2 Best Sights in Exeter, The West Country

At the heart of Exeter, the great Gothic cathedral was begun in 1275 and completed almost a century later. Its twin towers are even older survivors of an earlier Norman cathedral. Rising from a forest of ribbed columns, the nave's 300-foot stretch of unbroken Gothic vaulting is the longest in the world. Myriad statues, tombs, and memorial plaques adorn the interior. In the minstrels' gallery, high up on the left of the nave, stands a group of carved figures singing and playing musical instruments, including bagpipes. Guided tours of the interior (at least two a day, at 11 am and 2 pm Monday through Saturday), roof, chapel, garden, and precinct are available, as are audio tours. Outside in Cathedral Close, look out for the 400-year-old door to No. 10, the bishop of Crediton's house, ornately carved with angels' and lions' heads.

The centerpiece of this family-friendly museum, housed in a refurbished Victorian building, is the Making History gallery, a giddy mix of objects imaginatively illustrating the city's history and covering everything from Roman pottery to World War II memorabilia. The geology section is thrillingly enhanced by the latest video technology, and there are also excellent ethnography and archaeological collections, natural-history displays, and works by West Country artists.