Clovelly: Visit a Picturesque Seaside Village in England
Since shortly after the Norman conquest of England in 1066, the charming fishing village of Clovelly has been privately owned. Once the property of William the Conqueror, Clovelly alternated between royal and private ownership until the village was inherited by the Hamlyn family in the late 1800s. Descendants of the Hamlyn family still run Clovelly today. For a small fee, visitors can enter Clovelly and explore one of England‘s most picturesque seaside villages.
Photo by depositphotos.com
Visiting Clovelly Village is like stepping back in time. The quaint village—which rests on a 400-foot cliff and features cobblestone streets lined with vibrant flowerpots—does not have any motorized traffic. Residents of Clovelly construct homemade wooden sledges to haul produce, household items, and trash along a steep road that is known as Up-Along or Down-Along, depending on which way you’re schlepping your sledge.
For centuries, donkeys served as beasts of burden in Clovelly’s streets. Thanks to the popularity of wooden sledges, Clovelly’s donkeys now enjoy a comfortable retirement in a stable that overlooks the village. Visitors can enjoy some quality time with Clovelly’s playful donkeys. For a small fee, you can even adopt a donkey. Donkey adoption includes a photo of your donkey, biannual donkey updates, a stack of donkey-themed postcards, and a link to a live feed where you can check up on your donkey.
Clovelly Village is home to two hotels—The New Inn and The Red Lion. The New Inn features cozy rooms with sweeping views of the sea. The Red Lion celebrates Clovelly’s heritage as a fishing village. The Red Lion is home to The Harbor Restaurant which serves fresh seafood, including locally sourced lobster. Visitors can also eat a vegetarian or vegan meal prepared with fresh vegetables that were grown at Clovelly Court Gardens.
Clovelly Court Gardens is a well-manicured garden that is home to several Victorian greenhouses where visitors can admire and pick delectable fruits and vegetables. There is even a path known as the Woodland Walk where visitors can stroll beneath the shade of towering trees as they walk from Clovelly Village to Clovelly Court Gardens.
Clovelly Village is the perfect spot for a seaside getaway where you can enjoy panoramic seaside views, explore boutiques that sell artisanal items such a soap, pottery, and silk scarves, and listen to live music on the harbour. Admiring the emerald waters and verdant forests that surround Clovelly Village is a travel memory that you will forever cherish.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Clovelly village, North Devon, England, United Kingdom (village-area reference)
- Coordinates
- 50.998, -4.3988
- Access
- Clovelly is privately owned. The operator’s standard visitor-centre route requires an admission ticket and is on foot; its main cobbled street is about 20% steep and can be slippery. A limited Land Rover service runs seasonally, usually Easter–October, 10:00–16:30, but may vary. Wikipedia also describes pedestrian access from named public highways without using the Visitor Centre; the operator’s current ticket page does not explain that route, so confirm the right of way locally before relying on it.
- Admission
- The current 2026–27 ticket page lists adult £10.90, ages 7–16 £6.25, under 7 free and a 2-adult/2-child family ticket £27. The standard ticket includes parking, village entry, gardens, the two museums and the film, plus a free return within 7 days. A 2026 village leaflet gives different child/family prices (£6.50/£28), so check the live ticket portal before visiting.
- Time needed
- Allow about 2–3 hours for the village visit including lunch or a cream tea, per the operator. Its FAQ recommends footwear for the steep, sometimes slippery cobbles.
- Best season
- The operator does not name a weather-based best season. It says off-peak visits are quieter and more peaceful. The Court Gardens have a separate published season (April 1–September 30); check current hours for specific businesses and facilities.
- Opening hours
- The operator’s 2026 schedule says open year-round except Christmas Day: Jan 1–Apr 2 10:00–16:00; Apr 3–May 22 09:30–17:00; May 23–Aug 31 09:00–17:00; Sep 1–Oct 23 09:30–17:00; Oct 24–Nov 1 09:00–17:00; Nov 2–Dec 31 10:00–16:00, with winter closing times subject to variation. Independent businesses may set their own winter hours.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-28
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-08
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