Exeter International Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended…

Exeter is a small airport, and your choice depends more on the reason for the trip than the flight time. Anyone who just needs to sleep before an early departure finds everything a few minutes from the terminal, between Kenn and Exeter Business Park. Anyone with a few hours to spare can have dinner at a village pub in Topsham or Clyst St George, on the Exe estuary, still only a quarter of an hour away by taxi. To see the cathedral and the old town it's worth heading into the city, 15-20 minutes away; fans following the Exeter Chiefs find everything close to the Sandy Park stadium.

Exeter Airport

Airport area · A few minutes' drive from the terminal: the Holiday Inn Express is about 5 minutes away, and the properties in Kenn less than 10.

Best for: travelers with a dawn or late-evening flight who don't want to depend on traffic to reach the gate

Pros

The closest to the terminal among all the areas
Convenient for those arriving or leaving by their own car

Cons

An area of warehouses and offices, little to do in the evening
You still need a car or a taxi, there's no night bus

Recommended hotels in this area

Fair Oak House Exeter Airport: A few minutes from the terminal, with a quick check-in designed for travelers who just need to sleep before the flight
Holiday Inn Express Exeter East by IHG: About 5 minutes from the terminal, in Exeter Business Park, with breakfast included in the price

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Topsham and Clyst St George

Nearby town · About 10 minutes by taxi from the airport for both villages; no direct bus, you need a car or a taxi.

Best for: convenient for those looking for a genuine village pub to eat and sleep in on the Exe estuary, just a few minutes from the airport

Pros

Genuine villages on the estuary, not just dormitory towns for the airport
Historic inns with carefully prepared food, not just rooms

Cons

Few rooms at each property, they fill up fast
No direct public transport link to the terminal

Recommended hotels in this area

The Globe: A sixteenth-century inn on Topsham's main street, with Vi-Spring beds and a highly praised breakfast
The St George and Dragon by Innkeeper's Collection: A nineteenth-century inn amid the countryside of Clyst St George, with a fireplace and cask ales

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Exeter Old Town

City centre · About 15-20 minutes by car or taxi from the airport (9-10 km); there's no direct bus link with the terminal.

Best for: useful for those visiting the cathedral and the center before or after the flight, or traveling for work

Pros

A stone's throw from the cathedral, Princesshay and Quayside
Pool and fitness center at one of the two properties

Cons

The area furthest from the terminal among those in this guide
City-center parking is often paid

Recommended hotels in this area

Leonardo Hotel Exeter: A two-minute walk from Princesshay, with a highly praised breakfast and staff noted as helpful
Mercure Exeter Southgate Hotel: A Georgian-style hotel in the center, with an indoor pool and cathedral views
Hotel Indigo Exeter by IHG: A one-minute walk from the cathedral, with themed rooms inspired by the city's history

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Sandy Park

Neighbourhood · About 6-10 minutes by taxi from the airport (5 km); handy even just for crossing the city.

Best for: those attending an Exeter Chiefs match or preferring a recently opened hotel away from city-center traffic

Pros

A recently opened hotel, modern rooms and soundproofing
A stone's throw from the Exeter Chiefs stadium

Cons

Not a walkable area, you need a car to get around
Few independent restaurants on days without events

Recommended hotels in this area

Courtyard by Marriott Exeter Sandy Park: The first Courtyard by Marriott in South West England, next to the Exeter Chiefs stadium, 5 minutes from the airport

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