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Allhallows Museum (Honiton)

Housed in a quaint 13th-c chapel, this interesting little museum tells the history of Honiton town and its famous lace making industry. Regular lace demonstrations during the summer.

Lace production began in Honiton in the early 16th-c and this very fine, expensive, textile was sent for sale in many rich cities such as Bath and London. The high quality of the lace, with its varied delicate and intricate designs, became very popular with Royalty, and in 1940 Honiton lace was used exclusively to decorate Queen Victoria's wedding dress.

Opening times: March to October, Mon to Fri, 9.30am - 4.30pm, Sat: 9.30am - 1pm. Free Entry
Location: High St, Honiton, Devon, EX14 1PG - Tel: 01404 44966 Website
Facilities: gift shop (sells a range of genuine Honiton lace gifts and other souvenirs).

Bicton Park Botanical Gardens

Beautiful historic landscaped gardens and parkland, with tropical and sub-tropical plants, providing all-year-round interest and colour. Includes sweeping lawns, lakes, well stocked borders, a secret garden, orangery, palm house, arboretum and lovely woodland walks. Bicton Park's other varied attractions provide something for the whole family to enjoy, including a countryside museum, a narrow-gauge railway and indoor/outdoor children's activity play areas.

Opening times: Winter 10am - 5pm, Summer 10am - 6pm (closed Xmas) Admission Charge
Location: East Budleigh, Budleigh Salterdon, Devon, EX9 7BJ - Tel: 01395 568465 Website
Facilities: parking, licensed restaurant, gift shop, garden centre
Image Credit: Christine Matthews (CC2)

Castle Drogo

A grand 20th-c mansion house built in the style of a medieval castle. This impressive mansion stands on a wind-swept hillside, overlooking the Dartmoor countryside. It is sited within pleasant terraced gardens and surrounded by extensive woods and parkland. Designed by Edwin Lutyens, it is said to be the last castle built in England and probably the last large private house to be built entirely of granite.
Run by the National Trust*

Opening times: Mar~Nov, daily (ex Tue) 9.30am to 5.30pm Admission Charge
Location: Dartmoor, Devon, EX6 6PB - Tel: 01647 433306 Website
Facilities: parking, restaurant, gift shop, garden centre

Compton Castle

This grand fortified manor house, built by Geoffrey Gilbert in 1329, has been the home of the Gilbert family for over 600 years. Refurbished in the 1950s the house includes a great hall, period kitchen, solar, magnificent spiral staircases and a lovely chapel. Surrounded by 350 acres of grounds and formal gardens, including a lovely rose garden and knot garden.

Opening times: vary, see website for details Admission Charge
Location: Marldon, Paignton, TQ3 1TA - Tel: 01803 661906 Website
Facilities: parking, refreshments, gift shop

Coldharbour Mill Wool Museum

Facinating working wool mill and museum, which been producing fabrics and textiles since 1799. Regular demonstrations of original millinery machinery, powered by a High Breast Shot Water Wheel and steam beam engine.

Opening times: Mar~Sep 10.30am to 5pm, Oct~Feb 11am to 4pm Admission Charge
Location: Coldharbour Mill, Uffculm, Devon, EX15 3EE - Tel: 01884 840960 Website
Facilities: licensed restaurant, shop

Cookworthy Museum of Rural Life

Museum of South Devon life set in a former 17th-c grammar school with reconstructed period rooms, including an Edwardian pharmacy and Victorian kitchen. Includes an important collection of social history photographs from the 1870s to the present day.

Opening times: Mar~Sep, Mon-Sat 10.30am to 5pm (Oct till 4pm) Admission Charge
Location: Old Grammar School, 108 Fore St, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 1AW - Tel: 01548 853235 Website
Facilities: viewing gallery, shop

Dartmoor Prison Museum

Dartmoor Prison was the inspiration of Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt (Lord Warden of the Stannaries), who had the idea of putting French Napoleonic prisoners to work to built it. The prison was first used in 1806 and is still in use today as a category C prison. The prison museum (located across the road near the main entrance) tells the life history of the prison and that of several of its most notorious inmates. A diverse range of relics and interesting items are on display, from intricate arts and crafts work fashioned by prisoners, to illegally made tools and weapons found on prisoners during searches.

Opening times: all year, daily from 9.30 (closed Xmas) Admission Charge
Location: Princetown, Dartmoor, PL20 6RR - Tel: 01822 322130 Website
Facilities: parking, shop (sells a range of items made by prisoners)

Finch Foundry

Restored 19th-c water-powered engineering foundry, built for the mass production of metal farming implements and hand tools. Its massive water wheels can still be seen driving the machinery during daily demonstrations.

Opening times: Apr~Nov, daily (ex Tue), 11am to 5.30pm Admission Charge
Location: Sticklepath, Devon, EX20 2NW - Tel: 01837 840046

Morwellham Quay

Take a step back in time at this uniquely preserved 200 acre open-air museum, located in heart of the beautiful Tamar Valley. This living and working historic site has something for everyone to enjoy. Walk around the old quayside port and authentic 19th-c mining village or view the sights from a working mine train. You can also attend a Victorian school, try on period costumes, watch local crafts' people at work or tour the historic worker's cottages. A really fun and interesting day-out for all ages.

Opening times: all year 10am to 6pm (closed Xmas) Admission Charge
Location: Morwellham, Devon, PL19 8JL - Tel: 01822 832766
Facilities: licensed restaurant, shop, play areas, farm animals, riverside railway, underground mine tours

Otterton Mill Centre

Working heritage watermill, pleasantly sited on the banks of the River Otter. Contains a gallery of arts and crafts by local artists. Regular musical evenings and art shows.

Opening times: daily, 10am to 5pm Admission Charge/Free Entry
Location: Otterton, Devon, EX9 7HG - Tel: 01392 568521 Website
Facilities: licensed restaurant, bakery and shop

Powderham Castle

Home of the Courtenay family (the Earls of Devon) for over 600 years. Built around 1390, then converted to a manor in the 15th century. The flamboyantly decorated rooms are beautifully furnished, and contain many portraits of the Courtenay family. The castle is delightfully set in landscaped parkland, with finely terraced gardens, a lovely rose garden and estuary views.

Opening times: Easter~Oct, 10am to 5.30pm Admission Charge
Location: Powderham, Devon, EX6 8JQ - Tel: 01626 890243 Website
Facilities: licensed restaurant, parking, shop, garden centre

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Please note that the above information was accurate at the time this page was last updated. This information is subject to change at any time (opening times in particular), therefore if you plan on visiting any of the above attractions, please check the owner's website first or phone them for the latest details.