Why go
- Town in Devon, England.
- Served by Belle Vue Airfield.
History
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the North Devon district of Devon, England. The town lies at the River Taw's lowest crossing point before the Bristol Channel. From the 14th century, it was licensed to export wool from which it earned great wealth. Later it imported Irish wool, but its harbour silted up and other trades developed such as shipbuilding, foundries and sawmills. A Victorian market building survives, with a high glass and timber roof on iron columns.
Restaurants & places to go
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 07:00-18:00; Su 09:00-16:00 Features: takeaway · 75 High Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1HX · costa.co.uk
British, Restaurant · British restaurant · Barnstaple, EX32 8RY · tabletable.co.uk
Fish And Chips, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 47 Bear Street, Barnstaple, EX32 7DB
Indian, Restaurant · Indian restaurant · 18 Bear Street, Barnstaple, EX32 7BX
Ice Cream · ice cream · 2 Meeting Street, EX39 1RH
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 00:00-24:00 Features: takeaway · Old Station Road, Barnstaple, EX32 8PB · mcdonalds.com
Snacks And Light Meals, Cafe · Opening hours: 09:30-17:30 Features: step-free access · Fremington Quay, Barnstaple, EX31 2NH · fremingtonquay.co.uk
Breakfast, Local, Pancake, Sandwich, Savory Pancakes, Tea, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-17:00; Sa 08:00-16:00 Features: vegan options · Station Road,… · stationmasterscafe.co.uk
Sandwich, Bakery, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 61 High Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1JB · greggs.com
Tex-Mex, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · Taw Wharf, Barnstaple, EX31 2BN · locations.tacobell.co.uk
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-24:00; Su 11:00-22:00 · 55 Boutport Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1SX · lushbarrestaurant.co.uk
Chinese, Restaurant · Chinese restaurant · Mill Hill, Barnstaple, EX31 2NX · hancourt.co.uk
Cafe · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-17:00; Su,Mo off · Barnstaple, EX32 0JH · willows-tearoom.co.uk
Italian, Restaurant · Features: takeaway · 95 Boutport Street, Barnstaple
Fish, Seafood, Restaurant · Fish/Seafood restaurant · Maiden Street, Barnstaple
Jemmy Twitcher, Kebab, Burger, Chicken, Pizza, Fast Food · Features: takeaway, delivery, vegetarian options · 18 Maiden Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1HA
Churro, Fast Food · Churro fast food
Pizza, Burger, Steak House, Restaurant · Pizza/Burger restaurant · 9 The Quay, Bideford, EX39 1QS
Ice Cream, Milkshake, Smoothie, Waffle, Fast Food · Ice Cream/Milkshake fast food
Mediterranean, Restaurant · Mediterranean restaurant
Kebab, Burger, Pizza, Fast Food · Kebab/Burger fast food
Fast Food · fast food · 2 Higher Road, Barnstaple, EX31 3BG
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:30-18:00; Su 10:00-16:00 Features: takeaway · storelocator.asda.com
British, Restaurant · British restaurant · 19-20, Barnstaple, EX31 1UH · thelounges.co.uk
Fish And Chips, Fast Food · Fish And Chips fast food · 8 Market Street, EX39 1PW
Indian, Nepalese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Th 17:00-23:00; Fr,Sa 17:00-23:30; Su 17:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · 2-3 Market Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1BX
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:30-18:00; Su 10:30-16:30 Features: takeaway · 26 High Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1BL · location.wimpy.uk.com
Sandwich, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · Taw Wharf, Barnstaple, EX31 2BN
Restaurant · restaurant · Maiden Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1HA · maidenarch.com
Chinese, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Cafe · cafe · thequaycafe.com
Pizza, Restaurant · Pizza restaurant
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 07:30-17:30; Su 08:30-17:00 Features: takeaway · 27 High Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1BL · caffenero.com
Fish And Chips, Fast Food · Fish And Chips fast food · 3 Meeting Street, Bideford, EX39 1RJ
Indian, Restaurant · Features: takeaway
Burger, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · Braunton Road, Barnstaple, EX31 1LG
Sandwich, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Restaurant · restaurant · Maiden Street, EX31 1HA
Cafe · cafe · 93 High Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1HR
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Features: outdoor seating, takeaway · 21-22 Tuly Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1DH · bostonteaparty.co.uk
Fish And Chips, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 94 Boutport Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1SX
Burger, Kebab, Pizza, Fast Food · Features: delivery · 104 Boutport Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1SY
Sandwich, Fast Food · Sandwich fast food · 31C Boutport Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1RX
Restaurant · restaurant · The Strand, Barnstaple, EX31 1EU
34 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Royal Marines Base Chivenor 4 mi to the centre
Chivenor, ENG, GB — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Eaglescott Airfield 11 mi to the centre
Umberleigh, Devon, ENG, GB
Belle Vue Airfield 7.3 mi to the centre
Torrington, Devon, ENG, GB
Gorrel Farm Airstrip 17 mi to the centre
ENG, GB
Getting there by ferry
Instow
Ferry terminal · 6 mi from the centre
Instow - Appledore Ferry
Ferry route
Lundy Ferry
Ferry route · National Trust
Bideford – Lundy
Ferry route
Ilfracombe – Lundy
Ferry route
Where to stay
1 Taw Vale, Barnstaple EX32 9AE, United Kingdom · parkhotel.co.uk
Northleigh Hill, Goodleigh, Barnstaple EX32 7NR, United Kingdom · bampfieldfarm.co.uk
22 Sticklepath Terrace, Sticklepath, Barnstaple EX31 2AY, United Kingdom · barnstaplebedandbreakfast.com
Weirholme Annex, Burlington Grove, Barnstaple EX32 9BW, United Kingdom · weirholme-annex.co.uk
Coombe Farm, Barnstaple EX32 7NB, United Kingdom · coombefarmgoodleigh.co.uk
Glentor, St John's Ln, Barnstaple EX32 9DD, United Kingdom · booking.com
Barbican Terrace, Barnstaple EX32 9HQ, United Kingdom · oldvicaragebarnstaple.co.uk
Snapper, Barnstaple EX32 7JY, United Kingdom · yeotown.com
Brightlycott Farm, Shirwell, Barnstaple EX31 4JJ, United Kingdom · brightlycott.wordpress.com
Middle Marwood, Barnstaple EX31 4EF, United Kingdom · westcottbarton.co.uk
Taw Vale, Barnstaple EX32 8NB, United Kingdom · brend-imperial.co.uk
124 Pilton St, Pilton, Barnstaple EX31 1PG, United Kingdom · yeodalehotel.co.uk
Braunton Rd, Barnstaple EX31 1LE, United Kingdom · barnstaplehotel.co.uk
Hollamoor Farm, Tawstock, Barnstaple EX31 3NY, United Kingdom · devonhorsebedbreakfast.co.uk
A39 North Devon Link Road, Roundswell, Barnstaple EX31 3RZ, United Kingdom · travelodge.co.uk
Whiddon Dr, Barnstaple EX32 8RY, United Kingdom · premierinn.com
Lower Blakewell, Barnstaple EX31 4ET, United Kingdom
Waterlake Ln, EX31, Braunton, Barnstaple EX31 4DU, United Kingdom
The Potting Shed, Prixford, Barnstaple EX31 4DX, United Kingdom
Shirwell, Barnstaple EX31 4JR, United Kingdom · thespinneyshirwell.co.uk
Barnstaple EX31 3HS, United Kingdom
12 Butchers Row, Barnstaple EX31 1BW, United Kingdom
Venn Rd, Barnstaple EX32 0HT, United Kingdom
Indoor
42 Ashleigh Rd, Barnstaple EX32 8JY, United Kingdom · sarkguesthouse.co.uk
Indoor
26 Sticklepath Hill, Sticklepath, Barnstaple EX31 2BU, United Kingdom
Riverside Court, Castle St, Barnstaple EX31 1ET, United Kingdom · riversidecourtapartments.com
82 Newport Rd, Barnstaple EX32 9BE, United Kingdom
59 Sampsons Plantation, Fremington, Barnstaple EX31 3FF, United Kingdom
3 Village Cottages, Bishop's Tawton, Barnstaple EX32 0DB, United Kingdom
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Belle Vue Airfield; 7 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By water: 1 ferry terminal within 12 mi (nearest: Instow, 6 mi); routes include Instow - Appledore Ferry, Lundy Ferry, Bideford – Lundy.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Barnstaple, UK. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Tours & experiences
Sightseeing