Devon offers many sights and experiences travelers to England seek: cute rural and seaside villages, moorland, Victorian-era beach resorts, and beautiful scenery. As one of the UK’s southernmost regions, with long coastlines on the English Channel and the Bristol Channel, Devon is a popular summertime destination with British holidaymakers. You can be as active or relaxed as you like when looking for things to do in Devon: relax on a beach (topped off with a Devonshire cream tea), get active in the Dartmoor or Exmoor National Parks, or hunt for fossils on the Jurassic Coast. There’s a lot to love about Devon.
Devon is generally at its best in the English summer from June through September. Temperatures are warm-to-mild, and there’s a chance of rain at any time, but conditions are generally suitable for outdoor activities, including spending time at the beach and hiking, and the days are long. The beaches of Devon can get rather crowded during the school summer holidays (July–August), so book accommodation in advance for travel at this time.
Having your own car provides the most flexibility for getting around Devon, especially as some of its attractions are small villages and coastal areas. However, there’s a good public transport system here. National Express coaches travel between the main cities and towns, and the Great Western Railway and South Western Railway connect Devon to other parts of England, including London.
Travelers interested in natural history and geology shouldn’t miss the Devon portion of the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast, a dramatic stretch of coastline stretching from Exmouth in East Devon to Studland Bay in Dorset. Around 185 million years of natural history can be seen on the cliffs and beaches here, a popular fossil-hunting area. However, note that it’s not all that easy to find fossils on the beach these days, and fossil hunting isn’t permitted everywhere.
