Free Guided tours every Wednesday afternoon

Tours are free and suitable for all ages, that last approximately 20-30mins.

Meet outside the Institution at 7 Cathedral Close or use the buzzer if the doors are closed.

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Free Wednesday Afternoon Tours

The Institution occupies historic premises at the heart of Exeter in Cathedral Close.  Adapted from what was once the townhouse of the Courtenay family, the library is housed in two elegant Georgian rooms which provide space for research and reading, educational activities, cultural events and lectures.

Every Wednesday afternoon we open our doors to the public for free guided tours between 1.00pm -4.00pm.  There’s no need to book, tours normally last around 20 mins.

Our tour guides are a dedicated team of trained volunteers, drawn from our membership.  They are passionate about sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm for the building, its history, our collections and the Institution itself.

Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund 

Testimonials

“Amazing, fascinating, very entertaining and knowledgeable guide. Thank you!”

“So important that Institutions such as this survive, grow and continue to influence education and society.”

“A lovely find.  Thank you for taking the time to show us around.”

“I received a very welcome admission and was delighted to experience an interesting tour.  I will certainly be interested in membership.”

Group Tours

We are happy to arrange tours for groups at other times. These tours normally last approx 30 – 45 minutes and can be followed by tea/coffee and homemade cake.

Group tours must be arranged in advance and we charge £5 per person or £10 per person with tea/coffee and cake. The tours can be for between 10 and 15 people. If you have a smaller group, we would love to welcome you on one of our free tours on Wednesday afternoons. (See above.) Alternatively, for just two people, a private tour is included with our Adopt a Book package.

For educational groups, please see our Schools and Outreach Programme page for more information.

To arrange a group tour booking, please complete the booking form below and a member of staff will get back to you, or contact us via email [email protected]