Campervan Hire near Exeter

Motorhome Hire Exeter

Sat between Dartmoor National Park to the west, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the east and the English Riviera and Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site to the south, Exeter is perfectly primed to act as a gateway to the south-west of England.

Alive with events ranging from art exhibitions to music festivals, Exeter packs a serious punch for a city of its size. Its magnificent quayside on the River Exe is a great place to start, although many renting a campervan in Exeter will take the opportunity to head out into the nearby countryside and discover what makes this part of England such a delight.

Getting to Exeter

The M5 motorway links Exeter with Bristol and Birmingham, as well as London by way of connecting with the M4 outside of Bristol. A quicker route by road to the British capital is via the A303 and then the A3. The motorway-free county of Cornwall can be reached via the A30 and A38. Trains reach Exeter St Davids station from London Paddington in around 2 hours, while a slower route links Exeter Central with London Waterloo. Exeter International Airport lies 10 kilometres east of the city centre and has regular flights to the Channel Islands, destinations within the UK, and holiday hotspots in Spain and Greece. British Airways, Ryanair and TUI are the airport’s major airlines.

Parking in Exeter

Short term parking suitable for campervan hire in Exeter can be found centrally at both the Bampfylde Street and Magdalen Street car parks, operated by the city council. Together they have more than 300 available parking spaces, with Magdalen Street twice the size of Bampfylde. There are no height restrictions to enter or exit either car park. Designated as ‘zone 1’ car parks, parking equates to around €2 per hour. It is cheaper on the outskirts of the city, with Havens Bank Car Park having all-day tickets for roughly €4, although it closes at 8 pm. You can park over two bays if you struggle for space, although you’ll then need to purchase two tickets to avoid a fine. It’s not permitted to park up in the specified coach bays instead.

Annual Events in Exeter

•  Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink: Northernhay Gardens, May. The region’s best chefs are on standby to give expert demonstrations of their craft, alongside plenty of chances to sample the South West’s top products. €12 per person on the day, or €9 when booked online beforehand.
  
• Party in the Park: Belmont Park, July. Family-orientated fun with trampolines, bouncy castles, craft stalls, independent food stalls and live entertainment. Free.
  
• Winter Wonderland & Christmas Markets: Northernhay Gardens, November/December. Get into the festive spirit with this combination of a covered ice rink, Santa’s grotto, funfair and German market. Free to enter.

Camping in Exeter

• Bryndir Campsite: Just a couple of kilometres from central Exeter, Bryndir Campsite is a quiet site with countryside views. Pitches with electric hook-up cost from €30 per night.
  
• Haldon Forest Holiday Park: About 1.5 km from Haldon Forest, this site’s facilities include a modern toilet & shower block, shop and children’s playground. Grass and hard-stand pitches are available from €40 per night.
  
• Castle Brake Holiday Park: This small family-run site on Woodbury Common has a bar, bistro restaurant and children’s play area. A fully-served gravel campervan pitch costs from €34 per night.