Top Devon Historical Tours

Journey through Ilfracombe’s fascinating history on this immersive 45-minute self-guided walking tour. Starting at the High Street, you’ll journey through the town’s oldest areas, hear spine-tingling ghost stories, and delve into tales of wreckers, smugglers, and Victorian holidaymakers. Wander through Fore Street, where your final stop is the George & Dragon, a pub dating back to the 1300s. Along the way, you’ll see a variety of architectural styles spanning from the 1200s to the present, including Georgian, Regency, and Victorian buildings. Learn about the people who once occupied these historic structures, some of whom still haunt them. Along the way, learn about Titanic survivor Alice Francis Louisa Philips, Victorian policing, and myths surrounding local murders. From the Queens Hotel to Fore Street’s historic charm, this tour offers a deeper appreciation of Ilfracombe’s rich past, unique stories, and architectural heritage.

Ilfracombe’s darker stories are easy to miss on a daytime stroll. Walk the harbor area with a local guide, hearing tales of the spirits said to haunt the town’s streets and historic pubs. A small group keeps the atmosphere intimate, and dogs on a leash are welcome to join.

Take a trip down memory lane in Torquay with this tour inspired by the 1970s British sitcom "Fawlty Towers." With a local guide, hear behind-the-scenes stories about Basil Fawlty's chaotic hotel and enjoy photo stops, fun facts about John Cleese and Connie Booth, and references to "riff-raff." As you explore, recreate some of the funniest moments from the show with the help of your guide.

Discover 185 million years of geological history on this private guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast. Journey along the stunning cliffs and vibrant fishing villages of East Devon and West Dorset, observing unique rock formations from the Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Triassic periods. From the red desert sandstone to fossil-rich beaches, this tour offers a fascinating glimpse into the Earth's past while also visiting iconic seaside towns like Sidmouth and Lyme Regis. Enjoy the option to search for fossils on the beach, and experience the breathtaking landscapes that have inspired countless artists and writers. - Private guided tour ensuring personalized attention and flexibility - Explore the unique geology and stunning coastal scenery - Visit charming villages and classic Victorian seaside retreats - Opportunity for fossil hunting at famous sites like Lyme Regis and Charmouth - Lunch booking made if required in a country Inn

"Probably the most militarised county in WWII", some 1.5 million GI's were stationed in the county of Devon. The north and south coasts of Devon were used extensively to both house the GI's and enable them to practice amphibious landings before the Normandy landings. This includes the notorious Slapton sands, one of the US military's darkest secrets of WWII. Focussing on the south coast, in addition to Slapton we'll visit Plymouth, where some 36,000 GI's departed. Plymouth is said to be the most bombed city in WWII (per sq mile) more than London and Coventry and is still the largest naval dockyard in Western Europe. Down the coast the picturesque coastal town of Dartmouth is home to two stunningly preserved castles at the mouth of the River Dart as well as Britannia Naval College, home to US naval command and where Queen Elizabeth first set eyes on the Duke of Edinburgh. Finally Brixham, now Englands' biggest fishing port with some of the best preserved naval gun batteries of WWII.

If you’re curious about the hauntings, history, and mysteries of the Ilfracombe seafront area, then this is the tour for you. Save hours doing your own independent research, as a guide reveals everything you need to know. As well as passing by key locations—such as The Landmark Theatre and St. Nicholas Chapel—you can hear stories about spooky events linked to these important buildings too.

The vast outdoor landscape of Dartmoor is a place best explored by car, and if you want to access wild and remote sites with ease, then this Land Rover Discovery private driving tour is a great pick. Relax and enjoy the views as a driver takes you between ancient settlements, granite tors, and windswept moors. You can also enjoy the opportunity to walk near wild ponies and highland cattle—with binocular rental included in the package.

See parts of beautiful Brixham that you might miss otherwise when you join a walking tour with a local guide. Your guide will share stories that you won’t hear elsewhere, and will help you understand the town and its heritage better. See the sights while getting some gentle exercise, and without the risk of getting lost.

This unique coastal tour starts with pick up at your accommodation. It embraces this stunning diverse, coastline. We travel to one of the most spectaculer views in the South West, that of Burgh Island and the famous Burgh Island Hotel with its beach causeway and unique sea tractor. Onto Slapton Sands and "Slapton Ley" a stretch of water kept immune from the sea by a slim shingle causeway. Learn about its dark secret from World War II and be mesmerised by over 3 x miles of beach. Learn how we are trying to defend our small local communities form ever rising sea levels and how ultimately there will probably be only one winner. We then past Blackpool Sands and onto Dartmouth and the mouth of the Dart estuary with its famous "gun castles" on either side, its Norman Church and then into Dartmouth home of the Brittania Naval College. History, heritage, beautiful views and some fun on the way make this a tour not to be missed, all thats left is to drop you off where we picked you up