WayThe last time I went here the parking was free and you had free access to the cafe before commiting to buyinga ticket for the gardens.
The lane down to the gardens also leads down to the beach.
Branscombe Beach
Lovely beach. Good size car park.
Shopping
Exeter is Devon's 'County Town', and was the most south-westerly Roman fortified settlement in Britain.
Nice town for shopping. Recommend catching the park & ride bus as you enter.
409 locals recommend
Exeter
Exeter is Devon's 'County Town', and was the most south-westerly Roman fortified settlement in Britain.
Nice town for shopping. Recommend catching the park & ride bus as you enter.
Essentials
Millers Farm Shop
Gammons HillGreat Farm shop
Ganesha Whole Foods
3 South StWhole Food Shop
Waitrose & Partners
42-44 West StGroceries
Tesco Axminster is our losest Supermarket, at around 3 miles away.
Relatively small and lacking variety, so I would recommend the Chard Tesco instead. There is also a Lidl opposite.
55 locals recommend
Tesco Superstore
Salterton RoadTesco Axminster is our losest Supermarket, at around 3 miles away.
Relatively small and lacking variety, so I would recommend the Chard Tesco instead. There is also a Lidl opposite.
Barley Mows Farm Shop & Restaurant
Farm Shop
Sainsbury's
Holyrood StreetVery small Sainsbury's, but there if you need it.
Lidl
Tapstone RoadALDI
Exeter RoadEverything Else
Axminster
Food courses
Lyme Bay Winery
Shute RoadWinery
Axminster Skill Centre
10 Weycroft AveEducational day courses
Bridport Leisure Centre
Skilling Hill RoadGreat Swimming & Gym
Great place to visit. Either walk, hire a bicycle, canoe, or take a boat trip down the river to have lunch at one of the two pubs at the lochs.
Highly recommended on a lovely sunny day.
32 locals recommend
The Quay
The QuayGreat place to visit. Either walk, hire a bicycle, canoe, or take a boat trip down the river to have lunch at one of the two pubs at the lochs.
Highly recommended on a lovely sunny day.
Ferne Animal Sanctuary
Animal sanctuary that is home to over 300 animals.
Alpaca Stuff
Everything Alpaca...
Walk and crawl through some extremely narrow passages that wind around the city's aqueducts. There is also a brief film presentation about the passages.
Not suitable for the under 5s.
65 locals recommend
Underground Passages
2 Paris StWalk and crawl through some extremely narrow passages that wind around the city's aqueducts. There is also a brief film presentation about the passages.
Not suitable for the under 5s.
UK's largest exhibition of the greatest cars from around the world. A living and working museum, with over 400 amazing cars and bikes.
101 locals recommend
Haynes International Motor Museum
UK's largest exhibition of the greatest cars from around the world. A living and working museum, with over 400 amazing cars and bikes.
All the fossils here are from a private collection belonging to the museums owner. View over 8,500 fossils in this traditional museum housed in a Grade I listed former church.
19 locals recommend
Dinosaurland Fossil Museum
Coombe StreetAll the fossils here are from a private collection belonging to the museums owner. View over 8,500 fossils in this traditional museum housed in a Grade I listed former church.
Lamberts Castle station
Great dog walk area
Chard Reservoir (disused)
Nice short walk
Nice walk.
This site is managed as a nature reserve, in partnership with Offwell Woodland & Wildlife Trust, a charity that has been on-site for over 10 years.
Offwell
Nice walk.
This site is managed as a nature reserve, in partnership with Offwell Woodland & Wildlife Trust, a charity that has been on-site for over 10 years.
Cineworld Yeovil
Old Station WayGood Cinema
Entertainment & Activities
Great place to take the kids for a day out. Highly recommend the ball pool!!! ;-)
175 locals recommend
Crealy Theme Park & Resort
Sidmouth RoadGreat place to take the kids for a day out. Highly recommend the ball pool!!! ;-)
Raceworld Ltd
Sidmouth RoadIndoor go-karting track with flyover bridge! Great fun!
Forde Abbey House and Gardens
Great Day out
Seaton Tramway
Harbour RoadA chance to step back in time and ride on a tram.
Railway themed, all weather attraction with a passenger carrying miniature steam railway, model railway exhibition, multi leveled indoor play area for children up to 12 years & outdoor play areas.
68 locals recommend
Pecorama
UnderleysRailway themed, all weather attraction with a passenger carrying miniature steam railway, model railway exhibition, multi leveled indoor play area for children up to 12 years & outdoor play areas.
Trained guides give the visitor an hour long tour of this vast man made complex of underground caverns.
55 locals recommend
Beer Quarry Caves Ltd
Quarry LaneTrained guides give the visitor an hour long tour of this vast man made complex of underground caverns.
Visitors can spend as much time as they wish meeting the donkeys and enjoying beautiful coastal and countryside walks.
80 locals recommend
The Donkey Sanctuary
Visitors can spend as much time as they wish meeting the donkeys and enjoying beautiful coastal and countryside walks.
Escot is 220 acres of natural woodlands where you can meet our resident otters, wild boar, red squirrels, peacocks and birds of prey.
14 locals recommend
Escot Park
Escot is 220 acres of natural woodlands where you can meet our resident otters, wild boar, red squirrels, peacocks and birds of prey.
Bicton Woodland Railway train ride, nature trail, maze, mini golf, plus indoor and outdoor children’s play complexes.
60 locals recommend
Bicton Park Botanical Gardens
Bicton Woodland Railway train ride, nature trail, maze, mini golf, plus indoor and outdoor children’s play complexes.
Beautiful and historic gardens with charming features to appeal to kids, like a play area, bridged waterways, sculpture trail and a secret walk! Dogs on leads welcome.
128 locals recommend
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
Bullers WayBeautiful and historic gardens with charming features to appeal to kids, like a play area, bridged waterways, sculpture trail and a secret walk! Dogs on leads welcome.
Try a quad bike ride around their half mile clay track and introduce kids to the thrills of driving! For over 10s, while over 16s can use the Pro Track at a mile and half long with trickier terrain.
Quad World
Exeter RoadTry a quad bike ride around their half mile clay track and introduce kids to the thrills of driving! For over 10s, while over 16s can use the Pro Track at a mile and half long with trickier terrain.
Guided Castle Tours; Secret Garden; huge Play Fort for kids; Deer Park Safari and seasonal events located in a unique, picturesque setting beside the Exe estuary.
92 locals recommend
Powderham Castle
Guided Castle Tours; Secret Garden; huge Play Fort for kids; Deer Park Safari and seasonal events located in a unique, picturesque setting beside the Exe estuary.
The 2nd largest naval aviation museum in the world has 4 Exhibition halls, over 90 aircraft, plus thousands of artefacts to discover, plus ‘The Aircraft Carrier Experience’ to enjoy.
63 locals recommend
Fleet Air Arm Museum
The 2nd largest naval aviation museum in the world has 4 Exhibition halls, over 90 aircraft, plus thousands of artefacts to discover, plus ‘The Aircraft Carrier Experience’ to enjoy.
Family oriented bike, canoe and kayak hire centre on Exeter quay with a good range of equipment, including some especially for children, such as child seats and trailers.
30 locals recommend
Saddles & Paddles
The QuayFamily oriented bike, canoe and kayak hire centre on Exeter quay with a good range of equipment, including some especially for children, such as child seats and trailers.
Kayaking, canoeing, sailing, rafting, coasteering, climbing, artificial caving are all on offer at Haven Banks down at Exeter Quay.
7 locals recommend
Haven Banks Outdoor Education Centre
Haven RoadKayaking, canoeing, sailing, rafting, coasteering, climbing, artificial caving are all on offer at Haven Banks down at Exeter Quay.
22 modern fully computerised lanes, American Pool tables, Amusement Arcades all catered towards families and kids.
8 locals recommend
Tenpin Exeter
Water Lane22 modern fully computerised lanes, American Pool tables, Amusement Arcades all catered towards families and kids.
Whether you want a quiet gentle stroll or an exhilarating mountain biking experience, there's something for you at Haldon Forest Park. 3,500 acres of woodland just fifteen minutes from Exeter.
49 locals recommend
Go Ape Haldon (Treetop Challenge, Zip Lines, High Ropes)
Whether you want a quiet gentle stroll or an exhilarating mountain biking experience, there's something for you at Haldon Forest Park. 3,500 acres of woodland just fifteen minutes from Exeter.
Visit the home of England’s highest waterfall. Over 80 acres to explore with the kids, including Nature Walk and Secret Garden.
50 locals recommend
Canonteign Falls
Visit the home of England’s highest waterfall. Over 80 acres to explore with the kids, including Nature Walk and Secret Garden.
Feel like a giant as you explore 4 acres of award-winning gardens showcasing hundreds of model scenes, vehicles and people.
150 locals recommend
Babbacombe Model Village
Hampton AvenueFeel like a giant as you explore 4 acres of award-winning gardens showcasing hundreds of model scenes, vehicles and people.
Not just 22 lanes of bowling with support aids, Pink Pin challenge and jukebox backbeats, but also arcade, pool, free WiFi and cafe.
13 locals recommend
Hollywood Bowl Taunton
Heron GateNot just 22 lanes of bowling with support aids, Pink Pin challenge and jukebox backbeats, but also arcade, pool, free WiFi and cafe.
Indoor splash complex features a 25m heated 6 lane swimming pool and an indoor splash park with shooting water jets and fun water features, all in a temperature controlled heated environment.
20 locals recommend
Brean Theme Park
Coast RoadIndoor splash complex features a 25m heated 6 lane swimming pool and an indoor splash park with shooting water jets and fun water features, all in a temperature controlled heated environment.
Kids theme park. Indoor and outdoor areas. Quite pricey to get in apparently, but someone told me that if you buy a ticket, you can go back as many time as you like, within 7 days. That maybe just during school holidays.
Look out 'things to do' brochures though, sometime you can get free ticket coupons.
175 locals recommend
Crealy Theme Park & Resort
Sidmouth RoadKids theme park. Indoor and outdoor areas. Quite pricey to get in apparently, but someone told me that if you buy a ticket, you can go back as many time as you like, within 7 days. That maybe just during school holidays.
Look out 'things to do' brochures though, sometime you can get free ticket coupons.
Indoor Karting experience.
I went some years ago and it was pretty good fun.
9 locals recommend
Raceworld Ltd
Sidmouth RoadIndoor Karting experience.
I went some years ago and it was pretty good fun.
Seaton Tramway operates narrow gauge heritage trams between Seaton, Colyford and Colyton in East Devon’s glorious Axe Valley, travelling alongside the River Axe through two nature reserves
74 locals recommend
Seaton Tramway
Harbour RoadSeaton Tramway operates narrow gauge heritage trams between Seaton, Colyford and Colyton in East Devon’s glorious Axe Valley, travelling alongside the River Axe through two nature reserves
Seaton Tramway operates narrow gauge heritage trams between Seaton, Colyford and Colyton in East Devon’s glorious Axe Valley, travelling alongside the River Axe, through two nature reserves.
74 locals recommend
Seaton Tramway
Harbour RoadSeaton Tramway operates narrow gauge heritage trams between Seaton, Colyford and Colyton in East Devon’s glorious Axe Valley, travelling alongside the River Axe, through two nature reserves.
Pleasant harbour town. Has been nicely updated in recent years.
Both Harbour Lights and Broadchurch were filmed here.
Bridport very closeby which has a market day on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
47 locals recommend
West Bay Beach Dorset
EsplanadePleasant harbour town. Has been nicely updated in recent years.
Both Harbour Lights and Broadchurch were filmed here.
Bridport very closeby which has a market day on Wednesdays and Saturdays.