Things to do in Devon in January 2025

Cinderella the Panto at Teignmouth Pavilions – until 1 January 2025

Teignmouth Players present this age old fairy tale with toe-tapping songs, lots of laughs, and plenty of opportunities to boo, hiss, cheer, and clap.

Find out more and buy tickets on the Teignmouth Pavilions website.

Peter Pan at Exeter Corn Exchange – until 1 January 2025

This year the Exeter Corn Exchange presents the high-flying pantomime, Peter Pan.

This festive tale is told with merriment and melody – plus a big dollop of slapstick fun and silly sing-alongs!

Will Peter Pan fly high over Neverland? Or will the villainous Captain Hook bring him down to Earth with a bump? You’ll have to book tickets to find out.

There’s an early bird ticket offer until 30 September 2024.

Find out more and book tickets on the Exeter Corn Exchange website.

Winter sculpture exhibition at RHS Rosemoor – daily until 31 January 2025

Explore the breathtaking colour, tone and texture of RHS Garden Rosemoor in winter as it provides the perfect backdrop a Winter Sculpture Exhibition.

Each year, a number of sculptors are asked to create inspirational pieces to help add to the beauty of our landscape. Pull on your woolies and enjoy some fresh air exploring at this award-winning North Devon garden.

Get more information at the RHS Rosemoor website.

New Wallace & Gromit Trail at Haldon Forest – every day

A brand new activity trail has opened at Haldon Forest near Exeter this month, replacing the Gruffalo Party Trail.

Forest Wallies with Wallace & Gromit challenges dogs and their families to work together on a series of tasks during their wander.

Find out more about this latest activity trail at Haldon Forest.

Tree planting at Buckland Abbey – every Saturday from 4 to 25 January 2025

The Abbey is working with Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest to create, restore, and connect 52 hectares (128 football pitches) of priority habitat. 

This winter, more than 30,000 trees will be planted at Buckland Abbey.

If you’d like to get involved then book onto one of the tree planting events.

Mummers Play & Wassail at Buckland Abbey near Yelverton – 5 January 2025

Join Dartmoor Border Morris to scare away evil spirits in the orchard at Buckland Abbey and ensure a good harvest this year

Remember your pots and pans to make lots of noise. The event starts with a Mummer’s play in the Great Barn, and will then process to the orchard for the Wassail itself.

Normal admission prices to this National Trust property apply.

Find out more on the Buckland Abbey website.

The Three Musketeers in Exeter and Torquay – 10 and 17 January 2025

Get set for a swashbuckling adventure at the South Devon Players perform The Three Musketeers at Barnfield Theatre and Torquay Royal Lyceum Theatre this month.

This lively family show is adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas and set in and around the royal court of France.

With beautiful costuming, dramatic action scenes, and a fast moving story, the show is performed by a team of professional actors aged 11 to 65 from around South Devon.

For more information and tickets visit the South Devon Players box office.

Snowdrop Festival at The Garden House – Fridays, Saturday and Sundays from 10 January until mid March 2025

Visit The Garden House near Yelverton for its first joyful seasonal event of the year – its Snowdrop Festival.

Expect to see more than 350 varieties of snowdrops to spot making it one of the most diverse collections of named and naturalised snowdrops in the UK.

Find out more about visiting The Garden House.

Read about the other family-friendly places to see snowdrops in Devon.

The Snow Queen Puppet Show in Teignmouth – 11 January 2025

Get out of the cold and watch this puppet show for all the family. It’s one hour long and is followed by a puppet workshop.

The tale of The Snow Queen is told through the eyes of puppets. Watch Paul Batten of Theatrix Arts perform this magical story through puppets, changing scenery, music and sound effects.

Find more information on the Pavilions Teignmouth website.

Wassail and Family Ceilidh at Soapbox Children’s Theatre, Devonport – 11 January 2025

Dress up as tree sprites, faeries and elves, and join Jack Frost and help wake up the apple trees in The Spellbound Wood.

After this most West Country of winter rituals head back to The Soapbox for an evening of dancing with Freedom Fields ceilidh band.

Find out more and book your family’s places on The Soapbox Theatre’s website.

Beauty and the Beast at Palace Theatre in Paignton – 12 January 2025

Be Palace Theatre’s guest this January and enjoy a tale as old as time with Wonder Pantomimes as they stop by Paignton as part of a six week national tour.

Join bookworm Belle who lives a quiet provincial life, but it quickly turns to danger when she finds herself imprisoned by a hideous Beast. Will the Beast learn how to love and be loved in return?

Find out more and book tickets.

Once Upon A Time in Pantoland at Teignmouth Pavilions – 22 to 26 January 2025

The wicked Witch Nevergreen has stolen the pages from the Pantoland story books with the help of her Minion, she plans to ruin Pantoland forever. But help is at hand, her effervescent brother Spirit must bring some magic and sparkle to help get the pages back.

This production by Shaldon Theatre Company celebrates their 40th pantomime and an enchanting tale of not one but four pantomimes in one.

Find out more and book tickets.

Which Devon attractions are open in January?

Opening times for Devon attractions tend to vary in the off season but you can still find some that will welcome you all week through!

Please check the website of each attraction before visiting as weather and other unforeseen circumstances may affect opening hours.

Here’s the options:

Visit a Devon Zoo in January

Zoos are open and welcome visitors all year round.

Here’s the Devon zoos open in January 2025:

• Paignton Zoo in Paignton, South Devon – open every day
• Dartmoor Zoo in Sparkwell, South Devon – open Friday to Monday and school holidays
• Exmoor Zoo in Barnstaple, North Devon – open every day
• Wildwood Escot in Ottery St Mary, East Devon – open every day. Book in advance
• Shaldon Zoo near Teignmouth, South Devon – open every day.

Visit a Devon theme park

Here are the theme parks that are open this month. They have indoor and outdoor attractions including soft play.

• The Milky Way near Bideford – main theme park open weekends only. Book in advance
• Crealy Theme Park near Exeter – open weekends only. Book online for special prices
• Woodlands Family Adventure Park near Dartmouth – open weekends only (check first opening day with the park). Book online for special prices

Outdoor attractions to visit in January

Get some fresh air at these outdoor attractions in Devon throughout January:

• RHS Rosemoor in Great Torrington, North Devon – open daily all year round. Book in advance.
• Babbacombe Model Village in Torquay, South Devon – open daily in January. Book online for a discount.
• Quince Honey Farm in South Molton, Mid-Devon – open daily. No need to book.
• Bicton Park Gardens, East Devon – open on selected dates. Book in advance.
• Dartington Estate, Dartington, South Devon – open daily. No need to book.
• Plymouth Snowsports Centre, South Devon – open Thursday to Sunday. Book in advance.
• The Donkey Sanctuary, East Devon – open daily.
• Totnes Castle, Totnes, South Devon – open weekends only. Book in advance.
• Berry Pomeroy near Totnes, South Devon – weekends only. Book in advance.

National Trust places open in January

Many National Trust properties in Devon take a break in January, but here’s some that are open this winter:

• Parke near Bovey Tracey – grounds open for walks daily.
• Buckland Abbey near Plymouth – gardens and estate open weekends only.
• Knightshayes near Tiverton, Mid-Devon – gardens and estate open daily. House open weekends and school holidays.
• Coleton Fishacre near Brixham – house and gardens open weekends only.
• Saltram near Plymouth – garden and parkland open every day.

Indoor attractions open in January

Here are some of the indoor attractions you can visit during the week in January:

• The Box, Plymouth, South Devon – open Tuesday to Sunday. Entry is free.
• RAMM museum and art gallery, Exeter – open Tuesday to Sunday. Entry is free.
• House of Marbles in Bovey Tracey, South Devon – open every day. Entry is free.
• Kent’s Cavern in Torquay – open every day.
• Bygones in Torquay – open every day.
• National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth – open every day. Book in advance
• Dartmouth Castle, Dartmouth – open weekends only. Book in advance.
• Bear Town, Cullompton, Mid-Devon – open daily, book in advance.

Outdoor places to go in January

Of course there are lots more outdoor places in Devon that you can visit over the winter months.

Devon beaches

Here’s some of our favourite beaches on the south coast of Devon and the best beaches in North Devon.

Adventure playgrounds

There are lots of adventure playgrounds around Devon that you can visit for free as as part of bigger days out.

Devon cycle trails

Make the most of those new bikes your kids got at Christmas and visit a Devon cycle trail.

Here’s where you’ll find them:

• The Tarka Trail 
• Tamar Trails
• Plym Valley
• Stover Country Park
• Haldon Forest Country Park

South West Coast Path

There’s so many coast walks to enjoy in Devon. Check out the Flip Flops or Wellies blog for plenty of walks in East Devon.

We have recently done the following walks in South Devon:

• Gara Rock to Mill Bay in Kingsbridge
• Berry Head Nature Reserve in Brixham
• Little Dartmouth to Dartmouth Castle
• Avon Dam in Dartmoor
• Brownstone Battery near Kingswear

Here’ some more walks in Devon for families.