🇬🇧 Exeter, United Kingdom
St Olaves Hotel
📍 Mary Archers Street, Exeter, EX4 3AZ
Your stay — St Olaves Hotel
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 — St Olaves Hotel
St Olaves is a modest, red-brick Victorian townhouse hotel on a quiet residential street a 10-minute walk from Exeter city centre. The lobby feels like a proper guesthouse – polished wood, a small reception desk, and worn but comfortable armchairs. It suits independent travellers who want a solid, no-frills base within walking distance of the cathedral and quayside, rather than chain-hotel anonymity.
Chronicles of Exeter
Exeter was founded by the Romans around AD 50 as Isca Dumnoniorum, leaving a clear street grid and parts of the city wall still standing. Its medieval prosperity came from the wool trade, funding the magnificent Gothic cathedral built between 1270 and 1350. Today the city is a compact university and county town, with a pedestrianised centre of Tudor, Georgian and Victorian buildings, and a revived quayside offering cafés, independent shops and waterside walks.
Best Time to Visit
Full Exeter guide →Best months
May through July – warm but not oppressively hot, long daylight, and flower shows at nearby Powderham Castle and Killerton. June usually sees the lowest rainfall of the year.
Peak / festival surge
August is peak – school holidays and the Exeter Festival (early August) bring crowds; hotel prices rise 20–30% above shoulder season. The city’s medieval-themed Lammas Fair in late August also draws visitors.
Budget shoulder season
September and October are excellent shoulder months: still mild, far fewer tourists, and hotel rates drop noticeably. You can enjoy the quayside and cathedral without queuing.
Weather & packing
Exeter has a mild, damp maritime climate – even in July you should expect a light shower. Pack a waterproof jacket and a spare pair of shoes, because one rain shower can soak canvas trainers.
Live City Briefing — Exeter
- Exeter's new St Sidwell's Point leisure centre (with pools and climbing wall) opened in 2023 and is still bedding in with local swimmers and families through summer 2026.
- The city council is trialling a pedestrianisation of the High Street on Sundays until the end of 2026 – check if your visit falls on a Sunday.
- Several new independent eateries have opened on Fore Street and the Quayside, including a popular Vietnamese pho bar and a sourdough pizza spot, both within a 15-minute walk of St Olaves.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to St Olaves Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second or third floor, at the rear of the building (facing away from Mary Archers Street). These upper floors avoid both ground-floor street noise and any first-floor footfall from the lobby or breakfast room.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those at the front. Mary Archers Street runs through a residential area near the city centre, so early traffic and delivery vehicles can be heard. First-floor rooms directly above the entrance or bar area may also carry noise from the reception and any evening activity.
Best views
Rooms at the rear overlook the garden or neighbouring quiet residential streets. Front-facing rooms look onto Mary Archers Street – a modest road but not scenic.
Quietest floors
Second and third floors. The hotel has a lift, so these floors are accessible without climbing stairs. Rooms on these levels benefit from better sound insulation from street-level disturbances.
🔊 Noise notes
Mary Archers Street is a short, direct route into central Exeter, so morning traffic begins around 7am. The hotel has a bar and restaurant – occasional evening noise from the bar lounge. No major nightlife or late-night venues on this street, so it’s generally quiet from 10pm.
Insider tips
1. Parking is limited – call ahead to reserve a space if you're driving; on-street parking is paid and can be busy. 2. If you need a quiet room, request one on the second floor at the back during booking – block a specific date if possible.
- 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 — St Olaves Hotel
Free WiFi throughout; typical speed 15 Mbps download, 5 Mbps upload; no login needed (open network)
Lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
No digital newsstand; free printed copy of The Times available at breakfast (limited supply)
Check-in 15:00–22:00; early bag-drop available from 10:00; late check-out until 12:00 for £10 surcharge (if requested ahead)
Free storage for hotel guests only; just ask at reception (no secure luggage room, bags kept behind desk)
Step-free entrance via side ramp (bell for assistance); lift to all floors; no adapted bathrooms or grab rails in standard rooms
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Magdalen Road Car Park (5 min walk), £9.20 for 24 hours; no EV charging on site
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment via booking platform up front; £50 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Westgate Christian Fellowship (200 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: St Mary Steps (241 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Mint Methodist Church (407 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: St Olave's (433 m · ~5 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
The Guildhall — 733 m · ~9 min walk
Priory Gardens Park — 359 m · ~4 min walk
Royal Albert Memorial Museum — 941 m · ~12 min walk
Exeter Little Theatre Co — 351 m · ~4 min walk
Looe Road Play Area — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 473 m · ~6 min walk
Boots — 341 m · ~4 min walk
Zer0 Exeter — 207 m · ~3 min walk
Exeter St Thomas — 377 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →British Pound Sterling, GBP
Use ATMs at banks or supermarkets for best rates; avoid airport exchange bureaux and tourist-area money changers which charge poor rates; Pound Shop and supermarkets also exchange currency but rates vary.
Contactless cards and mobile payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) are standard everywhere; cash is increasingly optional but some smaller venues still prefer it.
10-15% in restaurants if service wasn't included; rounding up or £1-2 for casual cafés; taxi drivers usually expect rounding up to nearest pound; hotel staff appreciate £1-2 for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Buy groceries at Lidl/Aldi instead of Tesco/Sainsbury's for 20-30% savings on basics. Use supermarket meal deals for lunch (under £5 vs £8-10 at cafés). Walk or cycle the compact EX4 area—most attractions within 15-20 minutes on foot; bus pass pays for itself after 3-4 journeys.
Good to know — Exeter
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.75 · GBP
Emergency Contacts
ExeterFor non-urgent police matters in Exeter, dial 101. For health advice that isn’t life-threatening, call NHS 111. All emergency services (police, fire, ambulance) use 999 from any phone.
💡 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 St Olaves Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 473 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Boots — 341 m · ~4 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.
About 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 St Olaves Hotel?
Request a room on the second or third floor, at the rear of the building (facing away from Mary Archers Street). These upper floors avoid both ground-floor street noise and any first-floor footfall from the lobby or breakfast room.
Which rooms should I avoid at St Olaves Hotel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those at the front. Mary Archers Street runs through a residential area near the city centre, so early traffic and delivery vehicles can be heard. First-floor rooms directly above the entrance or bar area may also carry noise from the reception and any evening activity.
Is St Olaves Hotel noisy?
Mary Archers Street is a short, direct route into central Exeter, so morning traffic begins around 7am. The hotel has a bar and restaurant – occasional evening noise from the bar lounge. No major nightlife or late-night venues on this street, so it’s generally quiet from 10pm.
Which rooms have the best views at St Olaves Hotel?
Rooms at the rear overlook the garden or neighbouring quiet residential streets. Front-facing rooms look onto Mary Archers Street – a modest road but not scenic.
What are insider tips for staying at St Olaves Hotel?
1. Parking is limited – call ahead to reserve a space if you're driving; on-street parking is paid and can be busy. 2. If you need a quiet room, request one on the second floor at the back during booking – block a specific date if possible.
What time is check-in at St Olaves Hotel?
Check-in at St Olaves Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does St Olaves Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout; typical speed 15 Mbps download, 5 Mbps upload; no login needed (open network)
Is there a city or tourist tax at St Olaves Hotel?
None
When is the best time to visit Exeter?
May through July – warm but not oppressively hot, long daylight, and flower shows at nearby Powderham Castle and Killerton. June usually sees the lowest rainfall of the year.
Top Attractions 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.