Lace has been made in Honiton for 400 years. The craft, museums and historic buildings shape the themes of a stay just as much as the woods, trails and birdwatching. You can focus your trip on culture and history or combine several interests.
Lace, Art and Architectural History
Honiton lace is a very fine English handmade bobbin lace made in the East Devon area. Allhallows Museum has the world’s largest collection of Honiton lace. Its exhibits also include the fossilised remains of seventeen hippopotamuses, found in 1965 during the construction of the bypass. Lace-making and this unusual discovery tell very different parts of local history.
The Thelma Hulbert Gallery offers a contemporary perspective. It hosts exhibitions of contemporary art and craft, as well as talks, events, workshops and artistic activities. The gallery also has a permanent collection of works by the artist Thelma Hulbert. Other traces of the past can be seen in Honiton’s streetscape: Town Mill is thought to be an 18th-century mill building and retains its waterwheel and internal machinery from the late 19th century. The Church of St Michael and All Angels is listed as a Grade II* building.
The Beehive is also part of the cultural offering: this community-focused centre for creative arts and entertainment is in the heart of Honiton, East Devon. The range therefore spans craft traditions and architectural history, as well as art, events and entertainment.
Markets and Event Days
The High Street Market takes place every Tuesday and Saturday. Honiton Charter Day commemorates the granting of a royal charter to Honiton by King Henry III in 1257. The 2026 event includes a full day of entertainment, music, classic cars, food and drink, as well as local stalls and traders. Honiton Hot Pennies Day dates back to the 13th century; during the procession, warm coins are thrown to the children gathered there.
The Honiton Show also has a long history: its first edition took place in 1890. Today, the show showcases local agriculture, regional produce, crafts and rural skills, and also hosts the West of England Hound Show. It takes place every year on the first Thursday in August. Another seasonal highlight, the one-day Gate to Plate summer festival, showcases regional food and drink producers and traditional local crafts. Markets and events offer different opportunities to include Honiton’s everyday life, crafts and agriculture in your travel plans.
Woods, Trails and Views
Roundball Wood is considered semi-natural ancient woodland and is managed by the Town Council as a community woodland and nature reserve. From there, views extend across Honiton, the Otter Valley and the Blackdown Hills. The Roundball Hill Woodland Walk is a separate trail: this 3.4-mile route is considered moderate, offers views across Honiton and runs partly over steep terrain.
For a shorter circuit with historic stops, the easy Honiton Town Trail runs through the town centre and takes no more than half an hour. Its theme and stated duration therefore differ from those of the Woodland Walk, whose length is given in miles. Nearby Combe Wood is another woodland area with an easy walk. The wood is known for its bluebells, especially when they bloom in May. Honiton Bottom Nature Reserve offers opportunities for birdwatching. The Glen adds a six-acre public park to the nature offerings, stretching from the surrounding countryside towards the town centre.
Planning a Stay in Honiton
When choosing a hotel, you could first consider what you want your stay to focus on: lace-making and architectural history, art and event days, or trails and nature. You can weigh these different themes according to your travel interests without having to combine them into a set route. If travelling by train is an option, Honiton station is on the railway line from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids. Check the timetable for your travel dates.
Explore more destinations: Broadhempston, Cornworthy, Tawstock, Sutcombe, Bideford, Ashwater, Clovelly, Broadwoodwidger.
For the wider travel overview: Devon.
