Barnstaple is served by the Tarka Line, a single-track railway running 39 miles from Exeter through the Taw valley. Services run roughly hourly and the journey takes about an hour and a half from Exeter St David's. It is one of the more scenic rail routes in England and worth taking for the ride itself.
By road, the A361 North Devon Link Road connects Barnstaple to the M5 motorway junction near Tiverton. The drive from London takes around three and a half to four hours without significant traffic. The road over Exmoor from Taunton via Dulverton is a more interesting alternative but adds time.
National Express runs coaches from London Victoria to Barnstaple; journey time is around four and a half hours. There is no commercial airport in North Devon; Exeter Airport (about 50 miles away) is the nearest with significant connections.