Exeter

This article is about the city in England. For other uses, see Exeter (disambiguation).

Exeter
City and non-metropolitan district
City of Exeter
Exeter Cathedral Iron Bridge Southernhay West The Quay Guildhall Northernhay Gardens St Nicholas Priory
Coat of arms Wordmark
Motto:  Semper fidelis (Always faithful)
The District of Exeter including Topsham shown within Devon
Exeter Location within the United Kingdom Exeter Location within England Exeter Location in Devon Exeter Location within Europe
Coordinates: 50°43′32″N 03°31′37″W
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	England
Region	South West England
Ceremonial and shire county	Devon
City status	Time immemorial
Non-metropolitan district	1974
Government
• Type	Non-metropolitan district
• Body	Exeter City Council
• Leader of the Council	Councillor Philip Bialyk
• Council control	Labour
• Members of Parliament	Stephen Race (L) David Reed (C)
Area
• Total	18 sq mi (47 km2)
• Rank	246th (of 296)
Highest elevation	715 ft (218 m)
Lowest elevation	−9.8 ft (−3 m)
Population  (2024)
• Total	138,399
• Rank	175th (of 296)
• Density	7,600/sq mi (2,900/km2)
• Demonyms	Exonian
• Ethnicity (2011)	93.05% White 88.32% White British 0.53% White Irish 0.08% Romani people or Irish Traveller 4.12% Other White   1.65% Mixed 0.34% White and Black Caribbean 0.24% White and Black African 0.66% White and Asian 0.41% Other mixed   3.90% Asian 0.80% Indian 0.14% Pakistani 0.19% Bangladeshi 1.70% Chinese 1.07% Other Asian   0.57% Black 0.42% Black African 0.11% Black Caribbean 0.04% Other Black   0.83% Other 0.56% Arab 0.28% Other
Time zone	UTC0 (GMT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (BST)
Postcode district	EX1-6
Area code	01392
Police	Devon and Cornwall
Ambulance	South Western
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Website	Exeter City Council

Exeter (/ˈɛksɪtər/ ^ⓘ EK-sit-ər) is a cathedral city and the county town of Devon in South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately 36 mi (58 km) northeast of Plymouth and 65 mi (105 km) southwest of Bristol. In 2024, Exeter had a population of 138,399, making it the second largest settlement in Devon after Plymouth. Under local government restructuring plans Exeter will, with the addition of parishes from East Devon, Teignbridge and Mid Devon, become the Exeter unitary authority from 2028.

The history of Exeter began with the civilian settlement associated with the Roman fort of Isca Dumnoniorum c. AD 55. The city was held by Saxons against Viking attacks and then conquered by the Normans. Exeter Cathedral was founded in the mid 11th century and the city became a religious centre during the Middle Ages. In the early modern period, Exeter became an affluent centre for the trade in wool. Experiencing only limited industrialisation, by the First World War the city was in relative economic decline. After the Second World War, much of the city centre was rebuilt.

Exeter is one of the largest and fastest growing cities in South West England, and a centre for education, business, and domestic tourism. It is home to two of the constituent campuses of the University of Exeter: Streatham and St Luke's. The city is connected internationally by Exeter Airport; to the rest of the United Kingdom by Exeter St David's railway station; and by road by the M5 motorway, whose south-west exit is just south of the city. The city retains significant examples of medieval, Tudor, and Georgian architecture.