Ilfracombe in Devon

Ilfracombe is a small town on the North Devon coast in the west of England. It has a beautiful harbour and some wonderful examples of Victorian architecture. Ilfracombe has become a culinary centre for the area with several excellent seafood restaurants, a buzzing cafe culture and Damien Hirsts' 10 The Quay restaurant. Ilfracombe has a vibrant, up and coming feel to it and is perfectly placed for a great family holiday.

Tourist Information

• Visit Devon

Get in

By road

• Ilfracombe sits on the A361 road which is connected to the M5 Motorway near Tiverton. Ilfracombe is typically 2 hours drive from Bristol.

By coach

• The town is served by National Express coaches, including direct services to Bristol and London (via Heathrow Airport).
• Several holiday companies offer coach holidays in Ilfracombe.

By train

• The nearest train station is situated in Barnstaple, at the end of the branch line from Exeter. Local bus services connect Ilfracombe to 1 Barnstaple station.

Get around

By bus

• Local buses connect Ilfracombe to the surrounding seaside resorts, including neighbouring Woolacombe, a large sandy beach popular with surfers.
• Frequent buses also connect Ilfracombe to nearby towns and villages, including Combe Martin, Braunton and Barnstaple: the largest town in the area.

See

• 1 Ilfracombe Aquarium, The Quay, EX34 9EQ, ☏ +44 1271 864533. (updated Jan 2018)
• 2 Ilfracombe Museum, Wilder Rd, EX34 8AF, ☏ +44 1271 863541. M-Sa: 10AM-5PM, Su: Closed. (updated Jan 2018)
• 3 Chambercombe Manor, ☏ +44 1271 862624. M-F: 11AM-4PM, Sa: Closed, Su: noon-4PM. A white-painted Norman manor house, apparently haunted. (updated Jan 2018)
• 4 Verity. The new giant art installation by Damien Hirst, situated on the end of the pier. (updated Jan 2018)
• 5 St. Nicholas's Chapel, Lantern Hill, EX34 9EQ. Chapel with lighthouse lantern. (updated Oct 2016)

Do

• Take a day-trip to Swansea or Penarth (near Cardiff) on a paddle steamer – summer only.
• 1 Lundy Island. Take a trip to Lundy. See puffins and seals. (updated Jan 2018)
• Take a walk up Hillsborough or Capstone for superb views.
• Walk the coast path to Lee and Woolacombe and beyond
• 2 Landmark Theatre. (updated Jan 2018)
• 3 The Embassy Cinema, 134 High St, EX34 9EZ, ☏ +44 1271 862323. (updated Jan 2018)

Buy

• Enjoy the High Street with its' wide range of independent shops

Eat

• Espresso. For great seafood and meat. 
• Gazpacho. For authentic Spanish food and fabulous tapas. 
• 10 The Quay. For good food surrounded by Damien Hirst artwork and sometimes a chance to spot him. 
• Grassroots. For great vegetarian delights. 
• The Deli. For coffee, brunch and lunch. 
• Maddys. Fish and chips. 
• Harbour deli. Olives, paninis and coffee. 
• Joe Deluccis. Great ice cream. 

For pub grub go down Fore Street. At the end before reaching the harbour the George & Dragon as well as the Prince of Wales serve food.

Drink

• 1 The Admiral Collingwood, Wilder Rd, EX34 9AP, ☏ +44 1271 862373. Su-Th: 8AM-midnight, F-Sa: 8AM-1AM. Wetherspoon's pub. (updated Jan 2018)

Sleep

• 1 Royal Britannia Hotel, Broad St, The Harbour, EX34 9EE, ☏ +44 1271 862939. 

A couple of B&Bs are located on St. Brannock's Road near the intersection with Bicclescombe Park Road. If you do not want to walk from here to the town centre, a bus stop is right at this intersection.

Go next

• Passenger ferries to Lundy Island
• Exmoor National Park lies 4 miles to the east by road from Ilfracombe
• Dartmoor National Park is about 1 hour's drive to the south.