Honiton is the inland market town nine miles north-west of Hole Mill — an old wool town turned lace-making town turned antiques town, with one of the longest, straightest high streets in southern England and one of the better Tuesday markets in Devon. From Hole Mill it is a fifteen-minute drive over the hill. We send guests here for an antiques day, a market morning, or a longer day that combines Honiton with one of the country pubs in the surrounding hills.

A short orientation

Honiton sits on the A30, the old coaching road from London to Exeter, and the main street runs nearly a mile from end to end — straight, broad and lined with small shops, antique dealers, charity shops, cafés and pubs. The town is divided in half by the railway line; most of what visitors come for is in the upper (eastern) half. Park once and walk; the high street is flat and pedestrian-friendly.

What to do in Honiton

The antiques shops. Honiton's reputation as the antiques capital of east Devon is genuine — there are at least a dozen independent antique dealers along the high street, plus several large indoor antiques centres. Specialisms range from Georgian furniture to vintage china and 20th-century design. Even if you are not buying, an hour wandering between dealers is enjoyable. Honiton Antiques Centre, Eden Hill Antiques and High Street Antiques are the largest.

Tuesday and Saturday markets. The Honiton Fountain market on the high street, market days Tuesday and Saturday from around 9 am to 1 pm. Local produce, plants, vintage clothes, household goods. The Tuesday market is the bigger and more interesting of the two.

Allhallows Museum. A free volunteer-run museum in the old Allhallows School building near the parish church, focused on Honiton lace — the town was the centre of English bobbin-lace making for over 300 years. The museum has demonstrations, a working lace bobbin, and a small but excellent collection of finished work including pieces made for royal weddings. Allow 60-90 minutes.

The Fairmile fountain. A small but unusual landmark — a Victorian drinking fountain at the centre of the high street, decorated with relief carvings of Honiton's industries. Easily missed; worth a closer look.

St Michael's Church. At the western end of the high street, set above the road. Notable for being one of the few Devon parish churches with a full set of Victorian stained glass intact. Free entry, generally open during the day.

Honiton Heritage Centre. A small museum at the north end of the high street, free, focused on local social history. Less polished than Allhallows but with a brilliantly local feel — old shop signs, mining memorabilia, photographs.

Where to eat in Honiton

The Holt at the top of the high street is the smartest place to eat in town — a gastropub with a small fine-dining offer and a good craft beer list. The Honiton Inn does a more traditional pub lunch. Boston Tea Party (despite the chain name, this is one of the better breakfast/lunch cafés in Devon) for a casual sit-down. Tasty Treats Bakery for a takeaway sausage roll or pasty.

For coffee, The Coffee Cabin opposite the heritage centre is a long-standing local independent.

For a destination meal, drive five miles to The Hare & Hounds at Putts Corner — gastropub, restaurant rooms, garden, big fire. Booking essential at weekends.

Practical information

Distance from Hole Mill: approximately 9 miles by road, 15-20 minutes by car.

Parking: Lace Walk car park (long stay, pay-and-display), or the smaller New Street car park. Several free parking bays on side streets if you can find one.

By rail: Honiton has a mainline railway station with direct trains to London Waterloo (about 3 hours) and Exeter St Davids (25 minutes). Useful if you are arriving without a car — Honiton is the nearest station to Hole Mill, though guests usually need a taxi or pickup for the last 9 miles.

By bus: infrequent. Realistically you need a car.

When to go

Honiton is busiest on Tuesdays for the market, and increasingly busy on Saturdays. It is at its quietest on a winter weekday — the antique shops are still open, the cafés are still serving, and you will essentially have the town to yourself. The annual Honiton Fair in mid-July (a tradition going back to 1257) is a riotous local event involving a town crier, hot pennies thrown to children, and a procession.

Honiton is the most distinctive of the inland towns within easy reach of Hole Mill — best for a half-day antiques wander combined with lunch at The Holt or a pub in the surrounding hills. Check our availability or browse our other East Devon guides.