Student Accommodation

Exeter

The Universities

Exeter is home to the University of Exeter and Exeter College, both close to the city centre and well connected by bus. The city is compact, so it’s easy to get around once you’re settled in.

University of Exeter

The University of Exeter traces its history back to 1855, when the Exeter School of Art was founded. It received its Royal Charter in 1955, exactly a century later, and is now a Russell Group university. The Streatham Campus, close to the city centre, is set within landscaped grounds and was accredited as a botanical garden by Botanic Gardens Conservation International in 2025. The Students’ Guild runs a wide range of societies and sports clubs, with a strong emphasis on volunteering and charity work.

Exeter College

Exeter College is a further education and sixth form college based at Hele Road. It was established in 1970 as the first tertiary college in England, bringing together local sixth forms with Exeter Technical College. It offers A levels, T Levels, BTECs, apprenticeships and higher technical education, and it was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2022. Students can use it as a route into university or straight into a career.

Places to Eat

Exeter has a good choice of cafés, pubs and restaurants, from quick coffee stops and student-friendly pubs to places for a longer meal with friends. The region is also known for its local produce, which you’ll see on many menus.

The Glorious Art House (Fore Street)

The Glorious Art House at 120 Fore Street is a licensed café and venue known for its colourful decor and quirky interior. It serves coffee, hot chocolate, cakes, brunch and light meals, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, and it’s a relaxed spot to catch up on work or meet friends. Opening hours vary through the week, so check before you go.

The Old Firehouse (New North Road)

The Old Firehouse at 50 New North Road is a pub in a former fire station that was in use from the mid-1800s to the early 1930s. It opened as a pub in 1986 and is known for live music, with bands on Friday and Saturday nights and pizza served until late. It has several floors and a courtyard, and is popular with students and locals alike.

The Imperial (New North Road)

The Imperial, known as the Impy, is a Wetherspoon in a listed former hotel on New North Road. It has a beer garden and a wide menu, so it’s a convenient place for a big pub lunch or an evening drink with friends.

On the Waterfront (Haven Road)

On the Waterfront at 60a Haven Road is on the ground floor of a 19th-century warehouse on the Quayside, with views over the water. It serves pizzas, sharing platters and themed menus, and it’s a good spot for a meal by the quay, especially in warmer weather.

Tea on the Green (Cathedral Close)

Tea on the Green at 2 Cathedral Close is a tea house opposite Exeter Cathedral, with outdoor tables on the cobbled road around the Cathedral Green. It serves breakfast, light lunches, cream teas and cakes, and it’s a nice spot for a break if you’re exploring the Cathedral Quarter.

Good Nights Out

Exeter is a compact city with a lively student scene, and many nights out are within walking distance of each other. There’s a good mix of traditional pubs, live music venues and clubs, as well as events organised by the Students’ Guild.

Student-Friendly Pubs

Exeter has plenty of traditional pubs and bars, which makes for a good pub crawl. The Ship Inn on Martin’s Lane is a historic pub on a small side street in the city centre, and Double Locks sits on the canal and is known for its large garden.

The Lemon Grove

The Lemon Grove, known as “the Lemmy”, is a venue on the University of Exeter’s Streatham campus on Stocker Road, supported by the Students’ Guild. It has a pub-like atmosphere with a club space and holds regular club nights and live events. It’s a popular place to start or finish a night out.

Timepiece

Timepiece is a nightclub and wine bar on Little Castle Street, just off the High Street. It has been open since 1997 and has a long history with students, with sports and society nights through the week. It describes itself as “Exeter’s half decent nightclub”.

The Cavern

The Cavern is a small underground music venue and club on Queen Street. It opened in 1991 and is known for indie, rock and alternative nights, as well as live music from local and touring bands.

Students’ Guild Events

The Students’ Guild also organises events through the year, including beach and boat parties, so it’s worth checking what’s on at the start of term.

Competitive Exeter University Sport

The University of Exeter has a long-established sporting tradition, with facilities that cater for elite athletes and beginners alike. Whether you want to compete or just stay active, you’ll find plenty to try.

At the Streatham Campus, the Sports Park has the 200-station Russell Seal Fitness Centre, a double sports hall, all-weather pitches, four squash courts, the Devon Cricket Centre and an outdoor pool. The St Luke’s Campus has its own sports centre and an indoor pool, and the university also has a boathouse on the Exeter Canal. Exeter competes in British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) competitions, and there’s a wide choice of clubs, so you can join in as a complete beginner.

Sailing and Watersports

The University of Exeter Boat Club has a boathouse on the Exeter Canal, and the university’s sailing club welcomes both beginners and experienced sailors. The Quayside is a popular spot for watersports and events on the water, so it’s worth keeping an eye on what’s on.

St James Park

Exeter City Football Club plays at St James Park, which has been the club’s home since the early 1900s. It’s a compact ground close to the city centre, and it’s a good place to watch a match with friends.

Rugby Union

Exeter Chiefs were founded in 1871 and play at Sandy Park, a purpose-built stadium on the outskirts of the city, around four miles east of the centre. The Chiefs have won both English and European titles in recent years. Sandy Park was one of the host venues for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and it also hosted matches at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Where to Shop

Once you’ve settled in, you’ll want to know where to find the essentials and a few treats too. Exeter has several shopping areas, from high street brands to independent shops in historic streets.

Quayside

The Quayside is a pleasant part of the city to wander, and the converted warehouses hold antiques shops, craft and gift shops and clothing boutiques. There are cafés and bistros here too, so it’s a good spot for a break from shopping.

Shopping Streets

Fore Street is in the West Quarter of the city and has a collection of independent and alternative shops, including those in McCoy’s Arcade and City Arcade, which hold vintage clothing, music and specialist stores. It’s also a steep, historic street running down towards the river.

Gandy Street is a narrow, pedestrianised lane close to the High Street, lined with independent gift shops, jewellers and boutiques, as well as bars and restaurants. It’s popular with students.

Cathedral Close and Cathedral Yard, around Exeter’s medieval cathedral, are home to shops selling fashion, crafts, books, art and antiques, set around the Cathedral Green.

Princesshay

Princesshay is Exeter’s main modern shopping centre, which opened in 2007 with a mix of covered and open-air streets. It has high street brands, as well as cafés and restaurants, and it sits just off the High Street. Other covered shopping centres nearby include the Guildhall Shopping Centre and the Harlequins Centre, which have a mix of high street shops and independent stores, and are connected to the High Street.

What to See

Exeter is a community-minded city with plenty of events through the year. After a busy day exploring, you’ll be glad to head back to your luxury student accommodation in Exeter. And when the sun’s out, Exmouth beach is only a short train ride away.

Hijacked Festival

Hijacked Festival is a one-day electronic and dance music festival that takes place in late spring. It was held at Double Locks for several years and has recently moved to Powderham Castle, with shuttle buses running to and from the city. It’s a popular event for students, so it’s worth keeping an eye on ticket releases.

Enchanted Garden Ball

The Enchanted Garden Ball (EGB) is the University of Exeter’s summer ball, held at the end of the academic year at Shobrooke Park near Crediton. The lakeside gardens are dressed with lights, flags and banners, and the event includes live music, fairground rides and food stalls, with students dressing in their smartest summer outfits.

Heritage Open Days

Heritage Open Days is a national celebration of history and culture, and in Exeter it takes place over ten days each September. Many buildings that normally charge admission, or aren’t usually open to the public, welcome visitors for free, so it’s a good way to see parts of the city you might not otherwise get to explore.