Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Barnstaple travel guide

Barnstaple Tourism | Barnstaple Guide

You're Going to Love Barnstaple

With a population of 32 532, Barnstaple is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. Consider staying at least one whole day in Barnstaple to see all of its attractions.

Where to Eat in Barnstaple

If you’re looking for affordable options, The Waterside (Chivenor Business Park) and Heanton Court (Braunton Rd) are great picks.

When to visit Barnstaple

Barnstaple in December
Estimated hotel price
£64
1 night at 3-star hotel
Barnstaple in December
Estimated hotel price
£64
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Barnstaple

Plane

Although Barnstaple doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Exeter Airport (EXT), which is located 59 km from Barnstaple. Exeter Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from British Airways, Loganair, Blue Islands and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Barnstaple departs from London and takes around 14h 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Barnstaple, followed by Great Western Railway. The train journey from Barnstaple to London takes 2h 05m and costs around £74 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about £1,084 for a 9h 00m trip. The train station in Barnstaple is called Barnstaple, and is located 0.8 km from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Barnstaple is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 277 km from Barnstaple. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Barnstaple, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Barnstaple takes 153 km and will cost you around £12. From London, the ticket costs about £18 for a journey of 418 km. Barnstaple’s bus station is located 0.2 km from the city centre.

Plane

Although Barnstaple doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Exeter Airport (EXT), which is located 59 km from Barnstaple. Exeter Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from British Airways, Loganair, Blue Islands and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Barnstaple departs from London and takes around 14h 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Barnstaple, followed by Great Western Railway. The train journey from Barnstaple to London takes 2h 05m and costs around £74 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about £1,084 for a 9h 00m trip. The train station in Barnstaple is called Barnstaple, and is located 0.8 km from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Barnstaple is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 277 km from Barnstaple. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Barnstaple, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Barnstaple takes 153 km and will cost you around £12. From London, the ticket costs about £18 for a journey of 418 km. Barnstaple’s bus station is located 0.2 km from the city centre.

Airports near Barnstaple

EXTExeter
BRSBristol
CWLCardiff Wales

Airlines serving Barnstaple

KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,836 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,588 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,935 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,698 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,446 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,203 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (967 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (5,053 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (769 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,076 reviews)
easyJet
Good (1,799 reviews)
Pegasus Airlines
Good (621 reviews)
GOL
Good (1,068 reviews)
Vueling
Good (1,159 reviews)
Kenya Airways
Good (262 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (642 reviews)
Jet2
Excellent (161 reviews)
AccesRail
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Where to stay in popular areas of Barnstaple

Most booked hotels in Barnstaple

See all
Watersmeet Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£216+
View
Croyde Bay Hotel or Self Catering
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
£128+
View
The Woolacombe Bay Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
£198+
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The Imperial Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£122+
View
Saunton Sands Hotel Source Spa And Wellness
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£128+
View
The Park Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£116+
View

Hiring a car in Barnstaple

Hiring a car in Barnstaple costs £45 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 2% more expensive than at Exeter.

Expect to pay £1.30 per litre in Barnstaple (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.58 and £20.77. The most frequently booked car type in Barnstaple is Compact (Nissan Juke or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Standard car hire (Class Commercial Truck or similar) is, on average, 20% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Barnstaple costs £45 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 2% more expensive than at Exeter.

Expect to pay £1.30 per litre in Barnstaple (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.58 and £20.77. The most frequently booked car type in Barnstaple is Compact (Nissan Juke or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Standard car hire (Class Commercial Truck or similar) is, on average, 20% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Barnstaple

Barnstaple Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Barnstaple city guide for the best Barnstaple travel tips. To help you organise your Barnstaple trip ideas, this Barnstaple visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.