01 The Quay and the river
Exeter Quay is the obvious starting point and it deserves the reputation. The old warehouses, the cobbles, the water and the small ferry across the river give a young child three or four different things to look at within a hundred metres, and it is flat enough for a scooter.
From the quay the towpath runs south along the canal towards Double Locks and beyond, level all the way, which makes it one of the easiest family walks in the county. Turn round whenever the smallest member of the party has had enough. There is no need to reach anything.
Northwards, the riverside path threads through Riverside Valley Park with wide open grass and plenty of room for a ball. It is the sort of place where a Saturday afternoon disappears without anyone planning it.
02 Parks and green space
Northernhay Gardens and Rougemont Gardens sit together at the top of the city and are the most convenient green space if you are already in the centre. They are small, steep in places, and full of paths that a child can run ahead on without disappearing.
Further out, Ludwell Valley Park gives a proper open landscape with views back over the city, and it is a good choice when a child needs to be genuinely tired out rather than mildly entertained.
The cathedral green is worth counting as a park. It is grass, it is central, and it is one of the few places in the middle of a city where children can be loud without anybody minding.
03 Indoors in the middle of town
The Royal Albert Memorial Museum is the main indoor attraction and it is unusually well suited to children, because the collections jump between natural history, world cultures and local archaeology quickly enough to hold a short attention span. Admission and opening arrangements change, so check before setting out.
The Underground Passages beneath the high street are a genuine curiosity and a good hour for children over about seven, though the tunnels are narrow and low, and they are not for everyone.
The central library, the swimming pools and the cinemas fill the remaining wet hours. More of those are listed in rainy day outings in Devon.
04 Putting a weekend together
The pattern that works best is one anchor and a lot of walking. Pick a single thing that needs organising, put it in the middle of the day, and let the rest of the time be the river, a park and something to eat.
Exeter is well placed for the coast, so a Saturday in the city and a Sunday morning at the estuary is a comfortable pairing without a long drive. The practical detail for that is in Devon beaches with young children.
For a short visit rather than a full weekend, resist the itinerary altogether. The reasoning is set out in things to do with children on short visits.
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Family life in Devon
