Language study trip England: Exeter
Exeter, the city in the southwest of England, lies on the banks of the River Exe, which flows into the English Channel a few kilometers to the south. The city can look back on a long history. It was founded by the Romans around 50 AD, as evidenced by the remains of the old city wall. Exeter has a breathtakingly beautiful Gothic cathedral, which was built more than 900 years ago. But Exeter is not only made up of old, historic buildings. The Second World War left its mark and radically changed the cityscape. Over 12 hectares of the city were destroyed. Today, imposing buildings from different eras stand side by side, giving Exeter a charm all of its own.
Exeter has plenty of charm. Thanks to the University of Exeter, the city is bustling with young people, a relaxed atmosphere and a lively atmosphere. There are pubs and bars, small cafés and restaurants everywhere, as well as cultural institutions such as museums, theaters, galleries and historical sites. A language study trip to Exeter therefore promises to be a varied experience.
Which language school to choose for a language study trip to Exeter?
In Exeter you will find some first-class language schools that are attended by language students from all over the world. Most of the schools are located in the city center or in the immediate vicinity, with only a few located a little further out. Find out the exact location of the language schools so that you don't have to walk, cycle or take the bus too far to get to the city center in the evening or after school.
Of course, it is not only the location of the school that should play a role in your choice, other factors are also important when making a decision. First and foremost, you should clarify which language courses are offered by the individual schools, the maximum class sizes and the facilities used for teaching. Find out which is the largest language group in the individual courses, as too many Swiss, Austrians and Germans could severely reduce your language progress during your stay. The guideLanguage courses in Englandhere at Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch, provides you with detailed information about the most important criteria when planning your language study trip.
In addition, reviews from former language students can be very helpful to get an assessment of the quality of the school. You can do this via social media, language travel providers, language schools or by searching on Google Maps, for example.
Where to live in Exeter?
Depending on the language school in Exeter, different types of accommodation are available to language students during their language study trip. Homestay, i.e. accommodation with a host family, is the most common option, which offers the advantages that you will have regular contact with English people outside of lessons, may also be able to take part in the family's leisure program and do not have to cater for yourself. In addition, living with a host family is usually cheaper than living in a student residence, apartment, hotel or shared flat. Not all language schools in Exeter offer shared flats or student residences, but these can often be organized on request from the language travel agency.
With host families, students usually live between twenty and thirty minutes' walk from the school, which is perfectly feasible as long as you are not physically restricted. However, you cannot find out in advance exactly where the family you will be living with for a short time lives, so you will have to rely on the maximum distance given. The situation is different with shared flats, student residences and the like. You will receive information from the providers about the individual types of accommodation and can then choose one, provided of course that there are still rooms available for this period. The facilities of the individual accommodation options can vary greatly and include single rooms with a bathroom and kitchenette, single rooms or double rooms with or without a bathroom, a large shared kitchen and a common room, just a kitchen without an additional common room or neither a kitchen nor a common room. Prices can also vary greatly, so it is worth taking a closer look, even between individual language travel providers and schools.
What to experience in Exeter!
Around the city center, between the main train station and the River Exe, there is so much to marvel at, do and experience. A visit to Exeter Cathedral, which is one of the most important sights in the county of Devon and is extremely impressive, should be at the top of your list of things to do. Green spaces around the cathedral invite you to linger, as do the Northernhay Gardens and the Rougemont Gardens around Exeter Castle.
Those thirsting for a little more adventure can venture into the underworld. In England's only publicly accessible sewer system, guided tours are offered that take you into the vaults of the former drinking water supply system. This discovery tour in the Underground Passages is entertaining and sometimes even a little scary and must be booked in advance as demand is immensely high.
The Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery is also worth a visit in Exeter, as is the Bill Douglas Center film museum and St. Nicholas Priory, a former Benedictine monastery. At the weekends, a trip to Powderham Castle, which can be visited Sundays to Fridays from April to October and has a magnificent park, is a good idea. If you like things a little more eccentric, you can't miss A La Ronde. The small hexagonal house is home to a collection of souvenirs from a ten-year trip to Europe by its builder at the end of the 18th century and has countless doors, niches and a gallery whose walls are decorated with around 25,000 shells.
Things are a little more minimalist at the Quay, which is the ideal starting point for hiking, biking and kayaking tours along the Exe and the canal. Kayaks and canoes can be hired from Saddles & Paddles, for example. A trip to Exmouth Beach, with its golden sandy beach over three kilometers long and the adjacent Jurrasic Coast, is also an absolute highlight during a language study trip to Exeter.
If you would like to find out more about the town, you can join a guided Red Coat Tour through the town. The walk through Exeter's history takes about an hour and a half and is free of charge for anyone interested. The Visit Exeter website provides information about concerts, clubs, bars, festivals, markets and events of all kinds.
How to get around in Exeter?
With Stagecoach South West, you can get to your destination in Exeter and the rest of Devon quickly and easily if you don't want to go exploring on foot or by bike. If you want to wander through Exeter on foot, it's best to take a map with you on which all the sights of the city are marked. Even for short language stays, it is also a good idea to hire a bike or buy a second-hand bike. Both are possible at Saddles & Paddles, for example, as well as at Devon Cycling Holidays and Co Bikes Electric for e-bike hire. You can also obtain maps and information on cycling routes, such as the Exeter Canal cycling route, from the tourist information office.
What can you afford in Exeter?
During a language study trip to Exeter, you will certainly want to experience a few things after your English course and at the weekends, but this doesn't have to be expensive. You can get into many of the city's museums for free, but Exeter Cathedral costs £6 entry, which includes a 45-minute guided tour. A trip to the Exeter Underworld also costs £6 for adults, a visit to Powderham Castle costs £11 and a visit to St. Nicholas Priory costs £4.20.
For just under £5, you can get a simple lunch for around CHF 7, depending on the exchange rate. And eating out at a gourmet restaurant, such as Michael Caines, a top chef with two Michelin stars, is also a great way to fill your stomach. You can get a main course in the evening from around £25, a 7-course tasting menu for £65 and lunch menus are available from a staggering £13 for two courses and £18 for three courses.
Depending on whether you like to party a lot, indulge in a good meal, visit all the sights or prefer to keep your money to yourself, you can spend different amounts during your language study trip in Exeter. Nevertheless, Exeter is not an overly expensive city, partly due to the students who attend university there, so you can fully enjoy Exeter even on a small budget.
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