Exeter

Exeter has been awarded Purple Flag accreditation which recognises places where people can enjoy a safe night out with confidence.

The Purple Flag is an internationally recognised award that celebrates towns and cities which offer a safe, well-managed and vibrant evening and night-time economy, supported by strong partnership working, good transport connections and a clear focus on safety and wellbeing.

Sergeant Jim Wellard leads on policing of the evening and night-time economy (ENTE) in Exeter. He said “Over the last 18 months, we have made significant and much needed...

Families across Exeter and the wider region are invited to step into a wonderland of free creative activities for children this February half-term.

Children’s venue Alibi are teaming up with St Thomas Library to present The Story Box (16-21 February) celebrating the 2026 National Year of Reading.

Emmanuel Hall, home of both Alibi and St Thomas Library, will transform into a giant library filled with cosy reading corners, creative play spaces, and a welcoming...

Can you brave the cold to take part in a Big Sleep Out at Exeter City’s St James Park stadium to raise vital funds for people facing homelessness in Exeter?

Exeter City Community Trust ’s Big Sleep Out takes place on March 20 and challenges participants to swap their warm beds for sleeping bags inside the famous stadium, in solidarity with those who face the harsh reality of sleeping rough every night.

The event raises funds for the charity’s Supported Housing programme, which helps people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness rebuild their lives, maintain...

Get set for thrilling adventure! The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is bringing a night of adrenaline-packed films to venues around the UK and Ireland in 2026.

With extreme climbing, kayaking, mountain biking and more, the Banff Mountain Film Festival features two new collections of inspirational short films from remote corners of the planet.

“Immerse yourself in a night of gripping adventure – up on the big screen!” says tour director Nell Teasdale.

“The Banff Mountain Film Festival showcases the year’s most inspiring stories of adventure, with cutting...

Millbrook Retirement Village in Exeter, owned and operated by Inspired Villages, has raised more than £10,000 for Children’s Hospice South West following a year of community-led fundraising by residents and staff.

Throughout 2025, more than 200 residents and 30 members of staff came together to support the charity through a wide range of creative initiatives including a sponsored walk, charity dinner, Christmas craft fair, concerts, patio cleaning, raffles and knitted sock sales.

The fundraising total was formally presented earlier this month at the village’s regular...

Tops Exeter has officially opened its doors to children and families in the city, marking the occasion with a vibrant celebration featuring catered refreshments, children’s activities and a special ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Cllr Anne Jobson. The new eco‑conscious nursery, part of the Tops Day Nurseries family, welcomed parents, carers and local partners to explore the setting, meet the team and find out more about the flexible childcare on offer.

Guests enjoyed a delicious catered spread, made by the award winning Tops catering team. It included a...

Firearms owners are being urged to check if their previously lawful weapon is one of five now classified as illegal – and to hand them in safely during a month-long amnesty. Police forces across England and Wales will be holding a four-week firearms amnesty (February 2-27) for five models of side or top-venting (TVBFs) weapons manufactured by Bruni. The following five imitation firearms can be handed in to local police station without fear of prosecution, after tests by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and policing showed they are readily convertible and are therefore illegal to possess...

The pedestrian and cycle bridge over the A379, called Blisses Bridge, has been brought to life with newly added decorative panels.

The 36-metre span bridge, which opened in February 2024, has been designed as a “gateway” feature to the new development area. Its name is derived from Blisses Hill and Blisses Meadow which feature in the old tithe mapping of the area where the bridge is located.

The 58 panels on the parapet of the structure feature the latest public artwork of South Brent-based sculptor Isabel Coulton. The designs on the panels depict life in Devon, with a...

Students, staff and families at St Luke’s Church of England School have come together to support people experiencing homelessness in Exeter.

The school worked in partnership with Smile at a Stranger – Help for the Homeless Devon, a volunteer-led group that collects, coordinates, and distributes donations across the county.

Students packed shoeboxes with essential items such as warm clothing, toiletries and small treats, which were then passed on to charities and organisations working directly with people in need. The donations provided comfort, dignity and practical...

Pupils at Cranbrook Education Campus have been getting their hands dirty as they begin the next phase of a woodland improvement project at Elbury Farm in East Devon.

Building on the success of last year’s planting, the school’s environmental group is continuing its work to enhance the developing woodland, helping to shape a landscape that will benefit wildlife and the local community for years to come.

Working in partnership with the National Trust, pupils are planting new trees, contributing ideas to the woodland’s design and taking part in team-building activities that...