Situated in south Devon, nestled in the Teign Valley at the foot of the Haldon Hills, Chudleigh is an ancient wool town with a vibrant, village feel. With its narrow lanes, pretty cottages, nooks and passages, it wears its history on its sleeve. It is perfectly placed for outdoor pursuits, with Dartmoor less than 15 minutes away in one direction and the beaches of the famous “English Riviera” in the other. The town centre is well served by small, independent retailers, but if you’re hankering after big city shops, Exeter and Plymouth are both easily accessible, and even within commuting distance.
Chudleigh has a lot to offer older people, young professionals and families as it’s full of interesting properties, with access to good schools and easy connections to city and country alike. Unlike some of its more famous neighbours, like Chagford, or Widecombe-in-the-Moor, it doesn’t get the throngs of summer tourists so retains its peaceful charm year-round.
Read our local area guide for Chudleigh to find out whether this is the perfect Devon town for you and get all the information you need to make a decision.
History of Chudleigh
History and beauty go hand-in-hand
In Chudleigh, history and beauty go hand in hand. There is evidence of Iron Age settlements in the vicinity, but the earliest buildings in the town date from the 13th century, including the Grade II listed Ham House and the remains of the Bishop’s Palace, in use until 1550. The Bishop Lacey lived and died in Chudleigh, and one of the town’s five pubs bears his name.
Many historically important families resided in the area, and there are several grand houses nearby, including Ugbrooke House and Park. The Chudleigh parish church of St Martin and St Mary was consecrated in 1259 and is still in use today, standing at the southern end of the town centre.
Property Types & Demographics in Chudleigh
A growing town
In Chudleigh you will find homes of all shapes and sizes, from tiny terraced cottages tucked down cobbled lanes to imposing Georgian houses overlooking formal gardens.
You’ll also find a large number of small 2- and 3-bedroom starter homes, ideal for new families, at prices well below the average price of a property in Devon. There is also a great choice in brand new houses, with two large estates just being built to offer a selection of detached and semi-detached properties.
Average Property Prices (12 months): | £300,092 |
Percentage Change (12 months): | +7.6% |
Average Price Change (12 months): | £21,207 |
Average Rent: | £900 pcm, but rental properties are scarce |
Population: | 4700 |
Schools in Chudleigh
Pre-Schools:
Daisy Chain OFSTED rated Good
Chudleigh Pre-School OFSTED rated Outstanding
Primary Schools:
Chudleigh Primary School OFSTED rated Good
Chudleigh Knighton Primary School rated Good
Secondary Schools:
Kingsteignton School OFSTED rated Outstanding
Teign School OFSTED rated Requires Improvement
Grammar Schools:
None nearby
Independent Schools:
Stover School, Newton Abbot
South Devon Steiner School, Dartington
Special Schools:
Greater Horseshoe School OFSTED rated Good
School for Inspiring Talents, Newton Abbot
Things To Do Near Chudleigh
Beaches
Chudleigh is a short drive away from some of Devon’s most beautiful beaches. From small secluded coves, to large golden sands, South Devon beaches are perfect for long walks or family days out. At the mouth of the Exe Estuary, only 25 minutes from Chudleigh, sits Dawlish Warren offering sand dunes and miles of beach which has the distinction of being awarded the Blue Flag for a remarkable 22 consecutive years. Alternatively, head south to the largest sandy beach in the county, Bigbury-on-Sea, near Kingsbridge. From there you can explore the tidal island of Burgh Island, lying about 250 metres offshore and home to the Art Deco Hotel, built by a 1930s music hall star.
Dartmoor
A 10-minute drive from Chudleigh brings you to the eastern boundary of Dartmoor national park, 954 square kilometres of bleak moorland and wild forests with deep river valleys, a mysterious history and an abundance of wildlife. With its towering granite-topped tors and far-reaching views, Dartmoor can be an eerie place, making it a fitting setting for Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes story The Hound of the Baskervilles. Perfect for walkers, long-distance hikers, photographers and nature-lovers, Dartmoor holds a magic and mystique difficult to imagine until you experience it.
Southwest Coast Path
Another of gem of the southwest, and accessible only 15 minutes from Chudleigh, the Southwest coastal path is a 1000 km trail around the entire southwest peninsula starting in Minehead, Somerset, and ending in Poole Harbour, Dorset, taking in the entire coasts of Devon and Cornwall on its route. Take a few minutes to admire the views from a cliff top stroll or if you have the stamina, take a few weeks to walk the whole length!
Historic Houses
There is a wealth of property to visit near Chudleigh managed by English Heritage or the National Trust. Just on the outskirts of Chudleigh is Ugbrooke House, a place with a fascinating history covering 900 years. As it is still a private home occupied by the Clifford family, the opening times are limited, but there is an annual garden party featuring cream teas and live jazz and the opportunity to walk freely around the grounds and duck ponds. Down the coast you can visit Greenway House, Agatha Christie’s home on the river Dart. For a truly authentic experience, travel there by steam train from Paignton, 20 minutes from Chudleigh.
Zoos & Animal Sanctuaries
If you love animals, you will be spoiled for choice with the options available in this area. Paignton Zoo has more than 2,000 animals offering a great day out with plenty to occupy the children, and annual passes are available. For a more low key experience, the Buckfast Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary offers a close up experience and a unique chance to get to see the normally shy otters.
Shopping and Leisure in Chudleigh
Shopping
Chudleigh town centre hosts a number of independent shops such as a delicatessen with café, a sandwich shop, a choice of hair stylists, a gift store and an old-fashioned sweet shop. There is also an appealing little cobbled mews featuring a range of artisans selling handmade pottery, paintings and the like. For more practical shopping, there is a a twice-weekly market, a mobile butcher and fish monger and two small supermarkets selling all the day-to-day necessities. There are large supermarkets like Sainsburys, Lidl and similar a short drive away, and the big chain stores can all be found in Exeter or Plymouth.
Entertainment
Chudleigh boasts no fewer than five friendly pubs in the modest town centre, with two serving food daily and one offering live music from time to time. The town hall hosts a range of activities for the whole family; you can participate in exercise classes for all abilities, puppy classes, seniors’ coffee mornings and regular cinema nights featuring current and classic top Hollywood blockbuster movies. There is also an annual street party, carnival and Christmas shopping night-time event that brings out the whole town. For something more highbrow, Exeter offers the Northcott Theatre and Torquay the Princess Theatre, with the grand Theatre Royal in Plymouth.
Sport
Chudleigh boasts its own cricket field with an active club as well as a popular bowling green. Gym-goers can choose from the smaller Finlake Park gym or the larger Winners. Both are members-only but offer temporary memberships for visitors.
There are a huge number of golf courses in the area with one of the closest being the Teignmouth Golf Club, designed by renown golf course architect Dr Alister Mackenzie. Sitting at 800 ft above sea level, the views are truly spectacular. In addition to the 18-hole course, the club offers extensive practice facilities including indoor and outdoor nets, practice ground, putting green and two short game areas.
If your idea of sport is more about watching than participating, professional football team Argyle plays in league one out of Home Park in Plymouth, and Exeter’s Sandy Park is home to the premier league Exeter Chiefs rugby team.
Eating Out
One of Devon’s best attractions is its breathtaking number of pubs! And plenty of them serve quality food. Choose from quaint thatched inns or smart, modern bistros with sea views. For atmosphere, head to Chagford’s 13th century Three Crowns Inn and see if you can spot a ghost or two! For fine dining in grand surroundings, Lympstone Manor is nearby with its Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines (that’s the cooking one, not the acting one).
Upcoming Developments
Chudleigh has long been an attractive location to house hunters looking for the best of town and country living, and for that reason property has been in great demand and not easy to come by. Things are about to change with the construction of two exciting developments set to introduce more than 400 new 2, 3 and 4 or 5-bedroom homes onto the market and increase the population of Chudleigh by as many as 1,000 by 2031. In support of this ambitious growth, local planners have proposed a series of measures to aimed at creating excellent health and education facilities as well as improved community and leisure facilities.
Travel Connections
Positioned just off the A38, travel to and from Chudleigh is easier than the average rural Devon town. The A38 or nearby A30 both go to Cornwall and link with the M5 and its excellent connections to airports at Exeter and Bristol and the rest of the UK. For local travel, there are regular bus services to Plymouth and Exeter.
 | Situated just off the A38, Chudleigh offers very easy access to the M5 motorway. |
 | Exeter International Airport is 19 km from Chudleigh. |
 | The Stagecoach 39 runs from Newton Abbot to Exeter, including Chudleigh and other local stops, or the 41 runs to Totnes, while the Countrybus 182 runs from Chudleigh to Newton Abbot with many stops in local villages. |
 | The nearest train station is Newton Abbot with services from Plymouth to London and points in between. |
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