Tiverton is a quaint market town in Mid-Devon and popular tourist spot for those wanting to visit Exmoor, Dartmoor and South Devon from one location. But Tiverton town needs to be enjoyed in it's own right rather than a base to venture from, here is why from a local's perspective.
Gold Street
Voted 'Devon's Trendiest High Street' in 2017. Gold Street has grown since, even through the pandemic.
With the clock tower at Lowman Green setting the scene for our traditional high street, you then cross the bridge over the river Lowman which is full of fish and plenty of ducks which the little one's love to watch through the railings.
Boutique clothing shops, a Bistro and Café then gleam in the sunshine from either side of you.
When crossing Chapel Street on your right will be The Painted Peacock, showcasing reworked furniture and cute household gifts. Pop in and speak to the lovely Amy who worked incredibly hard to collect van loads of necessities for Ukrainians.
Lantic Gallery, owned by Lizzie Hill, showcases painters, printmakers, jewellers, textile artists and potters predominately from the South West. Lantic Gallery is highly recommended by locals and visitors alike for her great service and beautiful setting.
Across the road you'll find a very different Art Gallery by Black Dog and Sweet F.A. Their shop being quoted as 'Unique' and 'A true Gem', if you like alternative art and fashion, you MUST pop in to meet Farina.
Then you have the 'Mojo sisters'. Daisy with her sustainable European fashion range and Charlotte with her Aveda hair salon. You couldn't meet nicer people all while experiencing a shopping and beauty experience not available anywhere else.
Carry on up towards Fore Street and you'll stumble upon our own Bookshop and Coffee Shop, Liznojan. (Meaning: To Learn) We carry a range of fiction, non-fiction and children's books we have curated ourselves by our small dedicated team. You can grab yourself a caramel Iced latte to go while you explore the rest of our wonderfully independent town. We recommend heading to Bampton Street where you will find a zero waste shop, health food shop, gift shops and even crystals.
Once you've discovered some fantastic goodies and finished your latte, stop by Pho Nam Vietnamese noodle bar right next to the Clock Tower for a fresh and delicious lunch from Mai.
There are plenty of ways to support our high street in person, but you can easily support us from afar aswell via our websites.
Tiverton Museum
Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life is a treasure trove of fascinating objects and quirky artefacts that weave incredible stories about the people who lived here. A visit to Tiverton Museum offers a snapshot into what life was like in a buzzing market town, both at work and in the home.
You’ll find play stations and interactive elements around the galleries, including the chance to stand on the footplate of the Tivvy Bumper steam engine. Dress to Impress at the dressing up stations, where the whole family can take part.
This Museum is also the home for the Tourist Information Centre. My kids love returning to the museum time and time again and there are always special activities for the holidays.
Keep the vibe going and cross over the road past the bus station and visit Elsie May's for a traditional fry up or cream tea. Perfect for all the family to enjoy.
Knightshayes National Trust
Knighthayes is simply superb. Local's treat it as a glorious back garden, frequenting it almost daily if you have dogs or children to keep amused.
With a glorious courtyard garden unlike any others in size and variety, you can then venture to the house and gardens which are kept in immaculate condition year round.
Being a pro with local easter trails and other holiday time adventures I must say that Knightshayes are the best by far. Regularly changed and always including sensory and activities to complete, it makes a fantastic day out all in one place.
Whilst visiting Knightshayes, don't forget to venture into the historic parkland and take in some of the glorious views. With acres of parkland and woodland, it's a great place for the whole family to explore with room to roam, ponds to peer into and plenty of hidden corners to discover.
Grand Western Canal
The Grand Western Canal Country Park and Local Nature Reserve meanders for eleven and a quarter miles through beautiful countryside and quiet villages between the market town of Tiverton and the hamlet of Lowdwells (near the Somerset border).
Travel along the canal either by one of the last horse drawn barges in the UK, canoe, bike or simply walking. The canal is rich and diverse in wildlife. Kingfishers can be easily seen at the right times of year along with grass snakes, otters, fish, herons and swans. We take pride in our beautiful canal and it is used frequently by locals and tourists alike. The canal basin has a cafe and play park and the other other end is more wild and historic. The canal also runs near to the old railway line which the Tivvy Bumper used to run along and makes a fantastic loop to walk. The old railway line is also home to any array of fauna and flora which have been allowed to claim back the land.
Evening Drinks
Lastly, where do you head out to in the evening now our cocktail nights have halted for a while?
Well, The Lost Kitchen is a firm favorite of ours for Friday nights and our Lost In Conversation evenings we host together. Pizza and Cocktails couldn't be served in a better location in Mid Devon. The setting and view are just incredible along with the food which is sustainable and always as local as possible.
Then we recommend The Duck and Bean in the town center. They have a lovely hidden outside garden space and the drinks are high quality aswell. Enjoy with a delicious meal or just for a chilled night out.
Frou Frou back on Gold Street is a french style bistro also serving an array of cocktails and wines to enjoy. All owned by local families I believe a drink in each setting would make for a fantastic Tiverton Friday night.
Want to explore more places around the South West?
Here is a list of books we recommend for finding your way around our wild county. Hidden dips and popular treks along the coast path, we've found them all. So order a copy in advance or pop in to Liznojan while visiting.
Thank you for reading and hopefully visiting our wonderful town of Tiverton in Devon.
Kayleigh Diggle.
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