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The 3 best hotels in Exeter.

One Budget, one Best Value, one Luxury, chosen from 7 hotels Booking.com returned for the same stay. No endless list: pick your style and book.

The 3 best hotels in Exeter, United Kingdom: Holiday Inn Express - Exeter - City Centre by IHG (budget), Leonardo Hotel Exeter (best value) and Southernhay House Hotel (luxury). Sourced guest scores and reference prices.

Selected with the Top3Hotels method · Updated September 19, 2026IndependentNo paid rankings

At a glance

BudgetHoliday Inn Express - Exeter - City Centre by IHG8.5/10 · €103 / nightBest ValueLeonardo Hotel Exeter8.4/10 · €103 / nightLuxurySouthernhay House Hotel8.4/10 · €236 / night
Quick dates:
Holiday Inn Express - Exeter - City Centre by IHG, Exeter
Budget
8.5€103 / night

Holiday Inn Express - Exeter - City Centre by IHG

★★★Tudor Street

Best forSmart-budget trips · Sightseeing on foot

  • 8.5/10 from 3,907 guest reviews
  • ≈ 5 min walk to Isca Dumnoniorum
  • Chosen from 7 hotels
3,907 Booking.com reviewsLocation 9Price checked on Booking.com · 19 Sep 2026
  • Guests sayLocation: Short walk to the city centre, train station, and quay.
  • Value For Money: Reasonable room rates, but on-site parking fees are considered high.
  • Pets allowed
  • Family rooms
  • Great breakfast
Reference rate
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Why this Budget pick
  • Guest feedback: 8.5/10 from 3,907 guest reviews; joint review-score position 1 of 7 eligible properties in the provider sample.
  • Budget choice: €102.58 per night was the lowest eligible reference price after reserving the upscale choice.
  • Price context: €102.58/night versus a sample median of €106.08/night (3% below the median).
  • Location: Exeter, Exeter. Address: Tudor Street. Walking times are estimates from map distance.
Leonardo Hotel Exeter, Exeter
Best Value★ Our pick
8.4€103 / night

Leonardo Hotel Exeter

★★★★Western Way

Best forMost travellers · Sightseeing on foot

  • 8.4/10 from 6,278 guest reviews
  • ≈ 10 min walk to Exeter Cathedral
  • Chosen from 7 hotels
6,278 Booking.com reviewsLocation 9Price checked on Booking.com · 19 Sep 2026

8.4/10 with a balanced reference price · restaurant, family rooms.

  • Family rooms
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Why this Best Value pick
  • Guest feedback: 8.4/10 from 6,278 guest reviews; joint review-score position 3 of 7 eligible properties in the provider sample.
  • Best Value choice: balances the guest score, the number of reviews and the reference price; it is not necessarily the cheapest hotel.
  • Price context: €102.81/night versus a sample median of €106.08/night (3% below the median).
  • Location: Exeter, Exeter. Address: Western Way. Walking times are estimates from map distance.
Southernhay House Hotel, Exeter
Luxury
8.4€236 / night

Southernhay House Hotel

★★★★★The Top-rated Area in Exeter

Best forSpecial occasions · Sightseeing on foot

  • 8.4/10 from 111 guest reviews
  • ≈ 3 min walk to Exeter Cathedral
  • Chosen from 7 hotels
111 Booking.com reviewsLocation 9.6Price checked on Booking.com · 19 Sep 2026
  • Guests sayLocation: Central position near the cathedral and shops, yet situated on a quiet street.
  • Room Cleanliness: Some areas were well-presented, but others had stained mats, dirty drains, and missed housekeeping.
  • Great breakfast
Reference rate
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Why this Luxury pick
  • Guest feedback: 8.4/10 from 111 guest reviews; joint review-score position 3 of 7 eligible properties in the provider sample.
  • Luxury choice: 5 stars (official). Five-star hotels are prioritized; a four-star fallback must score at least 8.5.
  • Price context: €236.06/night versus a sample median of €106.08/night.
  • Location: The Top-rated Area in Exeter, Exeter. Address: 36 Southernhay East. Walking times are estimates from map distance.

Compare the three hotels side by side · Hotels near: Exeter Cathedral, Sandy Park, Isca Dumnoniorum

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Reference rate: 10–12 Nov 2026, 2 adults, 1 room · Price checked on Booking.com · 19 Sep 2026.

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Where to stay in Exeter

Each pick sits in a different part of town. Choose the base that fits your trip.

Budget

Tudor Street

Holiday Inn Express - Exeter - City Centre by IHG · ≈ 5 min walk to Isca Dumnoniorum

Best for: Smart-budget trips, Sightseeing on foot

Best Value

Western Way

Leonardo Hotel Exeter · ≈ 10 min walk to Exeter Cathedral

Best for: Most travellers, Sightseeing on foot

Luxury

The Top-rated Area in Exeter

Southernhay House Hotel · ≈ 3 min walk to Exeter Cathedral

Best for: Special occasions, Sightseeing on foot

Map

BudgetBest ValueLuxuryExeter Cathedral · Sandy Park · Isca Dumnoniorum

Exeter hotels compared

PickHotelAreaStarsGuest scoreRef. price / night
BudgetHoliday Inn Express - Exeter - City Centre by IHGTudor Street38.5 (3,907)€103
Best ValueLeonardo Hotel ExeterWestern Way48.4 (6,278)€103
LuxurySouthernhay House HotelThe Top-rated Area in Exeter58.4 (111)€236

Questions about hotels in Exeter

What is the best budget hotel in Exeter?
Holiday Inn Express - Exeter - City Centre by IHG (Tudor Street): 8.5/10 · 3,907 reviews · €103 / night · Guests say: “Location: Short walk to the city centre, train station, and quay.”
What is the best value hotel in Exeter?
Leonardo Hotel Exeter (Western Way): 8.4/10 · 6,278 reviews · €103 / night
What is the best luxury hotel in Exeter?
Southernhay House Hotel (The Top-rated Area in Exeter): 8.4/10 · 111 reviews · €236 / night · Guests say: “Location: Central position near the cathedral and shops, yet situated on a quiet street.”
Where should I stay in Exeter?
Our three picks are in Tudor Street, Western Way, The Top-rated Area in Exeter. Open each hotel on the map to see the neighbourhood before you book.
Are these hotel prices live?
No. They are reference rates for 10–12 Nov 2026, 2 adults and 1 room, checked on Booking.com on September 19, 2026. The booking link shows the current rate for your dates.

How we pick the three

Budget is the lowest eligible reference rate. Best Value balances price and guest score. Luxury prioritises five-star hotels; if none qualify, a four-star rated 8.5+ is labelled as an upscale alternative. Every pick shows its source, review count and when we checked it. This is a data-based shortlist, not a paid ranking. How we choose →

Sources

Guest scores, review counts, reference prices and hotel photos: Booking.com. City photos: Wikimedia Commons. Sights: Wikipedia. Maps: OpenStreetMap. Price checked on Booking.com · 19 Sep 2026.

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Holiday Inn Express - Exeter - City Centre by IHG

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Leonardo Hotel Exeter

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Southernhay House Hotel

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