Introduction - on this page you will find links to
details of Exeter homes for sale, Exeter rental accommodation, holiday
homes and shared housing in Exeter. the historic Cathedral and
University City of Exeter is also the county town of Devon and located in the
south-west of England. Exeter provides an excellent base from which to explore
the whole county of Devon. Devon itself is an incredibly beautiful county. It
enjoys a milder climate than many parts of the UK with quite mild winters and
warm summers thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream. The plentiful
rainfall ensures a green and lush countryside and spring often comes earlier
here than elsewhere. It often records more hours of sunshine than other
regions. It boasts two national parks and five designated areas of outstanding
natural beauty. It has a rich geological history which provides for the varied
landscape from the moors of Exmoor and Dartmoor where winters can be very cold
and bleak to the gently rolling hills of the south. Economically, Exeter is
the commercial heart of the region and is also the main centre for legal and
tourist services. The city itself has a population of about 117,000 but serves
nearly 500,000 people living within a 45 minute radius.
The Exeter Property Market
- as with all cities, there is a range of properties for sale in Exeter from 1
bedroom studio flats to 7 bedroom Georgian style town houses. In comparison with
other parts of the UK Devon and Exeter have caught up in terms of nationwide
average values, both in the rental and buying markets. For example the average
rental income for a one bedroom apartment is just under £500.00 which compares
very well to most areas in the South-East outside of London. The buy to let
market in Exeter is healthy and buoyant. With a large student population there
will always be a need for student type accommodation and therefore a market for
certain kinds of property. In addition the large numbers of tourists to the area
should always provide a market for seasonal holiday lets. The key thing to
remember is to choose the property and the area carefully with the potential
tenants in mind.
Exeter History
- the history of Exeter can be traced back to
Roman times when it became the regional Roman capital of the Devon and
Cornwall areas. However, with the fall of the Roman Empire from around AD 400
Exeter also went into decline as an urban area. The historic quayside, now no
longer navigable was once a Roman waterway and later an important port, which
allowed Exeter to develop commercially. During the middle ages the prosperity
of Exeter began to flourish and it became a place of great ecclesiastical
importance. This is evidenced by the magnificent Cathedral which is a must see
for any visitor. Located in a delightful green and surrounded by old
buildings, the Cathedral’s magnificent Norman towers are easily visible.
Largely rebuilt from the 1270’s to the 14th century the towers are all that
remain of the Norman building. Upon approaching the cathedral from the front
the first thing that one sees is the array of carved stone figures. It is
thought that these were once painted in bright colours. There are many other
buildings and structures that date from the Middle Age period that still
survive today, for example the White Hart in south street, the Underground
Passages, the House that Moved and Exe Bridge. By the early 1500’s Exeter had
become one of the biggest and most wealthy towns in England. This wealth was
based on the woollen industry in Devon. The woollen cloth was woven, dyed and
finished in the region and then exported to the famous trading towns in
Europe. To aid this trade a quay was built in the 1560’s and the canal was
built to link Exeter with the sea. The rich merchants and guilds controlled
the city and their money helped to pay for the fine buildings throughout the
city that can still be seen today. Much of the High Street was built at this
time but sadly the original exteriors have been covered up with more modern
facades. Exeter has a strong link to Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake.
It is claimed that the latter was a frequent visitor to the Ship Inn in
Martins Lane. Devon and Exeter also have a strong association with the English
Civil War. Exeter sided with Parliament until in 1643 it was besieged and won
by the Royalists. Queen Henrietta Maria gave birth to one of her daughters
here. Later, during the war the city turned Parliamentarian once again and was
occupied by the military until the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660. Exeter
continued to flourish after the Civil War, mainly still due to the cloth
industry.
Tourism and Entertainment - apart from the architectural and
historical interest there are a great many other pleasures to be found in
Exeter. The Royal Albert Museum houses a great collection of artefacts, there
are two beautiful gardens to explore and enjoy (the Northernhay and Rougemont
gardens). In addition Exeter is a great place to shop especially in the recently
newly built Princesshay Development (opened in September 2007) which has a fine
array of shops and restaurants. Elsewhere one can find major department stores
and trendy boutiques tucked away in the side streets and lanes. Exploring these
streets will lead the foot visitor to discover the enormous selection of bars,
cafes, traditional pubs and nightclubs on offer. For those who seek art and
culture there is plenty to do. Every summer the City organises The Exeter
Festival, a great cultural event of music, theatre and entertainment – something
for everyone.
Travel & Transport - Exeter is very
accessible to visitors from within the UK and abroad. By road the M5 links
Exeter easily to Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham and to the M4 corridor. National
Express coaches operate to Exeter from most other towns and cities on its
network. The local bus services are excellent for making a trip around the city
and for making day trips to the surrounding areas and villages. Exeter has a
mainline train station at St David’s and high speed direct trains connect Exeter
to the rest of the UK. Finally, Exeter has its own international airport linking
it to other UK airports and also to many destinations within Europe.
