Beneath the streets of central Exeter runs a network of medieval tunnels, unique in England as a visitor attraction. They were built in the 14th and 15th centuries to carry lead pipes bringing fresh water from springs outside the city walls to the cathedral and city centre. Rather than dig up the streets every time a pipe needed repair, the builders constructed vaulted passageways wide enough to walk through.
Guided tours depart from the visitor centre on Romangate Passage, off High Street. The route takes you about 80 metres through the original tunnels — stooping required in places — with commentary on their construction and the city's medieval water supply. The tour takes about 45 minutes. Booking ahead is advisable, especially in summer; the tunnels are genuinely atmospheric.
The passages were also used as air-raid shelters during the Blitz, when Exeter was heavily bombed in the Baedeker Raids of 1942. The visitor centre has displays on both the medieval and wartime history.