Family Hotels with Family Suites in Exeter

A family room matters in Exeter because a family of four squeezed into a standard double is a tight fit for more than a night. These five hotels list family rooms or suites, so everyone can share one room rather than booking two. They also make good bases for day trips: Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks are within reach by car, and the Exe estuary leads to the beaches of the south Devon coast. Guest scores are close, from 8.2 to 8.6, so location and parking decide the choice more than quality does.

Holiday Inn Express Exeter City Centre is the pick for families who want to walk everywhere. This 3-star hotel has family rooms with air-conditioning, private bathrooms and free WiFi, and a continental buffet breakfast with special diet menus, which helps with children who have allergies or restrictions. A bar and lounge, a 24-hour front desk and daily housekeeping complete a simple but reliable offer, and pets are accepted. It has the highest score of the five, 8.6 from more than 4,000 reviews. From here the cathedral, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and the main shopping streets can all be reached on foot.

St Andrews Hotel is the only 4-star in this list and the best compromise between the centre and the car. It sits close to Exeter city centre, yet has a large free car park, which is useful this near the cathedral. Family suites are available, every room has an en-suite shower room and a hospitality tray, and breakfast is either full English or continental. The hotel also offers bike rental, a pleasant way to reach the Quayside along the River Exe with older children. It scores 8.2 from nearly 2,400 reviews. I would book it for families who drive in but still want to explore the centre on foot.

Exeter Court Hotel and Holiday Inn Express Exeter East suit families who will use Exeter as a base for touring. Exeter Court, a 3-star 15 minutes' drive from Exeter International Airport, has free on-site parking, spacious en-suite rooms, a traditional restaurant, family suites and access to golf facilities; it scores 8.5 from over 3,400 reviews. Holiday Inn Express Exeter East, also a 3-star, offers family suites, a free breakfast buffet and a pet-friendly policy, and it presents itself as a base for Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks. Its parking is charged and it stands in a commercial district, so it is practical rather than charming.

The Devon Hotel is the only one of the five with a spa and wellness centre, which gives parents something for themselves after a day out. It is a 3-star hotel about 2 miles from the centre of Exeter, with free public parking, a lively bar and restaurant, family suites and a pet-friendly policy. Rooms are classic, with satellite TV and tea and coffee facilities. It scores 8.2 from about 1,900 reviews. I would choose it for families travelling with a dog or planning a longer stay, when an evening in the spa and a meal on site are worth more than being able to walk to the cathedral.