Exeter, though appreciably smaller than Plymouth, is the County Town of Devon.
It dates from Roman times though it is only the underground passages that show anything of this period.
The glory of Exeter is its Gothic cathedral, to my mind one of the most beautiful in Britain - which is saying something. Its maritime museum is also of a very high standard. This includes part of the ship canal which precedes the main phase of canal building in Britain and the old custom house as well as many old craft of varying types.