Serviced Apartments in Devon

Discover the best activities and attractions Devon has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor is a vast upland granite landscape of tors, moorland, wooded valleys and prehistoric archaeology that draws walkers, climbers, wildlife enthusiasts and film crews. Its popularity underpins a strong local outdoor‑tourism economy: accommodation providers, pubs, guiding services and outdoor retailers benefit from year‑round visitor spending. Dartmoor’s working landscapes (sheep and pony grazing, small farms) and National Park management also support conservation jobs and community projects that help preserve local heritage and access for residents and visitors. What makes Dartmoor special is its dramatic, open scenery, rich archaeological remains (stone circles, ancient settlements) and a sense of wildness within easy reach of southern cities.

The Box, Plymouth
The Box is Plymouth’s major museum, gallery and archive complex that brings together local history, maritime collections, archaeology and contemporary art under one roof. As a cultural anchor it attracts tourists and school groups, boosts footfall in Plymouth’s city centre and supports creative-sector employment (curation, education, events). The Box helps raise the city’s cultural profile through headline exhibitions and community programmes, and generates spill‑over spending for cafes, shops and hotels. Its unique combination of historic naval artefacts and contemporary displays makes it a must‑see for anyone interested in Plymouth’s maritime past and coastal cultures.

Greenway (Agatha Christie’s House)
Greenway, the former holiday home of Agatha Christie on the River Dart now cared for by the National Trust, is a magnet for literary tourists and garden lovers. Its popularity brings visitors to the South Hams, supporting local ferries, cafés, B&Bs and shops, and helps fund conservation work on the estate. The site’s appeal lies in its authentic period rooms, extensive riverside gardens and the intimate connection to Christie’s life and writing — a unique cultural draw that combines literature, landscape and heritage tourism.

Barnstaple Pannier Market
Barnstaple’s Pannier Market (the historic indoor market at the heart of the town) showcases local producers, artisan goods, antiques and street food, acting as a focal point for Devon retail and local supply chains. Markets like this sustain small businesses and producers (farmers, bakers, craftspeople), provide affordable retail space for startups and attract shoppers from across North Devon, supporting the town centre economy. Its lively mix of traditional stalls and seasonal events gives visitors an authentic Devon shopping experience rooted in local food and craft traditions.

The Devon County Show
The Devon County Show is an annual agricultural show that celebrates the county’s farming, food, countryside skills and rural culture. It draws tens of thousands of visitors, providing a major economic boost to local farmers, food producers, rural suppliers and hospitality businesses through direct sales, networking and promotion. The show’s importance goes beyond commerce: it preserves and promotes rural skills, livestock breeding, and local food provenance while offering entertainment, education and hands‑on experiences for families. The event is a distinctive expression of Devon’s rural identity and agricultural heritage.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Devon, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- National Rail services - Regular mainline and regional services operated by national train companies provide connections from Devon to London, the Midlands and the rest of the UK; major stations include Exeter St Davids, Exeter Central, Plymouth and Plymouth Parkway, with branch lines serving towns across the county.
- Branch rail lines - Local rail routes include the Riviera Line (Exeter–Paignton), Avocet Line (Exeter–Exmouth), Tarka Line (Exeter–Barnstaple), Tamar Valley Line (Plymouth–Gunnislake) and the Dartmoor Line (Exeter–Okehampton), giving good rail coverage of coastal and some rural areas.
- Long-distance rail operators - Great Western Railway, CrossCountry and South Western Railway (limited services) run intercity and regional routes through Devon, linking to Bristol, London (Paddington and Waterloo), the West Country and beyond.
- Local and regional buses - Extensive bus networks operate across cities, towns and rural areas (major operators include Stagecoach South West, Plymouth Citybus and local independents), with urban networks in Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay and rural services and school/community buses covering villages.
- Long-distance coaches - National Express and other coach operators provide scheduled coach links to London, airports and other major UK destinations from hubs such as Exeter and Plymouth.
- Ferries and river services - A mix of passenger and vehicle ferry services operate locally and seasonally (examples include river/tourist boats on the River Dart and passenger ferries in Torbay and at Dartmouth/Kingswear and the Cremyll–Plymouth crossing), supporting coastal and inter-tidal travel.
- Park & Ride and city shuttle services - Park & Ride sites and frequent shuttle services operate into Exeter, Plymouth and other centres to reduce city-centre car traffic and provide integrated bus access.
- Community transport and demand-responsive services - Volunteer-run and council-supported community minibuses, dial-a-ride and on-demand services fill gaps in rural areas where scheduled services are limited.
- Heritage and tourist railways - Several preserved lines (e.g., South Devon Railway, Dartmouth Steam Railway) provide both tourist travel and seasonal local connectivity on scenic routes.
- Air travel - Exeter International Airport (located near Exeter) offers domestic and European scheduled flights, business services and some seasonal routes, providing air access for the county.

Major Highways
- M5 - The principal motorway access for north–south journeys to/from Devon, linking Exeter and the eastern side of the county to the Midlands, South West and London (via M4/M5 connections).
- A30 - Major trunk road running east–west across Devon toward Cornwall and providing an alternative high-capacity route to the M5 for western parts of the county.
- A38 - Key dual carriageway link between Exeter and Plymouth (the Devon Expressway/part of the Atlantic Highway) and onward into Cornwall.
- A39 - Important north Devon coastal route (the “Atlantic Highway” in sections) providing routes along the north coast and connections to market towns.
- A361 - Major north–south/diagonal route serving mid and north Devon, linking rural areas to the M5 and main towns.
- A380 - Main road linking Exeter with Torbay (Paignton and Torquay) and serving south Devon commuter and tourist traffic.
- A379 - Coastal route providing alternative scenic/local access between Exeter, Exmouth and Torbay, serving smaller communities and estuary crossings.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Bike lanes, multi-use paths and national routes - Devon has a growing mix of segregated urban cycle lanes (notably in Exeter and expanding in Plymouth/Torbay), extensive traffic‑free multi‑use routes such as the Tarka Trail, and National Cycle Network routes (including Route 27 and parts of Route 2) together with local cycle parking, hire schemes and active‑travel investments to support commuting and leisure cycling.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Rail reopenings and service enhancements - Reinstatement of passenger services on the Dartmoor Line (Okehampton) and timetable/rolling‑stock investments have strengthened rural rail connectivity; further station improvements and frequency increases are part of local rail enhancement programmes.
- Devon Metro / local rail ambitions - Ongoing proposals and phased projects aim to develop a more metro‑style network around Exeter and nearby corridors (new or improved local stations, better interchanges and higher frequencies to support commuting).
- Bus improvements and decarbonisation - Investment programmes and operator plans are introducing low‑emission and electric buses, real‑time passenger information, contactless/mobile ticketing and targeted bus priority measures in urban areas.
- Active travel and cycling upgrades - Central government and local funding (Active Travel/Transforming Cities funding and local schemes) have driven new segregated cycle lanes, pedestrian improvements and expanded traffic‑free routes to encourage walking and cycling for short journeys.
- Targeted road safety and capacity schemes - Ongoing local and national projects deliver junction upgrades, safety improvements and reliability work on key corridors (A38/A380/A30 etc.) to reduce congestion and improve journey times for freight and commuters.
- Station and accessibility works - Platform accessibility upgrades, improved passenger facilities and better integration between buses, bikes and trains at key hubs are being delivered to improve interchange and inclusive access.
- Ferry and harbour investments - Port and harbour maintenance, pier upgrades and investment in quieter/cleaner vessels on some river and coast services aim to support tourism and local commuting by water.
- Integrated transport planning and digital improvements - Greater emphasis on multi‑modal ticketing options, journey‑planning apps and data sharing to make cross‑mode journeys (rail/bus/ferry/cycle) easier and more reliable.