History and culture days out in East Devon

As one of the most geologically important places in the UK, the Jurassic Coast and East Devon are excellent places to find out more about history, heritage and culture.

Option 1 - Dinner and a show

This part of Devon has a seemingly neverending list of historical and cultural things to see and do. Here are some ideas for a day out enjoying the region's culture. Start off in Sidmouth, where you can begin your day following the Blue Plaque trail to find out more about some of the town's most notable events and people. Don't forget to spend some time looking at the town's murals, particularly the Fish Wall. 

After spending the day exploring Sidmouth's history, stop off for dinner at one of the region's many eateries - for a choice of dining options and an extensive menu to suit any taste, check out the restaurant at the Victoria Hotel. It's a glorious place to enjoy a spot to eat while overlooking the beach and won't leave you rushing when it's time for the performance. 

Once you've eaten, head on over to the Manor Pavilion Theatre, where in the summer there is one of the UK's only remaining summer repertory theatre performances. There is a full programme of theatre productions throughout the year, so it's a great place for taking in dinner and a show. In the summer, keep the festivities going by heading to Connaught Gardens and catching the Sidmouth Town Band at the garden's bandstand. 

Option 2 - A day of learning

If you love learning new things and want to indulge your curiosity, East Devon is a great place to visit. 

Start your day in Honiton, home to Honiton Lace and visit the All Hallows Museum where you can uncover the history of this fascinating industry and find out more about how Queen Victoria's wedding dress was created. Once you're finished there, you can stop by the nearby Thelma Hulbert Museum and Gallery, which is full of local works as well as a host of family-friendly activities. 

After spending the morning here, stop off for some lunch at Toast in the high street before moving on to the town of Ottery St Mary, where you can find the Tumbling Weir, one of the oldest beauty spots in the region. 

Later in the day, head to the town of Sidmouth where you can indulge in more history by visiting the town's museum and the Toy and Model Museum. Once you've seen all there is to see here, finish off your day with a trip to Budleigh Salterton's Fairlynch Museum, a cultural and historical centre in Budleigh Salterton. Once you're done, feed your brain with some traditional fish and chips on the seafront. 

Option 3 - Exclusive to East Devon

There are a host of things to see and do that are exclusive to East Devon, not only is there the Tar Barrel Rolling in Ottery St Mary and the Science Festival in Sidmouth but an array of other unique opportunities to learn more about this fascinating area. Check out our suggestions here. 

First things first, explore the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site that makes up the coastline in East Devon and travels on into Dorset. Pick up the South West Coast Path from a number of towns and villages around East Devon and follow the marked trails. Don't forget to pick up the Jurassic Coast Map from the Sidmouth TIC and explore to your heart's content! Plan your walk to finish in Sidmouth where you can eat overlooking the Jurassic Coast at the Clock Tower in Sidmouth. 

After refuelling, make your way over to nearby Seaton, where you can see the town's entire history at the Seaton Labyrinth and Geological Timeline, which was created to mark the anniversary of the town. While here, take a ride on Seaton Tramway, one of the only places left in the South West where you can ride a tram. During certain points of the year, the tramway hold additional special activities and offer a popular cream tea at their tram stop cafe. 

What's on in East Devon