Southernhay House Hotel
By the Top3Hotels editorial team. Based on Booking.com guest scores and reviews, location data and reference prices. We did not stay at this hotel. Updated 2026-10-24.
Book it if you want a 5-star stay on a quiet street a few minutes from Exeter Cathedral and you value a high-quality breakfast. Be aware that it costs more than twice our other Exeter picks and that some guests report housekeeping lapses.
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Sold out? See available alternatives →Who it suits and who should skip it
This is our Luxury pick in Exeter, and it suits couples who want a special stay close to the centre. Guests describe a central position near the cathedral and the shops, yet on a quiet street. Breakfast gets real praise.
The property lists a restaurant, a garden, a terrace and free Wi-Fi. That is a short list for a 5-star hotel, so if you want a gym, spa or pool, our data does not show any here.
Skip it if you are watching costs, or if consistent cleanliness is non-negotiable. Some guests found stained mats, dirty drains and missed housekeeping.
Location and getting around
The address is 36 Southernhay East. Guests rate the location 9.6 out of 10.
Exeter Cathedral is about 0.2 km away, roughly 3 minutes on foot. Isca Dumnoniorum is about 0.5 km, around 6 minutes. Sandy Park is about 4.4 km away, around 55 minutes on foot, which is far, so plan on public transport or a taxi.
Walking times are straight-line estimates and have not been checked on the ground.
What guests say
The hotel scores 8.4 out of 10, but from only 111 reviews. That is a small sample, so a handful of new reviews could move the score either way.
Guests praise the location and a high-quality breakfast, with hot smoked salmon, eggs, fresh juice and yogurt mentioned by name. The complaint is room cleanliness: some areas were well presented, while others had stained mats, dirty drains and missed housekeeping. At this price, that is worth weighing.
Price and what you get against our other Exeter picks
Reference prices seen for a 2-night stay in November 2026 for 2 adults put Southernhay House at €236.06 per night. The sample median was €106.08. These are not live quotes. Check today's price for your dates.
Our Budget pick, Holiday Inn Express - Exeter - City Centre by IHG, came in at €102.58 per night with 8.5 and 3 stars. Our Best Value pick, Leonardo Hotel Exeter, came in at €102.81 with 8.4 and 4 stars. Both cost less than half as much, and both score the same or slightly higher.
What the premium buys is 5-star status, a quiet street close to the cathedral and a breakfast that covers full English or Irish, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, plus breakfast to go. Whether breakfast is included in your rate is not confirmed.
Why it made our top 3
We compared 7 eligible hotels in Exeter. For the Luxury slot, five-star hotels come first. Southernhay House holds 5 official stars, scored joint third of 7 on reviews and has a 9.6 location score.
It earned the slot on category and position, not on value. If you do not need a 5-star stay, our other two picks make more financial sense.
Before you book
Room size, noise, renovation condition, breakfast inclusion and cancellation terms have not been assessed. Check each on the booking page.
Because the review base is small, read the most recent reviews for comments on housekeeping. Confirm restaurant opening times for your dates. And if anything is wrong with your room, raise it at once, since guest reports suggest standards vary.
Check prices on Booking.com ↗We may earn a commission if you book. It never changes our pick.
Sold out? See available alternatives →Questions travellers ask
How close is Southernhay House Hotel to Exeter Cathedral?
The cathedral is about 0.2 km away, roughly 3 minutes on foot as a straight-line estimate.
Is Southernhay House Hotel worth the price?
It cost €236.06 per night at reference prices, more than twice our other Exeter picks. It suits travellers who want a 5-star stay and a strong breakfast, not those focused on value.
What is breakfast like?
Guests praise hot smoked salmon, eggs, fresh juice and yogurt. Options listed include full English or Irish, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and breakfast to go.
Are there any common complaints?
Some guests report stained mats, dirty drains and missed housekeeping, while others found rooms well presented. The score comes from only 111 reviews.
Does it have a spa or gym?
Our data lists a restaurant, garden, terrace and free Wi-Fi only. A spa or gym is not confirmed, so check with the hotel if you need one.