About Tiverton

Settled in the Mid Devon countryside, the town of Tiverton steps you back to a simpler time, with romantic castles, historic houses, and horse drawn barges. Set on the banks of the Great Western Canal, the town is full of history and heritage to be explored.Centrally located in Devon, Tiverton is the ideal base for exploring the Devon countryside and to really escape on holiday – where you can discover surrounding traditional thatched villages, enjoy rural countryside walks and wildlife, and enjoy beautiful local produce at your leisure.Things to do in TivertonOn the outskirts of Tiverton lies the Grand Western Canal with an amazing 24 bridges along its 11-mile stretch. Built originally to transport lime, it is now a beauty spot with local wildlife, including yellow flags and arrowhead, darting dragonflies, coots, mallards, and moorhens. Enjoy the scenery with a walk along the towpath, or trips afloat on painted barges drawn by magnificent shire horses, courtesy of the Tiverton Canal Co.If you love local history, Tiverton is brimming with heritage. Visit the beautiful Tiverton Castle, a royal fortress commissioned in 1106 by Henry 1, or the 11th Century Bickleigh Castle with moated gardens.One of the finest surviving Gothic Revival houses is the National Trust property of Knightshayes Court, built in 1869, the house is an exciting architectural experience, with extraordinary ‘medieval’ romantic interiors, rich decoration and ceramics. Find out more about Tiverton’s rich heritage at award-winning Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life, with 14 galleries of exhibits including the Tivvy Bumper GWR locomotive.For something a bit more active, try the Grand Western Canal Cycle route – an easy 8-mile cycle from Tiverton to the Somerset border, perfect for families sits beside the canal towpath and takes in superb views of the mid Devon countryside along the way. The town has a great selection of interesting shops, while countless bargains can be found at the historic Pannier Market including a Farmer’s Market on the third Wednesday of each month. Try Bickleigh Mill just outside of Tiverton for an independent shopping experience- with gifts and homewares from around the world.Just north of Tiverton is Exmoor National Park – stunning moorland with the north Devon coastline not far to enjoy.Where to Stay in TivertonTiverton has some great hotels, B&B’s and self catering cottages in and around the town to suit your needs and budget. For more options, check out our Tiverton Accommodation pageTop Events in TivertonThe Mid Devon show held in July is a real celebration of rural country life, and has an excellent array of food, music, entertainment, horticulture and farm life. Don’t miss the local farmers market held every third Wednesday – an amazing array of local produce from nearby farms and producers – a great place to get your hands on some real local farm fair.The National Trust property at Knightshayes also holds regular family events, especially during the school holidays so you can be sure the kids are entertained.Many local attractions also hold special events throughout the year to capture the kid’s imagination.