Northernhay Gardens, Exeter

Park in Exeter

Exeter City War Memorial Northernhay Gardens in springtime

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Smalljim

Northernhay Gardens sit just behind the lively Exeter High Street, a peaceful, tree-lined crescent that feels worlds away from the bustle. As one of the top attractions in Exeter, the gardens blend Roman-era stonework, Saxon fortifications, Victorian landscaping, and centuries of civic pride. Many visitors come for a quiet stroll yet end up discovering layers of English history woven into the lawns, monuments, and old walls.

The gardens sit alongside Rougemont Castle, creating a green fringe around the hill where Exeter's fortified history was first carved into the red stone. With fragments of Roman and Saxon walls still in place, it remains a great place to visit on a walking tour of Exeter, especially for travellers who enjoy uncovering stories hidden in plain sight.

History and Significance of Northernhay Gardens
Things to See and Do in Northernhay Gardens
How to Get to Northernhay Gardens
Practical Tips on Visiting Northernhay Gardens
Where to Stay close to Northernhay Gardens
Add a Is Northernhay Gardens Worth Visiting?
FAQs for Visiting Northernhay Gardens
Nearby Attractions to Northernhay Gardens

History and Significance of Northernhay Gardens

Northernhay Gardens trace their origins back to Roman times, when the site was used as a quarry for the building stone that shaped Exeter's earliest walls. Those foundations remained important for centuries, eventually becoming part of the defensive works around Rougemont Castle. The surviving stretch of Roman wall is one of the most visible reminders of how long this hillside has been tied to the city's identity.

The gardens themselves were first laid out in 1612 as a formal pleasure walk for Exeter residents. This early commitment to public green space makes Northernhay Gardens the oldest public open space in England. Over time, walking paths, flowerbeds, monuments, and lawns were added, creating the refined, Victorian-inspired layout recognisable today.

Alongside the Roman walls, visitors can see the only surviving visible length of Saxon town wall in England. Its presence gives the gardens a unique status, combining everyday leisure with rare archaeological significance. This spot is one of the best places to see in Northernhay Gardens for travellers who enjoy discovering tangible fragments of Britain's early medieval past.

Things to See and Do in Northernhay Gardens

A walk through Northernhay Gardens introduces visitors to tree-lined paths, sweeping lawns, and a collection of statues commemorating local figures and national events. Monuments include tributes to the poet Charles Dickens, prominent military leaders, and civic benefactors, giving the gardens a gentle outdoor museum atmosphere.

The Roman and Saxon walls remain the historical anchors of the park. Travellers can trace them along the paths, appreciating their scale and age while imagining how the hillside once formed an essential defensive boundary. The walls also form the backdrop to some of the garden’s quietest corners, ideal for reading or taking photos.

In spring and summer, beds of flowers and flowering shrubs create bursts of colour, and the park becomes a favourite lunchtime retreat for locals. Its elevated position offers glimpses of Exeter Central Station and the rooftops around the castle, giving visitors a sense of how the old and new city come together.

How to Get to Northernhay Gardens

Exeter is well-connected, and Northernhay Gardens is easy to reach once you're in the city centre. The nearest major airports are Exeter Airport and, for wider connections, Bristol Airport. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Exeter on Booking.com.

Exeter Central railway station sits almost directly next to the gardens, making it one of the simplest parks in Devon to access by train. Regular services run from London Waterloo, Paignton, Exmouth, and Barnstaple. Train schedules and bookings can be found on Omio.

Travelling by car is straightforward, with several city-centre car parks within a short walk of the gardens. Once parked, the gardens are just a few minutes’ stroll uphill from the High Street.

Practical Tips on Visiting Northernhay Gardens

Best time to visit Northernhay Gardens: Spring and early summer bring the gardens to life, while autumn offers golden colours along the tree-lined paths.
Entrance fee in Euros: Free admission year-round.
Opening hours: Open daily; generally accessible from early morning until dusk.
Official website: Available through Exeter City Council's parks and gardens pages.
How long to spend: One to two hours is ideal for exploring the walls, statues, and landscaped paths.
Accessibility: Paths are mostly level but include some slopes due to the hillside location; suitable for most visitors.
Facilities: Benches, lawns, shaded areas, and nearby cafés along the High Street; no on-site toilets.
Photography tip: Capture the Roman wall in the early morning when the sunlight falls across its textured stone.
Guided tours: Occasionally included in local heritage walks and seasonal city tours.
Nearby food options: Plenty of cafés and restaurants on Exeter High Street, just a few minutes' walk from any garden entrance.

Where to Stay close to Northernhay Gardens

Staying near Northernhay Gardens gives visitors the perfect balance between quiet green space and immediate access to Exeter's historic centre. For boutique comfort, Hotel du Vin Exeter offers stylish rooms, a spa, and easy walking routes to the gardens and cathedral. Travellers seeking a classic city-centre stay can try Mercure Exeter Rougemont Hotel, located directly opposite the gardens and ideal for early morning strolls among the trees. Another reliable option is Leonardo Hotel Exeter, offering modern rooms within a short walk of both Rougemont Castle and the High Street.

Add a Is Northernhay Gardens Worth Visiting?

Northernhay Gardens is absolutely worth visiting, especially for travellers who appreciate places where layers of history unfold gently in an everyday setting. The combination of Roman walls, Saxon fortifications, landscaped lawns, and city-centre convenience makes it an easy and rewarding stop. Whether you're exploring Exeter for the first time or returning to see more, the gardens offer a calm, heritage-rich escape just steps from the High Street.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.5 (357)

Northernhay Gardens sits at the foot of Exeter Castle and offers mature trees, colourful flowerbeds and stretches of historic city wall amid a calm, central green space; visitors praise its well-kept lawns and seasonal blossom, note it's a popular spot for picnics, reading or lunch breaks, and mention features like a war memorial and mini buildings, while some observe a lack of benches and bins and occasional unkept corners.

UK Photo Journey

6 months ago

"If you are looking for nice peaceful place to walk then don’t look anywhere else and come here. Very well looked after place by the local council.Central and close to the city and comfortable to eat your lunch within. Have seen many people having their lunch and reading book. Young students were having their picnic in the summer. Lush green park with awesome colourful wild flowers. Castle ruins are just next door thing. There’s a lot of reasons to visit this garden so just do it...."

See More See Less

K. Peake

11 months ago

"These gardens were beautiful to visit, showing the blossom across their trees in the summer! Different shapes of trees are present and these extendedup to the city walls even, bushes add a nice little accompaniment. The plants are large and a map helps navigate around everything, mini buildings add a pleasant feel to the greenery themselves!..."

See More See Less

Geraldine Quezon

a year ago

"The oldest public open space in England. Lovely park in the middle of the city, beside Exeter Central Station and near to High Street. Free to visit.Calm and peaceful place to read a book, relax, or spend time with yourself, with nature or with family. Beautiful in the autumn. Clean. Impressive war memorial in the center. The gardens incorporate a stretch of Roman wall and the only length of Saxon town wall to be seen in England...."

See More See Less

FAQs for Visiting Northernhay Gardens

They sit just behind Exeter High Street on the northern side of Rougemont Castle.

No, the gardens are completely free to enter.

Yes, dogs on leads are welcome throughout the park.

Yes, both the Roman wall and the rare Saxon town wall are visible as you walk through the gardens.

Yes, the lawns and open spaces are popular with families, especially in good weather.

Nearby Attractions to Northernhay Gardens

Rougemont Gardens - Peaceful lawns and historic castle views next to Northernhay Gardens.
Exeter Castle (Rougemont Castle) - The city's Norman fortress, with impressive surviving gatehouse.
Royal Albert Memorial Museum - Exeter's leading museum, moments from the garden gates.
Exeter Cathedral - One of England's most beautiful Gothic cathedrals, a short walk away.
Underground Passages - Guided tours through Exeter's unique medieval water tunnels.

The Northernhay Gardens appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Exeter!

Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

Read our full story here

This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you!