🇬🇧 Exeter, United Kingdom
Southernhay House
📍 36, Southernhay East, Exeter, EX1 1NX
Photo: official website
Your stay — Southernhay House
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Exeter.
The Property — Southernhay House
Southernhay House is a Regency townhouse hotel on a quiet Georgian crescent just east of Exeter city centre. The lobby feels like a well-kept private home: high ceilings, original cornicing, parquet floors, a mix of antique and modern furniture. It suits travellers who want calm, character and a short walk to the cathedral, shops and quayside, without paying for a spa or concierge.
Chroniken von Exeter
Exeter began as a Roman fortress town, Isca Dumnoniorum, and its medieval walls still trace the city centre. The Norman cathedral, built from 1114, dominates the skyline, and the underground passages—a medieval water system—are a rare survival. Georgian prosperity added the elegant Queen Street and Southernhay terraces. Today Exeter is a university city with a strong independent food scene, a busy quay, and a gateway to Dartmoor and the south Devon coast.
Best Time to Visit
Vollständiger Exeter-Guide →Best months
June and September: warm, long days, less rain than July/August; schools are in session so fewer crowds. Early July is also good if you book ahead.
Peak / festival surge
July and August: school summer holidays, Exeter Festival (late July) and nearby folk/sea shanty events. Hotel prices typically rise 30–50% above spring rates.
Budget shoulder season
May and late September: often 20% cheaper, still mild (15–18°C), sunny spells, and far fewer tourists on the cathedral green or quayside.
Weather & packing
Exeter’s position between Dartmoor and the sea gives unpredictable, often showery weather even in summer: a warm, waterproof jacket is essential. Pack layers—a T‑shirt, a fleece, and a rain shell—and never rely on one day’s forecast.
Live City Briefing — Exeter
- Exeter’s bus station (Paris Street) is relocating to a new ‘Bus Hub’ near the railway station from June 2026; check stop changes if arriving by coach.
- The city-centre ‘Exeter Living’ street-market has expanded to Saturdays on Bedford Street, with local food stalls and live music through summer.
- Several flood-defence and pavement works on the Quayside path (between the Lloyd’s building and Countess Wear) may cause short diversions for walkers and cyclists.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Southernhay House, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor facing the inner courtyard or the garden at the rear. These are furthest from Southernhay East’s traffic.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms at the front of the building overlooking Southernhay East: that’s a busy road into the city centre with delivery vans and early traffic.
Best views
No dramatic view here: the rear courtyard or garden side gives a pleasant outlook over mature trees and a peaceful residential square. Front-facing rooms look onto Southernhay’s Georgian terraces and traffic.
Quietest floors
First floor (and above) rear-facing rooms are quietest. Ground floor can pick up footfall from the lobby and street noise if front-facing.
🔊 Noise notes
Southernhay East is a dual-carriageway commuter route with buses and commercial vehicles from 6am. The hotel’s bar can generate low hum until 11pm on weekends. No known nightclub or pub noise close by.
Insider tips
1. There’s no hotel parking: use the nearby Southernhay multi-storey car park (pay and display) or the Mary Arches Street car park a 5-min walk away. 2. If you arrive by train, Exeter Central is a 3-minute walk — don’t bother with a taxi.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Southernhay House
Free standard WiFi (up to 20 Mbps) for all guests; no premium tier or login needed beyond room number.
One lift serves all floors; no stairs-only sections.
Digital PressReader access available; no physical newspapers; the building is a converted Victorian townhouse with original fireplaces in public areas.
Check-in from 15:00; early bag drop from 12:00; late check-out until 12:00 for £20, or until 14:00 for £40 (subject to availability).
Free for guests before check-in and after check-out at reception.
Step-free access via side ramp; two ground-floor accessible rooms with roll-in showers; no wheelchair-accessible lift to upper floors.
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is Mary Arches Street (5-min walk), £12 per 24h; no EV charging on site.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: First night charged at booking; a £50 incidental hold on credit card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Synagogue: Exeter Synagogue (154 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: St Pancras' Church (167 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: St Mary Arches (192 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: St Petrock's Church (238 m · ~3 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
The Guildhall — 143 m · ~2 min walk
Priory Gardens Park — 290 m · ~4 min walk
Royal Albert Memorial Museum — 314 m · ~4 min walk
Exeter Little Theatre Co — 486 m · ~6 min walk
Looe Road Play Area — 864 m · ~11 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 101 m · ~1 min walk
Superdrug — 169 m · ~2 min walk
Tesco Express — 320 m · ~4 min walk
Exeter Central — 514 m · ~6 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →British Pound Sterling, GBP
Use high-street banks or post offices for better rates than airport bureaux; avoid tourist exchange services which charge poor commissions
Card and contactless payment are standard everywhere; chip-and-PIN or contactless tap common; mobile pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay) widely accepted
10-15% in restaurants if service not included; £1-2 for taxis is customary but not obligatory; hotel staff typically expect £1-2 per night if service is good
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Use Stagecoach day passes for unlimited bus travel rather than individual journeys. Supermarket meal deals offer best value for quick lunches. Most city-centre attractions and Cathedral are free or low-cost; check for free museum hours or student discounts.
Good to know — Exeter
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.74 · GBP
Emergency Contacts
ExeterFor non-urgent police matters, dial 101. For health advice, call NHS 111. Deaf or hard of hearing? Use text relay on 18000.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Exeter, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Southernhay House
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 101 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Superdrug — 169 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Anywhere in Exeter → Melbury Rooms & Studios / City Centre attractions
💡 Routes 1, 3, 4 serve the city centre near hotel. Evening NightRider service available until 02:00 on weekends. Walking distance to attractions makes buses less essential.
Exeter St Davids Railway Station → Exeter Central Station (5 min walk to hotel)
💡 If arriving via National Rail, use the train between stations. Buy a contactless Day Cap (£5.50) for unlimited local journeys on all transport modes.
Exeter Airport (EXT) → Melbury Rooms & Studios, Exeter City Centre
💡 Pre-book for airport arrival to guarantee availability. Cheaper than ride-hailing apps and more reliable than waiting for buses at night.
Exeter Airport (Coach Station) → Exeter City Centre (High Street near hotel)
💡 Most budget-friendly option. Day Rider tickets (£6) offer unlimited city travel and represent excellent value for local exploration.
Über Exeter
Wikipedia ↗
Exeter ( EK-sit-ər) is a cathedral city and the county town of Devon in South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately 36 mi (58 km) northeast of Plymouth and 65 mi (105 km) southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter was established as the base of Legio II Augusta under the ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Southernhay House?
Request a room on the first floor facing the inner courtyard or the garden at the rear. These are furthest from Southernhay East’s traffic.
Which rooms should I avoid at Southernhay House?
Avoid rooms at the front of the building overlooking Southernhay East: that’s a busy road into the city centre with delivery vans and early traffic.
Is Southernhay House noisy?
Southernhay East is a dual-carriageway commuter route with buses and commercial vehicles from 6am. The hotel’s bar can generate low hum until 11pm on weekends. No known nightclub or pub noise close by.
Which rooms have the best views at Southernhay House?
No dramatic view here: the rear courtyard or garden side gives a pleasant outlook over mature trees and a peaceful residential square. Front-facing rooms look onto Southernhay’s Georgian terraces and traffic.
What are insider tips for staying at Southernhay House?
1. There’s no hotel parking: use the nearby Southernhay multi-storey car park (pay and display) or the Mary Arches Street car park a 5-min walk away. 2. If you arrive by train, Exeter Central is a 3-minute walk — don’t bother with a taxi.
What time is check-in at Southernhay House?
Check-in at Southernhay House is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Southernhay House have Wi-Fi?
Free standard WiFi (up to 20 Mbps) for all guests; no premium tier or login needed beyond room number.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Southernhay House?
None
When is the best time to visit Exeter?
June and September: warm, long days, less rain than July/August; schools are in session so fewer crowds. Early July is also good if you book ahead.
Top-Attraktionen in Exeter
💡 Donate a pound to light a candle in the quire chapel for a moment of quiet. The free guided tours run at 11am and 2pm most days.
💡 Start at the Quay and walk north towards St David's Station. The path is flat and good for bikes. Stop at the free Red Coat guided walk at 10am on Saturdays from April-October.
💡 Head to the top floor for the quiet balcony overlooking Queen Street. The permanent collection is always free; temporary exhibitions sometimes charge.
💡 The bandstand hosts free music on summer Sundays. Take the path past the war memorial for a direct route to the centre. Free public toilets near the playground.
💡 Book ahead online to save £1.50 per ticket. It's tight and dark – wear shoes with grip. Tickets cost around £8 for adults, £6 concessions. Worth it for the unique layout.