Heritage Harbour Festival 2025

The return of our hugely popular celebration of Exeter’s Heritage Harbour status. Expect steam boats, railways, traction engines, classic cars together with musicians and other performers. This free event will take place at the Custom House, under the Transit Shed, around the waterfront and on the Piazza.

Programme of Events

11am – 4pm
Topsham Museum Exhibition
Custom House Gallery

11am – 4pm
Westcountry Knotters Display
Outside the Exeter Custom House

11am – 4pm
Come Aboard – visit our resident heritage boats Britannia and Lhyner
Britannia – Canal Basin, Lhyner – Kings Wharf 

11am – 4pm (drop in any time)
Past Mortems – exploring the lives of 19^th century sailors through skeletal remains
Surveyors Room, Exeter Custom House

11am – 4pm
Ride on Railway
Piazza

11am – 4pm
Classic Car Display
Piazza

11am – 11.45am
Music from the Dilly Boys
Transit Shed

12pm
Steam Boats arrive in the Canal Basin  

12pm – 12.45pm
Music from Back at Nicks
Transit Shed

12pm – 12.45pm
Talk: Tales of Land, Songs of the Sea
Exeter Custom House

1pm – 1.45pm
Music from Dilly Boys
Transit Shed

1.30pm – 2.15pm
Talk: Wild Swimming Adventures Around the World with Matt Newbury
Exeter Custom House

2pm – 2.45pm
Music from Back at Nicks
Transit Shed

2pm
Historic Red Coat Tour

3pm – 3.45pm
Music from Mariners Away
Transit Shed

2.30pm – 3.15pm
Talk: Past Mortems: Exploring the lives of 19^th century sailors through their skeletal remains, with Grace Smithers, Dr Laura Evis and Tereza Nesnídalová.
Exeter Custom House

6pm onwards
Film Screening – Wind, Tide and Oar (chargeable)
Exeter Phoenix