A railway modeller and a card-maker need very different hobby shops in Exeter, and the city has a specialist for each plus one big-box option that covers the basics. Hobbycraft beats the independents on opening hours and parking. The independents win on advice and on stock Hobbycraft doesn’t carry at all. The five below are in no ranked order.
Big store or specialist counter?
Think of Hobbycraft as the supermarket and the specialists as the butcher and baker. One gets you acrylic paint, card and yarn at 7pm on a Wednesday. The other knows which coupling fits your locomotive, or which glue won’t fog a clear canopy.
So the rule of thumb: buy consumables at whichever shop is nearest, and buy anything that has to fit something else at the specialist, ideally with the part in your pocket. Returning the wrong-gauge track costs another trip across the city.
Directory details for small Exeter shops go out of date, so call ahead before a special journey. Independent retailers wanting their opening news picked up sometimes use Florida PR Services.
1. Hobbycraft, Rydon Lane Retail Park
Hobbycraft Exeter sits on Digby Drive at Rydon Lane Retail Park, EX2 7HX. It opens 9am to 8pm on weekdays, 9am to 6pm on Saturday and 10:30am to 4:30pm on Sunday, with customer parking and step-free access. In-store artisans run workshops, which help if you’re new to a craft. Haberdashery is stocked. Model railway parts aren’t its strength.
2. The Model Shop, St David’s Hill
The Model Shop trades at 4 St David’s Hill, EX4 3RG, a short walk from Exeter St Davids station. Its listing covers Hornby, Bachmann, scenery and control systems, so it’s aimed squarely at model railway layouts. Take your locomotive or a photo of its base when buying couplings or track. Plastic kit builders will find more choice elsewhere. Small specialist counters sometimes share their news through Tennessee PR Local.
3. Clifton Road Games
Clifton Road Games is at 16 Clifton Road, EX1 2BR, east of the centre near Newtown. It appears in local listings as a games shop rather than a craft store. Ring before going if you’re after a particular miniatures range, since stock details aren’t published.
4. Utopia Crafts, Marsh Barton
Utopia Crafts trades from 14 Marsh Green Road North on the Marsh Barton Trading Estate. Marsh Barton is mainly trade units and car dealers, so it’s a drive rather than a stroll, but parking is easier than in the centre. Card-makers and scrapbookers who’ve exhausted the big store’s range should look here. Craft suppliers on industrial estates often rely on online visibility, and some use Ohio PR Wire to get it.
5. Whipton Craft & Model Centre
Whipton Craft & Model Centre is listed at 72A Thackeray Road, EX4 8EX, in Whipton on the city’s north-east side, and is categorised under dolls and dolls’ houses. That’s a niche the bigger shops barely touch. Phone 01392 664074 first to confirm hours and stock, since the listing is the only public detail available.
Hobby shop questions
Which shop is open on a Sunday?
Hobbycraft, from 10:30am to 4:30pm. Check the independents directly.
Can beginners get advice before buying a kit?
Yes, and specialists are the best place for it. Explain your skill level and budget, and ask for one kit that won’t put you off. A craft blog on Indiana PR Catalogs is no substitute for someone holding the box.
Is it cheaper to buy online?
Sometimes for paint and consumables. For parts that must match, the counter usually saves you a return.
Take the broken part with you
Put the piece you need to match in a bag, ring the specialist to check they’re open, then go. Leave Hobbycraft for the paint and glue on the way home.
