Getting Around

Cloakham Lawns can be found just off the A358 that leads south to Axmouth and the coastal resort of Seaton and to the A35, the major trunk road serving the area. The A35 links the town to the M5 and Exeter to the west and to Dorset and its county town of Dorchester in the east. Axminster railway station runs services to Exeter and on to London's Waterloo. Exeter International Airport is 24 miles away.

A trip to the shops

Axminster has a wide range of quirky independent shops, local produce stores and services, plus Tesco and Co-operative supermarkets and hosts weekly farmers' markets. Nearby Honiton, 11 miles away, is another popular Devon market town providing further variety with antiques, crafts and food shops. For city-lovers Exeter is just less than 30 miles away with its Princesshay and Guildhall shopping centres both offering excellent ranges of retail outlets. One-off boutiques and specialist shops can be found in the Castle and West Quarters.

Taking time out

There's something for everyone in Axminster and the south Devon area. The town boasts the Axe Valley Leisure Centre, The Flamingo Swimming Pool and The Guildhall which hosts theatre, opera, classes and events, while the Axminster Museum details centuries of local history. Home of the famous River Cottage Café amongst other great local eateries, there is always somewhere to stop for a drink and a bite. The Jurassic Coast - an official World Heritage Site stretching 95 miles - includes Lyme Regis, just six miles away, where you can enjoy boat trips, fishing, fossil-hunting, a marine aquarium and Dinosaurland Fossil Museum. It's a great place to swim and paddleboard too. The beautiful beaches and coves of Seaton Bay are about eight miles away with Seaton Tramway running trips through nature reserves along the River Axe estuary.

Education

Axminster has several schools for primary age children; Axminster Community Primary, St Mary's Primary and All Saints Church of England Community Primary. For senior pupils aged 11 to 18, Axe Valley Community College serves the town and wider communities with its own Sixth Form Centre. At Honiton, the independent Manor House School is a preparatory school for children aged from 5 to 11 years. Photography by Hazel Neal of Axminster Parish Church and local countryside courtesy of Axminster Tourist Information Centre.