The 40-room, mid-range Devon Hotel is a 10- to 15-minute drive to Exeter city center. The hotel's bar and restaurant are housed in an attractive Georgian manor house, the heart of the hotel, while the rooms are in a modern motel-style extension. There's also a sun terrace, where meals and drinks can be taken, a small fitness center, and four function rooms for meetings, conferences, private dining, or weddings. Located right off the main road, The Devon is a country-style hotel, and there's little within walking distance -- it's often a stopover for travelers en route to Dartmoor or the South Devon coast.  

Artsy and upscale, urbane and sophisticated, the 59-room Magdalen Chapter is housed in a former Edwardian-era hospital within a five-minute walk of the heart of Exeter. Stylish and contemporary rooms include original art, iPads, free minibars, Nespresso machines, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi, although a few of the rooms are on the small side. The heated indoor-outdoor pool is an outstanding feature, and a striking restaurant offers fine dining with a daily seasonal menu and the option to dine alfresco. The Magdalen Chapter also has two lounges, a cocktail bar, and a spa with a small fitness center.