One of Exeter's most-visited landmarks, the Cathedral has dominated the city's skyline for centuries and remains a must-see stop for anyone exploring the city centre.
Exeter Cathedral traces its origins back to the Norman period, with construction beginning around 1114. Its present form took shape over the following centuries, largely completed by around 1375 in the Gothic style.
The cathedral's two great towers are among the most recognisable survivors of that original Norman building, and they still anchor the skyline today, visible from many points across the city. Step inside and you're met with the longest unbroken Gothic vaulted ceiling of its kind anywhere in the world, running the length of the nave and decorated with intricately carved stone bosses.
Beyond the famous ceiling, the cathedral holds a number of medieval features that reward a slower visit.
The Minstrels' Gallery, dating to around the early 14th century, features carved figures of angels playing musical instruments and is one of the cathedral's most distinctive details. Nearby, the Bishop's Throne is an impressive piece of medieval woodwork from the same period. Visitors with an interest in clocks and curiosities often seek out the cathedral's astronomical clock, long associated by local tradition with the nursery rhyme "Hickory Dickory Dock." Down in the choir stalls, look out for the misericords — small carved seats whose set here is among the earliest complete examples surviving in the country.
The cathedral remains an active place of worship and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, with a regular programme of services and occasional special events. If you'd like to time your visit around something taking place, it's worth checking the Exeter what's on calendar for any cathedral events.
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The cathedral sits within the Cathedral Close, a peaceful green space framed by some of Exeter's finest historic buildings.
It's a popular spot to pause for a while, whether that's sitting out on the grass on a sunny afternoon or exploring the surrounding streets and buildings on foot. Beneath the green itself lies the remains of a Roman bathhouse, a reminder of just how long this part of the city has been in use.
For more on the surrounding area, see our guide to Cathedral Close.
Exeter Cathedral is one of the city's standout landmarks, but it's just one piece of a much wider picture. For more ideas on where to go and what to see nearby, head back to our Things to Do in Exeter guide.