Things To Do

Things to Do in Ilfracombe

Ilfracombe and surrounding areas provides wonderful scenery and many attractions, we have listed the most popular:

Places to Eat in Ilfracombe

Relish Bar & Bistro – Fore Street
Tel: 01271 863837
Cosy atmosphere serving locally sourced seafood, meats, gourmet pizzas and bistro meals – booking essential

Take Thyme, Fore Street
Tel: 01271 867622
Specialising in local fish & seafood dishes

Wards Bistro, St James Place
Tel: 01271 862112 – Traditional Food and Sunday Lunches or a glass of wine in the sunshine

The Restaurant 71, Fore Street
Tel: 01271 863632
Specialising in local fish, seafood & meat dishes.

The Terrace Tapas and Wine Bar, Fore Street
Tel: 01271 863482
Trendy atmosphere serving traditional Spanish tapas .

Expresso Bar & Grill, St James Place
Tel: 01271 855485
Specialising in fresh fish, shellfish and matured Devon meats.

The Antedote St James Place
Tel: 01271 865339
Modern British Food awarded a Bib Gourmand by Michelin in 2018.

Giovanni and Luca, Wilder Road
Tel: 01271 879394
Italian restaurant open Tuesday to Sunday 12.30 to 2pm and 6pm until late.

The Thatched Inn, Hillsborough Road
Tel: 01271 864450
Traditional 17th Century pub serving local ales and quality food both lunch time and evenings.

Grassroots Vegetarian Bistro, High Street
Tel: 01271 867574
Open lunchtimes as cafe and Friday and Saturday evenings as vegetarian bistro £15 for 3 course menu BYO wine booking advisable.

Emperor’s Court High Street
Tel: 01271 863896 – Chinese/Cantonese.

Tandoori Nights, High Street
Tel: 01271 866453
Open Daily 6.30pm – 11pm.

The George and Dragon
A traditional family pub that welcomes dogs. Classic pub and homemade food served.

Beaches

We have many quaint and interesting coves within Ilfracombe from White Pebble Bay to Lee Bay and lots in between. Including the famous Tunnels Beach (voted by the BBC to have the third best rock pools in Great Britain, great for kids of all ages!). It also has an original Victorian salt water bathing pool along with the café blue bar.

Surfing

Surfers have the choice of either Woolacombe or Croyde, both considered to be among the best surfing beaches in the South West.

Sea Cruises

Several pleasure boats operate out of Ilfracombe Harbour offering short trips to view the stunning coast line. Several boats also offer fishing trips.

Lundy Island - Lundy is a small island in the Bristol channel and can be reached by taking a 3 hour ferry trip on board the Balmoral or the Waverley. This is well worth a visit.

Click here for Coastal Cruises

Click here for Lundy Island

Biking

The Tarka Trail is right on our doorstep. You can follow the old railway track to Barnstaple taking in Woolacombe, Braunton and Croyde on your way. Maps are available at the Tourist Information Centre.

Click here for Tarka Trail

Walks

The South West Coastal Path provides you with many walks, below are some of the most popular with our guests.

A beautiful view of the harbour and town can be found by taking the 20 minute walk East up to the top of Hillsborough (the sleeping elephant).

A bit further a field (West) you will find The Torrs Walk along a beautiful coastal path approx 30 minutes. Continuing from there is the Village of Lee, a quaint small village where you can take lunch or cream teas at the Grampus Inn. This is a medium climb/walk approx 1hr 15 mins from Ilfracombe.

If you are feeling more adventurous why not carry on to Mortehoe(total 2 hrs) and on to Woolacombe(3hrs). A bus journey can be taken to return.

For luggage transfers to your next destinations

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Golf

Ilfracombe has its own 18 hole golf course with spectacular views across the channel to Lundy Island and South Wales. We also have on our doorstep the renowned championship golf course at Saunton.

Click here for Ilfracombe Golf Club