Visiting Clovelly
Clovelly is a beautiful, picturesque fishing village, steeped in maritime atmosphere and history. It was once owned by the Queen of England!
Book TicketsBook a stay in Clovelly
The Red Lion Hotel is an 18th Century 4-star Inn that stands on the quay alongside Clovelly’s ancient harbour in North Devon. Each of its 17 beautifully decorated rooms boast a sea view.
To wake up to the sights and sounds of Clovelly’s ancient fishing harbour and the sounds of the sea at the Red Lion Hotel is a unique and unforgettable experience.
The Red Lion
Clovelly Court Gardens
Clovelly Court Gardens are a must see whilst visiting the famous village. Plants thrive in this sheltered sunny corner of North Devon, which has the added benefit of the warmth the Gulf Stream brings.
You’ll find neat, carefully tended gardens and beautifully restored Victorian greenhouses within its old walls. The incredible variety of fruits & vegetables grown here supply the Red Lion Hotel. You can even take some home with you!
Clovelly Court Gardens
Clovelly activities & shops
Check out our shops, galleries and museums. Try your hand at our arts & crafts workshops, charter a boat for a fishing trip or take a stroll along the beautiful cliffs, beaches and through the village. The choice is yours in Clovelly!
Things To Do
History of Clovelly
Originally the estate was owned by William the Conqueror, King of England, gifted to his wife and then had many royal associations until 1242 when first acquired by the Giffard family. Until the middle of the 19th century Clovelly was unknown to the outside world. It was partly as a result of Charles Kingsley’s ‘Westward Ho!’, set in and around the village, that visitors began to come.
History of Clovelly
Coaches and Groups
This historic, fishing village offers a wonderful half day out with a calm reflection of the days when speed, noise and stress were not what they are today.
It allows the visitor to relax and imbibe the spirit of a quiet community, focussed on the lives of its people rather than electronics and world economics. This atmosphere is embodied in a traffic-free cobbled street tumbling down the steep hill to the ancient fishing harbour with glorious views, flower-bedecked cottages, winding side-alleys and Clovelly’s famous donkeys along the way.
There are many literary connections; Charles Kingsley lived here, Charles Dickens wrote about it, William Turner painted it and the artist, Rex Whistler, was inspired to draw a Clovelly design.
For the best possible experience, we strongly recommend that groups first watch the film show of the history of the village at the Visitor centre, then browse the shops and craft centre before strolling down the street to the working port, visiting Kingsley Museum and Fisherman’s Cottage along the way. If a guided tour is booked, groups will be taken to see the secret jewels of Clovelly, often missed by visitors. There are two old inns serving delicious food, local ales and cider and there is a Quay shop at the harbour for take-aways to enjoy on the quay whilst watching the harbour traffic come and go. The Inns, with 37 rooms, can also accommodate overnight stays. There is a Land Rover service (Easter to October), for which there is a small charge, to take you back to the Visitor Centre.
Our group rates are one of the lowest entrance fees in the West Country and include coach parking, entry to the film show, two museums, Clovelly Court Gardens and a contribution to the preservation of this very special private estate.
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