The quayside along the Exe, about fifteen minutes' walk south of the city centre, is the most pleasant part of Exeter for an afternoon wander. The old Custom House of 1681 — the oldest purpose-built Custom House in England — anchors the west side of the quay, and the Victorian warehouses behind it have been converted to cafes, bars, and a small antiques centre.
The Exeter Ship Canal runs south from here to the Exe Estuary. Built in 1566 to bypass a weir that blocked river trade, it was the first pound-lock canal in England, predating the Canal Age by nearly two centuries. The towpath makes a good flat cycle or walk, and you can hire kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards at the quay.
A foot ferry crosses the river during summer, connecting to the cycle path on the east bank and the route towards the estuary at Topsham.