{"id":3488,"date":"2021-05-18T15:18:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-18T15:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub\/uncategorized\/uk-staycation-guide-devon"},"modified":"2026-10-09T13:49:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T12:49:52","slug":"things-to-do-in-devon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub\/things-to-do\/things-to-do-in-devon","title":{"rendered":"Things To Do In Devon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Looking to get some sun, sea and sand? While we can\u2019t promise you the sun will come out, we can promise you that a family trip to Devon will definitely give you sea, sand, and loads of fantastic memories. From epic thrills at great theme parks to glorious sandy beaches, and some of the beaches in Devon even won our Gold Award on our Best Seaside Town awards<\/a>, so you know you\u2019ll have a great time!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for something specific, here\u2019s our handy guide to what we\u2019ll cover in this Devon staycation guide:<\/p>\n

How to get to Devon\u00a0 <\/a> | Where to Stay<\/a> | Days Out in Devon<\/a> | Top Tips<\/a><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

<\/a>How to get to Devon<\/h2>\n

Devon is the second-most Southern part of the UK, second only to Cornwall, so it can be a bit of a journey depending on where you\u2019re starting from, and where in Devon you\u2019re heading to.
\nIf you\u2019re looking to drive, there\u2019s never been a better excuse to pack the car up and head off on an epic road trip, but there are also some big train stations you can arrive into, plus you might be able to spot the sea from the train!
\nSome of the big train stations in Devon include Exeter<\/a>, Plymouth<\/a>, Dawlish<\/a>, Torquay<\/a>, Paignton<\/a>, and Newton Abbot<\/a>, so there\u2019s plenty of options for you to pick from.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Where to stay<\/h2>\n

\"Some<\/p>\n

Looking for the best places to stay in Devon for families? Devon has plenty of great areas you can stay, and we\u2019ve listed just a few places to get you started.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Exeter<\/strong>
    \nExeter is one of two historic cities, so if you\u2019re looking for a combination of a mini city break within close reach to the sea, you\u2019re in luck. With great transport links and a big train station too, it\u2019s great if you\u2019re looking to travel by train.<\/li>\n
  2. Torquay<\/strong>
    \nIf you\u2019re looking for a quintessentially British seaside town, you can\u2019t go wrong with Torquay! Not only has it got a lovely harbour and beach, but it\u2019s in a great spot and there\u2019s plenty of days out within reach.<\/li>\n
  3. Paignton<\/strong>
    \nClose to Torquay, it\u2019s a great spot for a family day out and it\u2019s within easy reach of plenty of great days out! It’s a popular tourist spot, and after one visit, you\u2019ll definitely be able to see why.<\/li>\n
  4. Dartmouth\u00a0<\/strong>
    \nDartmouth is well known for its lovely moors, so it\u2019s the perfect spot to head to for any active families looking to explore the natural world, remember to keep your eyes open for any Dartmouth ponies too!<\/li>\n
  5. Ilfracombe\u00a0<\/strong>
    \nIlfracombe is a great place to head to for your staycation, and you\u2019ll find a lovely little harbour town, plus there\u2019s all sorts of great activities to do in and around the area, making it the perfect place to set up camp.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/a>Days Out<\/h2>\n

    From glorious beaches to epic thrills at theme parks, there\u2019s plenty of things to do in Devon<\/a>! We\u2019ve rounded up 15 of our favourite things to do in Devon and places to visit.<\/p>\n

    \"A<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Go Ape Haldon, Exeter<\/strong>
      \nFancy an epic day out in the trees?       Go Ape Haldon<\/a> is a must if you\u2019re looking for something for the whole family! From daring Tarzan swings to zooming through the trees on an incredible zip wire, it\u2019s perfect for monkeys of all ages. While you\u2019re there, don\u2019t forget to explore Haldon Forest Park<\/a> too!<\/li>\n
    2. Crealy Theme Park and Resort, Exeter<\/strong>
      \nLooking for some epic thrills? Head to       Crealy Theme Park and Resort<\/a>, where you\u2019ll find over 60 awesome rides and attractions! From visiting Meerkat Manor to going for a splash on the awesome water ride, Tidal Wave, there\u2019s plenty of fun to be had.Looking for somewhere to stay in Devon? Check out some of our Short Breaks stays<\/a>, where you can even stay at Crealy Theme Park and Resort itself!<\/li>\n
    3. The Bear Trail, Cullompton<\/strong>
      \nReady to get muddy? Discover       The Bear Trail<\/a>, an incredible family assault course packed full of 30 great obstacles. Clamber over the Rickety Bridge, zoom across on the zip wire and put your skills to the test Mud Pit Swing. Think you can take it on?<\/li>\n
    4. Diggerland Devon, Cullompton<\/strong>
      \nWith 18 different rides,       Diggerland Devon <\/a>is a must for any digger enthusiasts. Jump into the seat of real life diggers and dumpers, and you can even play a fun game of bowling with a special twist, pst, it includes a wrecking ball!<\/li>\n
    5. Clovelly Village, Bideford<\/strong>
      \nIf you\u2019re looking for a picturesque day out, look no further than       Clovelly Village<\/a>. Stroll down the cobbled street towards Clovelly Quay, or take a trip to the Court Gardens, and you can even explore the Fisherman\u2019s Cottage Museum too!\"A<\/li>\n
    6. Paignton Zoo, Paignton<\/strong>
      \nIf you\u2019ve got animal lovers, then a trip to the zoo should definitely be on your list. At       Paignton Zoo<\/a>, you\u2019ll get to meet all your favourites, including roarsome lions to stripey cheetahs, plus everything from Komodo Dragons to colourful Toco Toucan Birds!<\/li>\n
    7. House of Marbles, Bovey Tracey<\/strong>
      \nLooking for a museum with a twist? Head over to the       House of Marbles<\/a>, where you\u2019ll get to see glass being made, discover a collection of old fashioned board games going back to the 1600\u2019s, and of course, marbles! Head to the Games Gardens too where you\u2019ll get to play plenty of fun games too.<\/li>\n
    8. Quince Honey Farm, South Molton<\/strong>
      \nDiscover a whole world of honey and bees at       Quince Honey Farm<\/a>, where you can even try out being a mini bee-keeper for the day! From candle rolling to meeting little critters, there\u2019s plenty for the whole family, and the best part is you can even do some honey tasting, yum!<\/li>\n
    9. Milky Way Adventure Park, Bideford<\/strong>
      \nTake a trip into outer space at       Milky Way Adventure Park<\/a>, an epic theme parked packed full of fun. From saving the Earth on Ziggy\u2019s Black Quest to reaching for the stars on the jumping pillows, you\u2019re sure to have an out-of -this-word day out!<\/li>\n
    10. Babbacombe Model Village, Torquay<\/strong>
      \nFeel like a giant as you discover       Babbacombe Model Village<\/a>. This sweet mini world will truly capture your imagination, and with over 420 tiny buildings to explore spread out across 4 acres, it\u2019s definitely a must do on your trip to Devon.<\/li>\n
    11. Woolacombe Sands Beach, Woolacombe<\/strong>
      \nOf course, we couldn\u2019t do a round-up of some of the top days out in Devon without including one of the glorious beaches! Woolacombe Sands is a lovely sandy beach (so make sure you\u2019ve got your bucket and spade!), and it;s the perfect spot to go for a little paddle in the sea.<\/li>\n
    12. The Big Sheep, Bideford<\/strong>
      \nHerd your flock towards       The Big Sheep<\/a>, an all-weather family attraction packed full of rides, animals, and entertainment. Once you\u2019ve had your share of thrills on the roller coaster rides, see all your favourite farmyard animals, from pigs, goats, ducks, and of course, sheep!<\/li>\n
    13. Devon Railway Centre, Buckfastleigh<\/strong>
      \nIf you\u2019ve got little train lovers, a trip to the       Devon Railway Centre<\/a> is a must. Take a ride on the Miniature Railway and then explore the great indoor and outdoor play areas, plus hop aboard the Narrow Gauge Railway for a delightful ride.<\/li>\n
    14. Ilfracombe Sea Safari, Exeter<\/strong>
      \nIf you\u2019re looking for a watery adventure, look no further than the       Ilfracombe Sea Safari<\/a>! Head off on an epic adventure on one of the boat trips and see the coast, plus you may even get to see seals, porpoise and dolphins!<\/li>\n
    15. Treasure Trails<\/strong>
      \nLooking for a unique way to explore? Try out a Treasure Trails, where you\u2019ll get to discover a new town and have fun while doing so! The       Exeter Mystery Treasure Trail<\/a>, Dawlish Spy Mission Treasure Trail <\/a>and the Teignmouth Treasure Hunt Trail<\/a> are just a few to get you started!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \"Some<\/p>\n

      We know we said we\u2019d give you 15 great days out, but we couldn\u2019t do a round up of the best days out without mentioning The Gnome Reserve…<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. The Gnome Reserve, Bradworth\u00a0<\/strong>
        \nYep, you heard us right! T        he Gnome Reserve<\/a> is in The Guinness World Records Book for being home to the largest collection of gnomes, and you can see why! Home to over 2000 gnomes, their new home at Merry Harriers Garden Centre<\/a> is due to open in June 2021, so keep an eye out if you\u2019re planning a summer trip to Devon!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        <\/a>Top Tips<\/h2>\n

        There\u2019s loads of wonderful walks and beautiful scenery to take in in Devon, from an afternoon at a beach to going on a scenic stroll, so don\u2019t forget to bring a raincoat!
        \nIf you are planning a trip to the beach, don\u2019t forget to always check the tide times so you don\u2019t get caught out.<\/p>\n

        Most importantly, remember that when in Devon, the cream goes first before the jam when having a tasty cream tea!<\/p>\n

        \"The<\/p>\n

        Don\u2019t forget, our members save <\/a>on everything from campsites and caravans, to cottages and hotels too so be sure to check out the latest deals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

        Looking for more staycation ideas? Check out some of our other blogs and keep an eye out for more staycations series!<\/p>\n

        Cornwall Staycation Guide<\/a> | \u00a0Best beaches<\/a> | UK\u2019s Best Seaside Towns and Resorts<\/a> | Short Family Breaks<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        The ultimate guide to a family staycation in Devon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":3489,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[142,405],"tags":[],"thb-sponsors":[],"class_list":["post-3488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-things-to-do","category-tourist-attractions"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3488"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3488\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23083,"href":"https:\/\/www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3488\/revisions\/23083"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3488"},{"taxonomy":"thb-sponsors","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/thb-sponsors?post=3488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}