St Thomas Baptist Church

Walking into St Thomas Baptist Church in Exeter feels like stepping back into the 1800s - and that's precisely the point. This is a proper Victorian chapel, all soaring wooden galleries and that particular smell of old hymn books that never quite fades. The craftsmanship is what catches you first. Look up and you'll see the ornate plasterwork, the pulpit that dominates the space like a captain's bridge. Everything about it speaks to a congregation that took their Sunday worship seriously.

It's the kind of place that appeals most to architecture enthusiasts and anyone interested in how Victorian nonconformists gathered and prayed. If you're into chapel history - and Devon has plenty of Methodist and Baptist heritage scattered about - this one rewards a proper look around. The interior layout tells you something about Baptist theology too, if you know what you're looking for.

Hours and admission details aren't readily available online, so contact ahead or try popping in during standard opening times. Allow 30 to 45 minutes if you're genuinely interested in the fixtures and fittings; a quick look takes ten minutes. It works well as part of a broader Exeter walk rather than a destination in itself.

If you're based at Devon Heaven Hideaways for some glamping time, this is a pleasant detour into the city centre. Pair it with other Exeter attractions - the cathedral, the quay - rather than making the trip specially. Worth seeing if you're passing through, but not worth rearranging your itinerary for.