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

BARNSTAPLE
(Bearda's stapol: C9th)
LANTERN 96.2 FM RADIO
population 34,000 overall. Principal town of North Devon.

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, 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*, soft-play adventure, start of Tarka Trail and 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, 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, MacDonald's x 2, Pizza Hut, Factory Fabric Warehouse, St John's Garden Centre and Jungleland*, Trelawney Garden Centre, Ten-pin bowling*, GoKarting*, Golf Course and Driving Range. Hospital, College, 5 business parks.
*SEE ENTRIES BELOW.




See Devon County Council's scale model of Barnstaple's Western By-Pass (inc The Downstream Bridge), which is currently under construction.

Museum of North Devon
Admission Free
The Square, Barnstaple, EX32 8LN. Tel: 01271 346747.
Website:
Museum of North Devon

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.

www.devonmuseums.net/component/option,com_mumancontent/task,view/sectionid,7/


Barnstaple Heritage Centre
 
Queen Anne's Walk, Barnstaple, EX32 1EU. Tel: 01271 373003.
Website:
Barnstaple Heritage Centre

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, Mon-Sat, 1000-1700; 1 Nov-31 Mar, Mon-Fri, 1000-1700, Sat, 1000-1530.
Admission Charges: Adult: £2.50 Child: £1.50 Concession: £2.00 Family: £7.50
Saturday Special Reduced Charge: Adult: £1.00 Child/Concession 50p

Dogs admitted: Yes.


Guided Walks of Historic Barnstaple
 
Tourist Information Centre, The Square, Barnstaple, EX32 8LN. Tel: 01271 375000.
Website:
www.oyez-oyez.co.uk

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.


The Pannier Market
Admission Free
High Street, Barnstaple, EX31 1BX.
Website:
The Pannier Market

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.


North Devon Leisure Centre
Admission Free
Seven Brethren Bank, Barnstaple, EX31 2AP. Tel: 01271 373361.
Website:
North Devon Leisure Centre

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.


Tarka Tennis Centre
Admission Free
Seven Brethren Bank, Barnstaple, EX31 2AS. Tel: 01271 377701.
Website: www.tarkatennis.net

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.


Tarka Trail Cycle Hire
 
The Railway Station, Barnstaple, EX31 2AU. Tel: 01271 324202.
Website:
www.tarkatrail.co.uk

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: £6.00-£9.50 per adult.
Dogs admitted: dogs under control are allowed on the cycle path.


Brannam's Pottery - factory shop
 
Roundswell, Barnstaple, Devon. Tel: 01271 343035.

PLEASE NOTE: FACTORY TOURS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.
Pottery shop selling a wide variety of kitchen and garden terracotta pottery. The Brannam Archive and The Brannam Collection is now housed in the new Pottery Gallery at the Museum of North Devon - see above.
Shop Opening Times: All year: Mon-Sat, 0900-1700.
Admission Charges: FREE
Dogs admitted: No.


Lets Go Superbowl
 
Braunton Road, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 1LE. Tel: 01271 321 123.

Ten-pin bowling with fully automated scoring. 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).
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.


North Devon Karting Centre
 
Braunton Road, Barnstaple, EX31 1HN. Tel: 01271 328460.
Website:
www.northdevonkarting.co.uk

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: Family track (200metres) £2.50 8-10 laps; Pro track (400metres) £5.00 8-10 laps. Buy 10 tickets - get extra 2 free.
Dogs admitted: No.


Jungleland
Admission Free
St John's Garden Centre, St John's Lane, Barnstaple, EX32 9DD. Tel: 01271 343884.
Website:
www.stjohnsgardencentre.co.uk

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.


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