Home > Where to go > Barnstaple Town

MARKET DAYS
Mon†: (small) general market
Tues: food and plants market
Wed: antiques market
Thur: arts and crafts market
Fri: food and produce market
Sat: general market

†April to December.

TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE tel: 01271 375000.

BARNSTAPLE TOWN CENTRE Website: www.barnstaple.co.uk

Town Centre: 1,000 yards of pedestrianised shopping streets including 200 yards of covered shopping malls, 3 multi-level department stores including Marks & Spencer's and Banbury's, large covered market*, famous Butchers' Row (butchers, fishmongers, organic greengrocers, delicatessen, cheese shop, baker, florist), Iceland and Somerfield supermarkets, Marks & Spencer's Foodhall, theatre, multi-screen cinema, nightclubs, pubs, restaurants and cafes, 3 parks including castle motte and bailey, pitch 'n' putt, putting, tennis, skateboard park, adventure playgrounds, riverside gardens (with statues, fountains, clock tower, cafe, mosaic and 2 museums**), library with county records office, sports and leisure centre*, tennis centre*, start of Tarka Trail and end of Macmillan Way, on Sustrans 3 and 31 Cycle Routes, on South West Way coast path, railway station, coach and bus station (37 bus routes start here).
Edge of Town: Many stores including Tesco's, Sainsbury's, Somerfield, Lidl x 2, Co-op, Brian Ford's, BJ's Cash'n'Carry, B&Q, Focus Do-It-All, Homebase, MFI, Wickes, Curry's, Comet, Carpetright, PC World, Staples, Argos Extra, MacDonald's x 2, Pizza Hut, Laura Ashley, Factory Fabric Warehouse, Heathcote's Factory Shop, St John's Garden Centre and Jungleland*, Trelawney Garden Centre, Ten-pin bowling* and ice-skating, soft-play adventure*, GoKarting*, Golf Course and Driving Range. Hospital, College, 5 business parks.
*SEE ENTRIES BELOW.

The Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon is a major regional museum, housed in fine Victorian brick building, beside Barnstaple's famous C13th Long Bridge. Ten galleries displaying and interpreting the natural, social and military history of northern Devon. Burma Campaign exhibition - the 'forgotten army'. Small Art Gallery. Ravillious photographic exhibition of rural life. Tourist Information Centre in entrance hall.
Opening Times: All year, Mon-Sat, 0930-1700. Closed Sun and Christmas week.
Admission Charges: Free.
Dogs admitted: No.

An exhibition of Barnstaple's history from medieval to present day. The centre is housed in a beautiful Grade I Listed building on the historic quayside. The Ballad of Barnstaple The fixed hands-on exhibition takes visitors through the major periods of Barnstaple's rich past. A combination of touch-screen computer interactives, information panels and atmospheric mock-ups help bring history to life for visitors of all ages. The exhibition covers the main periods of the town's history and includes mediaeval and civil war displays. An audio-visual presentation, computerised heritage trail map and extensive picture database are particularly special features of the Heritage Centre. A wealth of information is revealed, all faithfully researched by local historians.
Opening Times: 1 Apr-31 Oct, Tue-Sat, 1000-1700; 1 Nov-31 Mar, Tue-Fri, 1000-1630, Sat, 1000-1530.
Admission Charges: Adult: £3.50 Child: £2.00 Concession: £2.50 Family: £10.00
Dogs admitted: No.

Discover the fascinating history of the country's oldest royal-chartered borough, find the norman fortifications, imagine the bustle of the 17th Century port, visit the farmers' market and hear of Civil War skirmishes and intrigue. Sit at the original desks in the 16th Century Grammar School, see the Guildhall silver (by arrangement with Town Council), etc, all in the company of Tom Evans, our colourful local historian.
Opening Times: Tours available, day-time or evening, by appointment only.
Charges: from £20 per group.
Dogs admitted: No.

Over 100 yards long, this is one of the largest and busiest covered markets in the South-West. Built mostly of wood, but with brick walls, in 1855, this beautiful, airy building houses a different type of market each day of the week (except Sunday).
Opening Times: Monday(Apr-Dec): small general market 9.00am to 3.00pm; Tuesday: food, plants and flowers 9.00am to 4.00pm; Wednesday: antiques and collectibles 9.00am to 3.00pm; Thursday(Apr-Dec): "arts and crafts" (mostly general stalls) 9.00am to 3.00pm; Friday: large home-produce 8.00am to 3.30pm; Saturday: large general 9.00am to 4.00pm.
Admission Charges: Free.
Dogs admitted: No.

Swimming pool, indoor bowls, squash. Matted area for martial arts. Solariums, sports hall, table tennis, 5-a-side football. Aerobics/keepfit, new health suite.
Opening Times: All year, every day, up to 15 hours per day.
Admission Charges: Free - separate charges for sports.
Dogs admitted: No.

The Tarka Tennis Centre (Barnstaple's new £5 million tennis complex) has international standard facilities that has certainly put North Devon on the tennis map. Professional coaching available.
Courts: 6 x Indoor Acrylic, 4 x Floodlit Artificial Grass, 2 x Floodlit Clay.
Facilities: Bar, Catering facilities, Changing rooms, Meeting room, Pay and Play, Showers, Television screen/set, Video recorder, WCs, Wheelchair access.
Opening Times: All year, Mon-Fri 0830-2200, Sat-Sun 0830-2000.
Admission Charges: Various.
Dogs admitted: No.

Over 130 bicycles: tourers, mountain bikes, tandems, trailer bikes, children's bikes, etc, available for daily hire - whether on the adjacent Tarka Trail Cycle Path (32 mile long off-road cycle/foot path), or on the roads and bridle paths of North Devon. Free car park.
Opening Times: Easter - early November
Hire Charges: £8.00-£10.50 per adult.
Dogs admitted: dogs under control are allowed on the cycle path.

Ten-pin bowling with fully automated scoring. Ice Skating. Game Zone (jet-ski simulator, Sega races, Air Hockey, shooting screens, gaming machines and pool tables). Children's Megazone (laser adventure in the Alien Wasteland). Bar and Diner (hot food all day). Let's Go Superbowl.
Opening Times: All year, Mon-Sat, 1100-2300; Sun, 1100-2230
Admission Charges: 1st/2nd Game: Adult: £4.95/£3.95 Child (under 16): £4.50/£3.50.
Dogs admitted: No.

Two circuits: 'Family Track' which is 200 metres and 'Pro Track' which is 400 metres.
Opening Times: Apr-Oct, Sun 1100-1700; Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Mon-Sat, 1030-1700;1-20 Jul, Mon-Sat, 1000-1800; 21 Jul-31 Aug, Mon-Sat, 1000-1830; Oct, Mon-Sat, 1100-1600; Winter weekends + school holidays 1100-1600
Admission Charges: Arrive and drive: 6 minute drive session: £4.00, £7.00 or £10.00 depending on type of kart..
Dogs admitted: No.

North Devon's largest indoor soft-play centre. A play heaven for the under 12's on four levels. Rope bridges, tunnels, ball pools, cannons, log ramps, spider webs, punch bags and five slides. Dedicated area for under 3's with slide, ball pool, soft shapes, etc. Funder Forest Cafe. Long sleeves and trousers are recommended, socks are required (socks can be purchased). One mile east of town centre, close to Tesco's, but on the other side of the A39.
Also LASER ZONE after 6.30pm - the entire play area becomes the domain of a laser game: advance booking required (minimum of 8 children).
Shop Opening Times: All year, every day: 1000-1830 (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day).
Admission Charges: Adult: £1 Child: under 1yr FREE, 1-4yrs £4.00, 5-12yrs £4.50
Dogs admitted: No.

Chipmunks, terrapins, birds and fish in exotic setting of giant cacti, tropical jungle plants and waterfalls. All under cover.
Opening Times: All year, daily, Mon-Sat, 0900-1730, Sun, 1030-1630. Closed 15 Apr, 25,26 Dec.
Admission Charges: Free
Dogs admitted: No.