Go Devon

08/07/2026

Sneak peek of tomorrow's Go Devon! Newsletter. Australia's Spooky Men's Chorale play Plymouth in August, plus an award-winning ABBA tribute, a rare lakeside garden opening near South Brent, Woolsery Show and Mad Dog Mcrea live dates. Subscribe to receive the newsletter tomorrow. www.go-devon.com/subscribe

25/06/2026

Devon open gardens July 2026

July is peak open-garden season.

Rarely seen private gardens open their gates to reveal all their glories.

Many turn their openings into a day out by serving tea, cake and scones — what could be more Devon?

Support nursing and health causes by visiting exceptional private gardens through the National Garden Scheme and St Lukes Hospice charities.

Visit 25 Devon gardens this July — Keith Wiley's Wildside, Flete House, Greatcombe and more, in aid of the National Garden Scheme and St Luke's Hospice.

24/06/2026

What's On in South Devon

Nature & Outdoors | Theatre & Music | Arts & Crafts | Food & Drink | History & Heritage

The pick of what’s coming up, for those who like to plan ahead.

Tap or click any event name for details or tickets.

Updated weekly.

https://www.go-devon.com/p/whats-on-south-devon

24/06/2026

What's On in North Devon

Nature & Outdoors | Theatre & Music | Arts & Crafts | Food & Drink | History & Heritage

For those who like to plan ahead here’s the pick of what’s coming up.

Tap or click any event name for details or tickets. Updated weekly.

https://www.go-devon.com/p/whats-on-north-devon

04/06/2026

STREET FOOD

Tavistock eats the world.

This is the night Bedford Square fills with gorgeous smells and people graze from stall to stall with drink in hand.

The evening street food market is back for the summer — just turn up and indulge in Caribbean, Indian, Mediterranean, Asian, or the more traditional comforts of American burgers and loaded fries.

There’s plenty of plant-based for vegetarians and vegans, and sweet things if you’ve got room for afters.

A bar keeps the place lively with local ales, prosecco and cocktails.

Start time 5pm.

Dates: 27th June, 25th July, 22nd August (all Saturdays)

Get hand-picked ideas for making the most of Devon with Go Devon! Newsletter in your inbox every Thursday. Sign up today, it’s free! www.go-devon.com

04/06/2026

SAVE UP TO 35% ON AN ILFRACOMBE SHORT STAY

[Partner Promotion] North Devon Resort, where I enjoyed a relaxing stay recently, is offering up to 35% off June bookings of 2 nights or more.

That means you can grab a hot tub apartment for £65.82 per person per night. If you prefer no hot tub accommodation, it’s only £37.80 per person.

The resort is ideal for the rugged North Devon coast path or for pottering around Ilfracombe licking ice creams and watching the boats.

For a couple staying 2 nights between Sunday and Thursday, check out these options:

- A double room or compact studio for £37.80 per person per night

- A seaview studio for £45 per person per night

- A 1-bed sea view apartment with terrace for £55.80 per person per night

- A seaview 1-bed hot tub apartment for £65.82 per person per night

The resort takes dogs, has a cafe, bar, restaurant, swimming pool and sauna, and is a short walk from the town centre. More details: https://northdevonresort.com/offer/discounted-spring-early-summer-breaks

03/06/2026

Outdoor theatre near you: The Pickwick Papers

Enter the chaotic Victorian world of The Pickwick Papers in an outdoor theatre adaptation of the Dickens classic showing at 3 Devon venues.

The Rain or Shine theatre company promise to battle on whatever the weather, taking you through a tale of confusing courtships and courtroom battles.

It’s classic open air comedy and comes with an invitation to bring your own seating, picnic and wet weather gear. Tickets are £18.

Clovelly Court Gardens, Friday 19th June

Badock Gardens, Holsworthy, Saturday 20th June

Tapeley Park, Bideford, Friday 21st August

Never be short of ideas for days out in Devon.

Food & Drink | Arts & Crafts | History & Heritage | Nature & Outdoors | Theatre & Music.

Hand-picked ideas in your inbox every Thursday. Subscribe at www.go-devon.com

02/06/2026

Wolf Hall and hot swing

Budleigh Music Festival returns next month with 10 days of performances that unashamedly push classical music boundaries.

Most of the 19 concerts are at St Peter’s Church with a line-up of choral, baroque, musical theatre, film-with-live-orchestra, guitar, piano, brass, saxophone, double bass, and hot swing.

Here’s a few highlights that caught my eye:

Simply Sondheim, with West End singers and the English Musical Theatre Orchestra

Aardman in Concert celebrates 50 years of Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, ending with a live orchestra performance of The Wrong Trousers

Seaside Reflections, an RNLI benefit concert following the Christmas Day 2025 swimming tragedies on Budleigh beach

The finale is Wolf Hall in Concert, a tribute to Budleigh resident Dame Hilary Mantel.

Thursday 25th June to Sunday 4th July. Tickets from £3 to £38.

For more advance notice of Devon music events subscribe to Go Devon! Newsletter. Every Thursday in your inbox. Sign up at www.go-devon.com

01/06/2026

DEVON CURIOSITIES: Tavistock Guildhall Heritage Centre

Question: What do you get when you mix copper, arsenic, money, miners and pubs?

Answer: Trouble.

In 1865, John Williams and William Turner appeared before magistrates after stealing 5 shillings, bread and bacon from a man at the Herring’s Arms. They were sentenced to a month’s hard labour.

(Times have changed. Today, organised criminals fill their bags with top quality steaks from M & S Derriford and walk out without a challenge. Just saying).

Tavistock Guildhall is a purpose built police station and magistrates court designed to deal with the messy consequences of industrialisation — and deal out harsh penalties for wrong-doing.

Visitors to the centre can walk through the restored Victorian courtroom, and underneath see the cells, still bleak and miserable despite a 21st century makeover.

Your trip is not just about the mechanics of 19th century law and order — it’s a glimpse into the Victorian underbelly of petty thieves, drunkards and the unlucky souls on their way from courtroom to prison. Admission is free.

Opening hours 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday.

For more Devon Curiosities sign-up for Go Devon! Newsletter. Ideas for making the most of Devon. In your email inbox every Thursday. www.go-devon.com

01/06/2026

DEVON CURIOSITIES: PIXIE DAY

Hundreds of Ottery St Mary children dress up to re-enact an ancient legend on Saturday 20th June.

The annual Pixie Day pageant marks a tale that dates back to 1454.

As you may be aware, pixies once occupied Ottery St Mary in large numbers but were forced out by humans and the building of the church.

The pixies particularly hated the bells and tried to stop them as they believed that every time they rang a pixie died.

One midsummer's day they invaded the town, captured the bell ringers and imprisoned them in a cave by the river, still known to this day as Pixie's Parlour.

The episode became known as “The Pixies Revenge”.

As the tension builds towards the re-enactment, visitors can enjoy the fete.

From 12pm, Saturday 20th June, The Land of Canaan, Ottery St Mary. (Pixie’s Revenge at 5pm).

For more Devon Curiosities signup for Go Devon! Newsletter. Free in your inbox every Thursday. Subscribe at www.go-devon.com