Co Church - St Matt's Exeter

St Matthew's Church sits on a quiet corner of Exeter's city centre, easy to miss if you're rushing between the cathedral and the high street. The moment you step inside, though, you feel the shift - this is a proper working church with real character, not a museum piece.

The interior is surprisingly intimate for a city church. Victorian restoration work means the architecture reads cleanly, with good light and uncluttered sightlines. If you've already done the cathedral - and let's be honest, most Exeter visitors do - St Matt's offers a different rhythm entirely. No crowds, no entry fee, no sense of obligation.

Who gets the most from it? Visitors with a genuine interest in ecclesiastical architecture will spot the details worth noting. Anyone seeking a moment of quiet in the city centre will appreciate the calm. It's not a destination in itself; it's a worthwhile 15-minute detour if you're exploring Exeter's streets on foot.

There's no formal opening hours posted, so treat it as you would any city church - likely open during daylight and for services, though worth checking before planning around it. Admission is free, as you'd expect.

If you're staying at one of the nearby glamping spots like Devon Heaven Hideaways a few miles out, this works well as part of a morning in Exeter before heading back to the countryside. It's the kind of place that enriches a day without demanding much time.