Buses
Local bus services in Devon provide services to local areas and across the county, with a number of routes covering the cities of Exeter and Plymouth and local towns including Torquay, Brixham, Paignton, Dartmouth, Newton Abbot, Ivybridge and Tiverton. Local bus services are provided by Stagecoach and First Group Bus
Details of local bus services and timetables can be found at Devon Buses
Trains
Trains in Devon serve a number of routes across the county and to other areas. There are several mainline rail routes offering local and regional services. Exeter St Davids Station has services to London Paddington station with a journey time of approx 2 hours and 35 minutes. There is also a service to London Waterloo station with a journey time of approx 3 hours 30 minutes. From Exeter St Davids station there are also local services to other areas in the South West including Paignton, Exmouth and Penzance and services further out to Birmingham, Newbury and Reading.
Train services are provided by a number of train operators including First Great Western; Cross Country Trains and South West Trains
Plymouth station has services to Birmingham New Street, Penzance, Bristol, Cheltenham and London Paddington station.
Other railway stations in Devon include Exeter Central, Exeter St Thomas, Exmouth and Paignton and Torquay stations located on the English Riviera.
For more information please see National Rail Enquiries
Public Transport Safety Tips
Most journeys on public transport in London go ahead without incident, in order to minimise the chances of any incidents, passengers may wish to consider the following safety tips:
- Be aware of your belongings at all times.
- Do not leave your bags and belongings unattended at any time.
- Stay alert and aware of your environment and those around you.
- Do not show valuables including money and jewellery in public.
- If you are carrying a bag/handbag, ensure you use a bag that has a strong good quality strap and wear it across your shoulder (not on your shoulder), with the pockets closed facing towards your waist. Carrying the bag on your shoulder makes it much easier for criminals to snatch the bag or cut the strap.
- Be careful and cautious in crowds and beware of pickpockets, do not leave anything valuable showing in public including wallets in back trouser pockets.
- Sit in carriages with other passengers do not sit in carriages with no/fewer passengers.
- Try not to use smaller/isolated stations especially at night.
- When waiting for buses, trains, boats and taxis stand with other passengers in an area that is well lit, do not stand/wait in isolated areas.
Car
There are a number of car hire firms in Devon that offer car rental services for both short and longer term car hire offering a range of vehicles from small budget cars to family cars to larger mini-buses and luxury cars.
Devon is connected to the road network via the M5 motorway and the A30, with London to Exeter by car via the M4 & M5 a drive of approx 4 hours depending on traffic. Other major roads around the county include the A38 and A377.
Drivers should be aware there are some winding, narrow and steep roads in Devon including in rural areas and the roads around popular tourist attractions and towns can get busy especially during the peak tourist season.
Parking in Exeter city centre includes a number of pay and display and pay on exit car parks. Major car parks in Exeter city centre are located at Chapel Street, Bold Lane, Abbey Street and Darwin Place, there is street parking available including on Bridge Street and St Helen’s Street.
Drivers should note there may be driving restrictions in and around the city and town centres. It is recommended visitors ensure they fully understand the local parking rules before parking and help avoid unnecessary fines and worry.
Coach
Devon is accessible by coach with regular coach services available to Devon from London Victoria coach station, the journey time from London to Exeter is between 4 hours 15 minutes and 5 hours depending on the service, time of day & traffic. There are also services from London to Tiverton, Plymouth, Bideford, Barnstaple, Ilfracombe and Westward Ho! in Devon. Coach services are provided by National Express.
Megabus offers services from London to Plymouth, the approx journey time is 4 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours depending on the service, time of day & traffic. There are also services to Exeter, Torquay and Paignton in Devon.
Whilst travelling by coach to Devon is usually more time consuming than using rail and road, it is usually more cost effective.
Air
Exeter Airport is located approx 15-20 minutes drive from Exeter, the airport caters for a number of local, regional and international flights.
For more information on public transport in Devon including information on public transport and timetables please see: Devon Public Transport from Devon County Council.
Disclaimer: The information given in on this website is given in good faith and to the best of our knowledge. If there are any discrepancies in no way do we intend to mislead. Important travel details and arrangements should be confirmed and verified with the relevant authorities.
