Exeter International Airport

Exeter International is a compact, single-terminal airport, and while it won't rival Heathrow for culinary variety, it punches well above its weight for a regional hub. The main airside lounge area houses a decent Costa Coffee — a reliable refuge for a flat white and a pastry before an early departure — alongside a WHSmith with a better-than-average grab-and-go selection of sandwiches, salads, and snacks that actually reflect some local Devon producers.

For something more substantial, the Wetherspoon-operated bar and kitchen is the centrepiece of the airside dining experience. It serves hot meals throughout the day at honest prices, and while it's not exactly gastronomy, the full English breakfast is a genuinely comforting send-off before a flight. More interestingly, keep an eye out for locally sourced Clotted Cream Fudge and West Country artisan snacks stocked in the retail units — small but meaningful nods to Devon's celebrated food culture.

Landside, if you have time to linger before check-in, a short drive into Exeter city centre opens up a far richer scene — think independent cafés, Westpoint farm produce, and proper Devon cream teas. But for airport dining, the trick at EXT is to arrive knowing it's a small operation, set your expectations accordingly, and you'll find it quietly charming rather than disappointing. Grab a coffee, pick up some local fudge, and enjoy the unhurried pace that makes this airport genuinely pleasant.