Honiton between lace-making, art and nature

Honiton has several distinct sides: its long tradition of lace-making, museums and art, markets and events, and trails and green spaces. When planning a stay, you can tailor your itinerary to your interests and the time of year. Some options are available year-round, while others are seasonal or tied to specific days of the week.

Lace-making, museums and historic buildings

Honiton lace has been made in the area for 400 years. It is a very fine English handmade bobbin lace from East Devon. Lace-making takes centre stage at the Allhallows Museum, which has the world’s largest collection of Honiton lace and also displays the fossilised remains of seventeen hippopotamuses. These were found in 1965 during construction of the bypass. The museum brings together traditional crafts and a find from the area’s natural history.

The Thelma Hulbert Gallery offers a different focus. Its exhibitions are devoted to contemporary art and crafts, alongside talks, events, workshops and creative activities. A permanent collection includes works by the artist Thelma Hulbert. When planning your visit, you can choose between lace-making and a programme focused on contemporary art and creative formats.

The buildings also tell different stories. Town Mill is a mill building believed to date from the 18th century; its waterwheel and the internal machinery from the late 19th century have been preserved. The Church of St Michael and All Angels is listed as a Grade II* building. In the heart of Honiton, The Beehive is a community-oriented centre for creative arts and entertainment.

Markets, traditions and events

The High Street Market takes place on Tuesdays and Saturdays. This gives your weekly plans a set rhythm, distinct from the dates of seasonal events. The Honiton Show is held annually on the first Thursday in August. It showcases local agriculture, regional produce, crafts and rural skills; the first show took place in 1890. The Honiton Show also hosts the West of England Hound Show.

The events calendar ranges from regional produce to historic customs. Gate to Plate is a one-day summer festival in Honiton that highlights regional food and drink producers as well as traditional local crafts. Honiton Hot Pennies Day dates back to the 13th century. Its procession includes throwing warm coins to the assembled children. The two examples have different focuses: food and crafts in one case, and a long-standing tradition in the other.

Green spaces and walks

Roundball Wood is managed by the Town Council as a community woodland and nature reserve and is described as semi-natural ancient woodland. It offers views across Honiton, the Otter Valley and the Blackdown Hills. The Roundball Hill Woodland Walk is a moderate 3.4-mile route, with views across Honiton and some steep sections. When planning, both the stated distance and the terrain are relevant differences from a town-centre walk.

The Honiton Town Trail is an easy circular walk through the town centre, taking in important historic sites, and takes no more than half an hour. This route has a clear time estimate, whereas the Roundball Hill Woodland Walk is characterised by its distance and moderate difficulty. Nearby Combe Wood has an easy walking route. The woodland is especially well known for its bluebells when they bloom in May; this month is considered the best time to see them in flower there.

Other ways to enjoy the outdoors include Honiton Bottom Nature Reserve, where you can go birdwatching, and The Glen. This six-acre public park stretches from the countryside towards Honiton town centre. The nature reserve, woodland and park offer different kinds of landscapes, and are not all the same kind of outing.

Planning your travel dates and journey

May and August offer different seasonal highlights: in Combe Wood, the focus is on the bluebells, while the Honiton Show is held annually on the first Thursday in August. The Tuesday and Saturday market, by contrast, follows a recurring weekly schedule. Check current event dates when making specific plans. Honiton railway station is on the London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids line; check the timetable for specific journey times.

Discover more destinations: Crediton, Luppitt, East Portlemouth, Beaworthy, Copplestone, Holne, Winkleigh, Kings Nympton

For the broader travel overview: Devon.