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I LOVE the city of Exeter although of course it doesn''t come without its negatives!

I am writing this review as someone who was born in and grew up in Exeter before moving to a small town in Somerset which I really dislike so my views could therefore be seen as biased.

Exeter has so much to offer to so many different people. There is something for everyone and you are never left with nothing to do.

There are two swimming pools in the city centre, although admittedly they are just basic, square pools both with a baby pool but not much else.
There is a large city library and also 3 cinemas around the city centre.

There are lots of restaurants, not only large chain restaurants such a s Nando''s and Wetherspoons but also some independent restaurants.

There are lots of shops, mainly chain shops and the usual things you would expect to see.. Boots, WH smiths, Woolworths, Argos etc but there is one street called ''Gandy Street'' located just off the high street comprising mainly of smaller, independently owned stores. There is an indoor shopping centre (the Guildhall) which also leads onto ''The Harlequin Centre''. There has recently been a new development called the ''Princesshay Development'' which is a collection of large stores such as Debenhams, Zara, Next, River Island and New Look all enclosed into an outside shopping complex.

There is a beautiful cathedral with a large grassed area around it as well as Rougemont Gardens (a huge lovely park that is full of history and the remains of old roman walls). There are plenty of nice places to walk, one of which is along the side of the canal and down the Quay which is very beautiful.

There is a brilliant museum which often has different exhibitions on and there are also good transport links around the city and to nearby towns. There are two train stations right in the city centre (Exeter St. Davidds and also Exeter Central) There are also smaller rail way stations on the outskirts of Exeter.

There is so much to see and do, for people of all ages!

I LOVE the city of Exeter although of course it doesn''t come without its negatives!

I am writing this review as someone who was born in and grew up in Exeter before moving to a small town in Somerset which I really dislike so my views could therefore be seen as biased.

Exeter has so much to offer to so many different people. There is something for everyone and you are never left with nothing to do.

There are two swimming pools in the city centre, although admittedly they are just basic, square pools both with a baby pool but not much else.
There is a large city library and also 3 cinemas around the city centre.

There are lots of restaurants, not only large chain restaurants such a s Nando''s and Wetherspoons but also some independent restaurants.

There are lots of shops, mainly chain shops and the usual things you would expect to see.. Boots, WH smiths, Woolworths, Argos etc but there is one street called ''Gandy Street'' located just off the high street comprising mainly of smaller, independently owned stores. There is an indoor shopping centre (the Guildhall) which also leads onto ''The Harlequin Centre''. There has recently been a new development called the ''Princesshay Development'' which is a collection of large stores such as Debenhams, Zara, Next, River Island and New Look all enclosed into an outside shopping complex.

There is a beautiful cathedral with a large grassed area around it as well as Rougemont Gardens (a huge lovely park that is full of history and the remains of old roman walls). There are plenty of nice places to walk, one of which is along the side of the canal and down the Quay which is very beautiful.

There is a brilliant museum which often has different exhibitions on and there are also good transport links around the city and to nearby towns. There are two train stations right in the city centre (Exeter St. Davidds and also Exeter Central) There are also smaller rail way stations on the outskirts of Exeter.

There is so much to see and do, for people of all ages!

Exeter is a wonderfully historic city. The cathedral looms over the whole city and provides a beautiful backdrop. It was the most south Westerly town captured by the Romans. It is the county town of Devon and attracts may visitors. In 2004 Exeter was granted Fairtrade city status.

It has many sporting attractions including the Clifton Hill dry Ski Slope, paint balling centre and the Haven Banks outdoor education centre.

There are many different ways you can take a tour of the city, either on an open top bus or with the popular Redcoats who show you around the nooks and crannies where a bus cannot reach.

The Exeter Phoenix is situated at the heart of the city. It is a centre for drama, music and art and offers a range of modern and contemporary performances.

The shopping centre has recently been redone in the centre. It is absolutely beautiful and has a huge range of high street shops and department stores. As some other reviews have mentioned unfortunately this has meant that a lot of the smaller shops and boutiques are no longer around.

Well, I like Exeter! Yes, I agree with other reviewers, it does actually feel like a town rather than a city, but they have not done it justice in my eyes. There ARE a lot of chain shops yes, but that doesn''t detract from the other smaller shops with more personality and choice. Plus if you live in one of the smaller towns or villages around Exeter, then you do enjoy the bigger House of Frazer type stores which you don''t get elsewhere. Exeter has a really beautiful Cathedral, and the surrounding square is full of bookshops and classy cafes and yet you are still a mins walk from the town centre, not that you feel it when you are sat in the sunshine eating a stuffed baguette on the Cathedral lawn. They do charge for entrance to the Cathedral these days but it is a fascinating place, dating back to the 12th Century.
Exeter also has an independent cinema that shows all the modern stuff plus the more unusual arty films, plus it does of course have a multiplex and bowling rink close by.
For the more energetic there is a large swimming pool and sports centre, plus you can do a 12 mile walk/ramble around the outskirts of Exeter which is known as the Exeter Green Circle. Donnt worry, it is split into 5 sections (I have never done more than two in a day!! With plenty of rest spots and bus routes back to the centre of Exeter! You can pick up a guide and map for this at any tourist information centre.
Exeter is a university town with all that means. Students are well catered for and some nightclubs are exclusively filled with them! However there are a couple of over 25 clubs and you can have a great night out, with the usual fast food takeaway afterwards!
If you want beaches or wildlife, the trains run from the three different stations in Exeter down to the Exe Estuary and Exmouth, or on down to Torquay or Paignton. Plus you are of course, only about 2 hrs from London or Birmingham.

This city has a very different and more urban and therefore less friendly/pretty feel than its neighbouring devon towns and villages, but it does have a vast array of shops and restaurants. This is a brilliant place to buy a gift for someone or go on a shopping spree as there is just so much choice! Aswell as the chain stores like smiths and boots, they have some one of clothes and jewellery shops which are really enjoyable to have a wander around. The nightlife is pretty apalling but then it can be quite fun if you''re with a big group. They don''t really have many clubs that I know of, other than one popular gay club that has a foam party at the weekends which everyone in devon goes to, gay or straight. They have lots of bars and pubs and are all a bit grotty but very friendly.

Exeter is a vibrant city that is always full of life, despite it''s size. My cousin goes to the university here and so I come here regularly. 1 in 6 people that currently in Exeter is a student and therefore it is a great place to be for all the younger generation, whereas most other places in Devon are very sparsely populated and the landscape is predominantly countryside.
The main attraction of Exeter is the city centre, which has a large shopping centre. From here you can get almost everything you could want, from electronic appliances to the latest clothes. About a 5 minute walk from here, there is a large street full of all kinds of Restaurants, with a huge range of price and quality, starting from McDonalds and Burger King''s to elegant, expensive restaurants such as ''La Tasca''. Exeter also punches above it''s size for nightlife and I have had several fantastic nights out here. On the weekends, you will get several Pubs and Bars offering live entertainment, such as Karaoke or live bands. There are also a decent number of nightclubs available to go to afterwards, although the selection is rather limited.
The main plus point that struck me when I first came here was how friendly the people are in this area, compared with the city life in Portsmouth. Everyone makes a big effort to get on with everyone else and I have not seen even a hint of any trouble here. My experiences of general life here have even persuaded me to apply for the university of Exeter.

I have spent the past three years living in Exeter as a student. However I have been there over the holiday time and as a result I feel that I can give a true indication of what the city is like. To begin with describing it as a city is somewhat flawed, it is much more like a large town but then I think this means that it offers the best of both worlds.

As a student Exeter is great. Much of it focuses specifically for students, particularly the nightlife. The clubs available, Mambo, Riva, Arena and Timepiece all offer various student discounts and the bars also cater for a student budget. During the holiday time however prices do not really increase that much and as a result Exeter is quite a reasonably priced place to both live and visit.
Exeter has been developed greatly over the past few years and now is modern and vibrant. It has an excellent selection of shops and some great historical sights. It is also in easy distance of Exmouth and Dartmoor as well as having great transport links to much of the country.

In terms of coming to stay there is quite a wide variety of hotels, the Royal Clarence being the most exclusive and small B and Bs just outside Exeter being the most reasonable. Be warned of end of term dates and graduation week if you intend to stay as the hotels get booked up quickly.

The hustle and bustle of the centre during the day is great but it does get exceptionally busy at the weekend which can prove a little annoying if you are out shopping for the day. However the great number of restaurant and cafes (all be it mostly chains such as La Tasca and Strada) means that if you stop for lunch, you rarely have to wait long.

All in all, I love the friendly and vibrant atmosphere that Exeter has. Whilst I wouldnt put it as my number one place to visit I would advise anyone who is passing through to stop for the afternoon.

I'm writing this review of Exeter as an 'outsider' in the sense that I live 6 miles outside Exeter. I visit Exeter to use one or more of the following...Shops, Services (Hospital, Library etc.), Eating out, Theatre, Live music. Transport (Train) and others. Two of my children spent part of their education in Exeter.

Exeter used to be known, I am told, as the Bath of the southwest, on account of it's Georgian architecture, much of which was put-paid to by Adolf Hitler in the Baedeker raids. This was replaced by the most depressing post-war 'on the cheap' architecture which I grew up with. Thank goodness the council, which has managed to fend off anything smacking remotely of middle-class elitism, (John Lewis, Waitrose, Ikea and more shops than you could poke a stick at) were finally convinced by Land Securities to allow the re-development of Princesshay In 2006 Exeter was voted the dullest high street in England (maybe it was the UK!). Nothing but multiples. Princesshay has at least allowed some of the more interesting multiples in - but still no-where in the main shopping area for independents. You'll have to walk to Fore Street for them.

Eating out is similar. Loads of multiples wherever you look - La Tasca, Zizzi's, Cafe Rouge, and almost no independents worth thinking about - I asked a long-time resident who I know really well for 'somewhere special to take my wife', his response was 'Paris!'

Nightlife is well-catered for young/students - Timepiece and the clubs on the quay. The Phoenix tries hard to attract good acts, but its tiny capacity must put off the big names (something does, because you're as likely to see Radiohead in Exeter as the proverbial flying pig - despite their being a population of students running into the tens of thousands). Bristol or Plymouth are your nearest best bets, and I'd rather stick red-hot needles in my eyes than go to Plymouth. I saw Hawkwind at the Phoenix, 35 years after filling stadiums worldwide. Occasionally bands will attempt the barn at Westpoint, but I'm told the accoustics stop them trying a second time.

The positives - the surrounding countryside. Ten cars waiting for the railway-crossing gates to open - a traffic jam (although importing a load of meteorologists hasn't helped on that score either).The proximity of beaches and surf. The best-kept secret of all - 2 hours to London Paddington.