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You are here > Explore > Cities, Towns & Villages > Westward Ho!

Westward Ho! Devon
The Pier House

The Pier House

Where the beach ends and the cliff begins is Westward Ho! ‘s only seafront bar and bistro. Located…

The Waterfront Inn

The Waterfront Inn

Family Friendly Inn located in the heart of Westward Ho! Open plan bar with games room, beer…

The Waterfront Inn

The Waterfront Inn

Bed & Breakfast Westward Ho! North Devon beside an award winning beach.

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  • 1The Pier House
  • 2The Waterfront Inn
  • 3The Waterfront Inn
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Westward Ho!

Westward Ho! is a delightful seaside village near Bideford in the north of Devon. The name came from a Charles Kingsley book, also titled Westward Ho!, that was a best seller and brought a new wave of tourism to the Bideford area leading to the creation of village. It isn’t just how the village was named that makes it unusual, it is also the only place in the British Isles that features an exclamation mark as part of its name.

The village is best known for its seafront which, like many of the spots in North Devon, is popular with surfers and swimmers. The water leads onto a large expanse of clean sand backed by a pebble ridge and grasslands, offering the right landscape for several different beach activities including rock pooling, sand castle building and picnics.

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The seafront and the part of the village leading down to the water are part of an AONB which covers the majority of Devon’s north coast.

The AONB includes the beach which is one of a number of Blue Flag rated beaches in this region. During the summer life guards are stationed making it one of the safest in Devon for swimming and water sports. Like much of the coastline in this area of Devon, the current makes conditions perfect for a number of water based activities and the village is popular with those that like surfing, as such you’ll find a host of organisations renting equipment and offering lessons in a wide range of sports including paddle boarding and kayaking. There are also a number of businesses based in the village who offer training sessions and tours of the coastline by boat or board, so those of you interested in a sightseeing tour with a difference can really learn more about this fascinating village from the water.

The village is an ideal spot for anyone wanting to get back to nature as it is surrounded by the beauty of the natural world including cliffs, fields and an estuary.

Dog friendly


Westward Ho! is one of the most welcoming places in the south west when it comes to dogs. Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round, with restrictions in place during the summer. Signs around the beach provide handy maps so dog owners will know where they can go and alternative routes for those exploring with their dogs by foot.

Seaside traditions


Having gained popularity in the Victorian times, Westward Ho! has maintained much of the traditional sea side facilities of that era. Attractions include a tidal lido as well as arcades which have been updated and renovated to keep up with the times. Another popular attraction in the town is the Go-Kart Track.

In popular culture…

As well as gaining popularity thanks to a book, Westward Ho! is also mentioned in a song by Half Man Half Biscuit reminiscing about holidaying in the town and is also included in a set of short stories by Rudyard Kipling. The poet and author, best known for the Jungle Book, grew up in Westward Ho! attending school there, his collection of stories, Stalky and Co, is based on his experiences while at school in the village, to commemorate this, you’ll find the first stanza of his poem, If, set into the pavement on the promenade.

Things to do…

Being a popular destination and centrally located, there are plenty of things to occupy you in and around Westward Ho!. There are a number of charming cafes and tearooms as well as restaurants and take aways within the village making it an ideal spot for self catering holidays.

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  1. The Waterfront Inn

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    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - from 135 review(s)from 135 review(s)

    The Waterfront Inn

    Bideford

    Family Friendly Inn located in the heart of Westward Ho! Open plan bar with games room, beer gardens and children’s play area. Serving breakfast, food all day and wide…

  2. cliff edge

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    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - from 54 review(s)from 54 review(s)

    Seafield Holiday Park

    Westward Ho!

    Seafield is a family-run, self-catering holiday park in the picturesque village of Westward Ho! 

    Open all year round, Seafield Holiday Park offers a large variety of…

  3. The Waterfront Inn

    Add The Waterfront Inn to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - from 135 review(s)from 135 review(s)

    The Waterfront Inn

    Bideford

    Bed & Breakfast Westward Ho! North Devon beside an award winning beach.

  4. The Pier House

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    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - from 1738 review(s)from 1738 review(s)

    The Pier House

    Bideford

    Where the beach ends and the cliff begins is Westward Ho! ‘s only seafront bar and bistro. Located in North Devon’s most unique settings perched majestically on the cliff…

  5. golden bay holiday village purple flowers

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    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - from 69 review(s)from 69 review(s)

    Golden Bay Holiday Village

    Bideford

    Golden Bay Holiday Village, in the heart of Westward Ho! on the breath-taking North Devon coastline, has been run by the Hall family since 2015 it was built on the grounds of…

  6. Westward Ho! Beach

    Add Westward Ho! Beach to your Itinerary

    Westward Ho! Beach

    Bideford

    Westward Ho! is a beach geared up to cater for every tourist's needs. With seaside shops, toilets and a range of food outlets, Westward Ho! is a popular family beach.

    …

  7. Pebble beach

    Add Braddicks Holiday Centre to your Itinerary

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    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - from 279 review(s)from 279 review(s)

    Braddicks Holiday Centre

    Bideford

    Braddicks Holiday Centre is an award-winning, self-catering Holiday Park in Westward Ho!, North Devon, set beside an award-winning beach. From this base you can explore a…

  8. Tea on the Green

    Add Tea on the Green to your Itinerary

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    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - from 988 review(s)from 988 review(s)

    Tea on the Green

    Westward Ho, Bideford

    We serve a wide range of teas from an Earl Grey to a Red Bush including a variety of fruit ones too. Our coffee is freshly ground on the premises and we make a mean…

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