Exeter
§ This page gives an overview of the Exeter local authority district, bringing together key facts, maps, and data to help you quickly understand the area. This is one of 361 LAD profiles on Baseview.
Overview ⁞ Exeter is a historic city on the River Exe, blending Roman origins, medieval architecture, and modern amenities. Its centre is dominated by Exeter Cathedral, surrounded by cobbled streets, shops, and cultural venues. The city’s historic quayside on the River Exe features converted warehouses, cafes, and walking trails, while the Royal Albert Memorial Museum highlights its heritage. Exeter is a gateway to Devon’s countryside, with easy access to the Exe Estuary, Dartmoor National Park, and the Jurassic Coast, combining urban vibrancy with proximity to scenic landscapes.
Exeter Boundary Map
This map shows the official boundary of the Exeter local authority district, based on the latest geographic data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It provides a clear view of the district’s extent and helps you understand how the area fits within the wider regional and national landscape.
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2025. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The administrative boundary of Exeter can also be viewed on OpenStreetMap: District Boundary of Exeter.
Key Facts about Exeter
What region is Exeter in? Exeter is in the South West of England, a region within the UK.
What county is Exeter in? Exeter is located in the county of Devon.
Is Exeter a city? Yes, Exeter is a city. Exeter holds official city status as one of the 76 designated cities in the UK.
Who governs Exeter? The local authority for this district is: Exeter City Council - responsible for district-level services. Since Devon is a two-tier area, county-level services are handled by: Devon County Council.
▶ Official website of Exeter City Council 🔗 exeter.gov.uk
Which police force covers Exeter? Policing in Exeter is provided by Devon & Cornwall Police 🔗 devon-cornwall.police.uk, which serves 12 local authority districts: Cornwall ⁞ East Devon ⁞ Exeter ⁞ Isles of Scilly ⁞ Mid Devon ⁞ North Devon ⁞ Plymouth ⁞ South Hams ⁞ Teignbridge ⁞ Torbay ⁞ Torridge ⁞ West Devon.
Constituencies in Exeter
Exeter is divided into 2 parliamentary constituencies, listed below in alphabetical order.
A constituency is a specific geographical area that elects one Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the House of Commons. The United Kingdom is divided into 650 parliamentary constituencies. We have this list page for easy browsing of all UK parliamentary constituencies: List of Constituencies.
Wards in Exeter
Exeter is divided into 13 wards, listed below in alphabetical order.
- Alphington
- Duryard and St James
- Exwick
- Heavitree
- Mincinglake and Whipton
- Newtown and St Leonard's
- Pennsylvania
- Pinhoe
- Priory
- St David's
- St Loyes
- St Thomas
- Topsham
In the UK, a ward is a subdivision of a local authority area, used mainly for electoral and statistical purposes. Defined by the ONS, wards represent the primary unit for local elections, each returning one or more councillors to the local council. Wards are also used as a key geography for presenting population and census data. We have this list page for easy browsing of all electoral wards: List of all Electoral Wards in the UK.
Parishes in Exeter
Exeter is entirely unparished—there are no civil parishes in this local authority district.
Parishes are the lowest tier of local government; where they don’t exist, those very local services and representation sit directly with the principal council. We have this list page for easy browsing of all parishes: List of Civil Parishes in England and Wales.
Post Towns in Exeter
Below is a list of post towns in Exeter, grouped by postcode area:
EX ▸ Exeter (EX1 / EX2 / EX3 / EX4 / EX5 / EX6)
The UK postal hierarchy begins with broad postcode areas (such as “CB” or “M”), which are divided into smaller postcode districts (such as “CB8” or “M1”) to support accurate mail routing. Each postal address is anchored by a designated post town, the official locality name used in the UK postcode system, which operates independently from Local Authority Districts —the administrative boundaries used for council tax and local government services. Because they serve different purposes, a property’s postal address and its local authority district do not always align exactly.
Built-up Areas in Exeter
Exeter covers 5 built-up areas, listed below in alphabetical order.
- Clyst Honiton *
- Exeter *
- Ide *
- Topsham *
- West Clyst *
In the UK, a Built-up Area (BUA) is a continuous urban area of at least 20 hectares (0.2 km²), defined by the ONS as land where buildings are generally no more than 200 metres apart, such as towns, cities, or large villages. (Note: A BUA name marked with an asterisk (*) indicates that the area is situated partly in the district of Exeter.)
We have this list page for easy browsing of all built-up areas: List of all Built-up Areas in GB.
Railway Stations in Exeter
Exeter is served by a number of National Rail stations, providing rail connections to nearby towns, cities, and destinations across Great Britain. The railway stations listed below are located within the Exeter Local Authority District and are grouped by train operating company for clarity.
- Great Western Railway ▸ Exeter Central (EX4 3SB) ⁞ Exeter St David's (EX4 4NT) ⁞ Digby and Sowton (EX2 7AW) ⁞ Exeter St Thomas (EX4 1AJ) ⁞ Topsham (EX3 0DS) ⁞ Polsloe Bridge (EX4 8AB) ⁞ Newcourt (EX2 7AS) ⁞ St James Park (Exeter) (EX4 6QB) ⁞ Marsh Barton (EX2 8QE)
- South Western Railway ▸ Pinhoe (EX1 3SE)
This is a district-level view only. For a complete list of all National Rail stations across Great Britain, see the UK National Rail Stations Directory.
Exeter compared with other districts in the UK
This section shows how Exeter compares with other local authority districts in the UK, using a variety of measures and rankings.
Exeter has 13 electoral wards.
Exeter has a population of 138,399 (2024 mid-year estimate by ONS)
Population and Migration Trends in Exeter
This chart shows the population trend for Exeter from 2015 to 2024. It provides a quick overview of whether the local authority is growing, stable, or declining over time, and helps set context for the migration patterns shown below.
Population change is influenced by natural change (births minus deaths) and migration. The net migration chart below focuses on migration, separating internal migration (moves within the UK) from international migration (moves to and from abroad). Positive values indicate net inflows, while negative values indicate net outflows. The rate labels (per 1,000 residents) help compare migration intensity across years, even when the population size changes.
More local statistics and data for Exeter can be found on the ONS statistics for Exeter.