Cities, Towns & Villages

Devon’s unique golden coast includes many picturesque towns and villages and a few hidden gems. Whether you are a resident of Devon or here on your holidays, there are beautiful towns and villages in abundance for you to explore. With two historic cities, vibrant market towns and enchanting villages full of culture, history and charm.

Diverse towns and villages

There are 77 towns and villages across Devon and these all range in size and have and abundance of unique reasons to visit. There are some beautiful fishing villages to explore as well as quant market villages and larger towns offering an expanse of shopping, food and drink and history and heritage too. You can enjoy chocolate box cottages, breath-taking views, stunning churches and a raft of waterways.

Towards the north of the county, you’ll find market towns such as Barnstaple and Bideford and beautiful coastal towns like Ilfracombe, as well as places of historical importance, like South Molton, one of North Devon’s oldest towns.

For the Jurassic Coast and the incredible sites of the east Devon AONB, base yourself in coastal towns like Beer, Seaton, Sidmouth, Exmouth or Budleigh Salterton, while towns like Axeminster offer great markets and Ottery St Mary is the home of Devon traditions, like Tor Barrell Rolling and the annual Pixie Day.

Mid Devon is full of fascinating places, like the historic Bovey Tracy and the Tiverton Canal. Tavistock, Crediton and Honiton all have a wealth of accommodation options, as well as great attractions and food and drink choices and can be found in this region. Many of the towns and villages here are gateways to Dartmoor, so base yourself in Ashburton or Okehampton to have access to the national park.

Britain's Paradise 

No trip to Devon is complete without heading south into the English Riviera. You’ll find some of the best sea food in the country in Brixham, while Totnes and Dartmouth are great spots for shopping for quirky items. Take a trip to Dawlish, Teignmouth and Torquay to follow in the footsteps of Agatha Christie and visit Paignton for the famous zoo or its neighbour, Newton Abbot. Kingsbridge is a delightful little town with plenty of charm whereas Moretonhampston brings the history and Salcombe has great coastal walks.

There are 7 rivers that run through Devon and many of our beautiful villages sit close to these rivers. The history and heritage that can be found in all of Devon’s towns and villages will leave you spellbound and wanting to explore even more.

Devon’s towns and villages are always filled with colourful characters and most of the businesses will be able to tell you a tale or two about the amazing things to see and do while visiting. There are a huge amount of events that take place across this picturesque county and you can enjoy the community spirit, local camaraderie and Devon’s experience the wonderful food and drink, much of which will have been produced in Devon.