28/09/2026
Newton Abbot really does have so much to offer, independent shops, cafes & restaurants alongside the usual chain brands, lots of beautiful green spaces and great road & rail links. Walking through the town centre after work on Saturday I was struck by how lively it was.
It's a fantastic place to be.
Be honest: when you head into Newton Abbot, is it for a leisurely day exploring the town — or because you need a train, the bank and something from Asda? 😂
One Devon writer admits she’d been taking the town for granted, so she returned as a day tripper and actually stopped to look around. There’s the £5 million regenerated Market Hall, a smarter Queen Street, parks, independent shops, a free museum and businesses that have been serving generations of local families.
Then there’s the food: Italian deli sandwiches, Thai dishes, curries, noodles, traditional pub lunches and even the increasingly rare pleasure of a department store café. Newton Abbot’s history stretches back to Saxon times, while some of its pubs date back centuries.
Maybe the town we rush through deserves a little more attention. What’s the most underrated thing about Newton Abbot?