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Home > England > South West England > Things to do in Devon > Historic Attractions in Devon

Historic Attractions in Devon

Britain’s historic landscape is a rich tapestry of human endeavour, stretching from the mysterious prehistoric stone circles of the Neolithic era to the towering brick chimneys of the Industrial Revolution. This section explores a diverse range of attractions that invite you to step directly into the past: 

  • Castles and Fortresses: Explore formidable strongholds like Warwick Castle and Edinburgh Castle, which have served as royal residences, prisons, and strategic defensive points for centuries.
  • Historic Houses and Gardens: Discover the opulence of Chatsworth House or Blenheim Palace, where grand architecture meets manicured landscapes and working estates that still host social and cultural events today.
  • Ancient Monuments: Visit iconic sites such as Stonehenge and Avebury, where massive stone circles continue to puzzle and inspire visitors thousands of years after their construction.
  • Industrial Relics: Experience the “birthplace of the industry” at Ironbridge Gorge or explore the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape, where preserved engine houses and mills offer a glimpse into the innovations that transformed the modern world. 

Many of these locations are not merely static museums; they are vibrant, working environments where you can witness traditional crafts, attend live jousting tournaments, or even stay overnight to fully immerse yourself in British heritage.

Featured Attractions

Arlington Court

Arlington Court

Arlington Court is a grand Regency-era estate in North Devon, England, managed by the National Trust. Once the…

Killerton House

Killerton House

Killerton is a grand 18th-century Georgian country house and a vast 6,400-acre estate located in Broadclyst, Exeter, Devon.…

Crownhill Fort

Crownhill Fort

Crownhill Fort is the best-preserved example of a "Palmerston Fort" in Britain, originally built in the 1860s to…

Knightshayes court

Knightshayes court

Knightshayes Court is a striking Victorian Gothic Revival country house and estate, managed by the National Trust. Designed…

Castle Drogo

Castle Drogo

Castle Drogo is a 20th-century country house built to look like a medieval granite fortress. It is famously…

Exeter Cathedral

Exeter Cathedral

Exeter Cathedral, officially the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, is a 900-year-old Anglican masterpiece and the top visitor…

Buckfast Abbey

Buckfast Abbey

Buckfast Abbey is a living Benedictine monastery and spiritual haven nestled in a picturesque valley in Devon.What it…

Powderham Castle

Powderham Castle

Powderham Castle is a Grade I listed fortified manor house and the ancestral home of the Courtenay family,…

Berry Pomeroy

Berry Pomeroy

Berry Pomeroy is a small village in South Devon, most famous for its Berry Pomeroy Castle, a "romantic…

Dartmouth Castle

Dartmouth Castle

Dartmouth Castle is a historic coastal fortress that has guarded the narrow entrance to the Dart Estuary for…

Torre Abbey

Torre Abbey

Torre Abbey is the most historic building in Torquay, a scheduled ancient monument originally founded in 1196 as…

Totnes Castle

Totnes Castle

Totnes Castle is a remarkably well-preserved Norman motte-and-bailey castle located at the highest point of the historic town…