Festive shoppers given easy way to enjoy Exeter Christmas lights switch on

Stagecoach South West has been announced as the official Travel Partner for Exeter’s Christmas lights switch-on on Sunday 18 November.

More than 15,000 people attended last year’s switch on, with similar numbers expected for this year’s event, which marks the traditional start of the Christmas shopping period and late night shopping, which this year kicks off on Thursday November 22.

Bob Dennison, Stagecoach South West’s Managing Director, said: “Our support as Travel Partner for this year’s Christmas Lights switch-on is part of our on-going commitment to Exeter residents, shops and businesses. It’s a key period for local traders and we’re delighted to be playing our part to help ensure shoppers have a smooth ride into the city centre for the lights switch-on.

“We are working closely with the city’s business improvement district, InExeter, to put extra buses on for the big day. It’s sure to be a fantastic event. We would encourage residents of Exeter wishing to attend the event to use the city's bus services, which will be re-routed to enable the temporary closure of the High Street for the day. However we will have plenty of people on hand to help people find their way to and from the event. 

“For visitors from further afield we would encourage use of the park and ride services. Additional park and ride services are being put on, with both Matford and Sowton park and ride sites being open on the day, as well as the Honiton Road site. On the day of the switch on we will also be offering a great value '5 for a fiver' ticket, which will allow return travel for any five people on any of the park and ride services for £5.”

Family-friendly festivities in Exeter start on the Sunday at 11am, with crafts, live music and festive street performers all building up to the light switch on, which is being carried out by InExeter and Radio Exe favourites Ashley Jeary and Ben Clark. The countdown to the switch-on starts at 5pm.

Matford and Sowton park and ride sites will be open in addition to Honiton Road. Park and ride services from all three sites, and the accompanying ‘5 for a Fiver’ offer, will start at 8.45am and run through to 7pm.

To accommodate Sunday’s festivities, bus services travelling south from Sidwell Street towards the High Street will be diverted along Cheeke Street, then to the Bus Station, Paris Street, New North Road, Queen Street and from there back on the High Street, resuming the rest of their normal route.

Services travelling north from Fore Street and North Street towards Sidwell Street will be diverted along South Street, Western Way and Paris Street. Stagecoach staff will be on hand to direct people to the right temporary stops.

Ann Hunter, manager of InExeter said: “We’re delighted that Stagecoach South West is helping support this year’s Christmas Lights switch-on and festivities as the official Travel Partner. The team at Stagecoach have been accommodating, ensuring we will be able to offer shoppers a fantastic public transport solution to getting in and out of Exeter for the Christmas Lights switch-on and throughout the festive period. Thanks to Stagecoach, visitors will be able to enjoy easy, reliable and safe travel in and out of the city over the festive season.”

To help plan journeys by bus, including Park and Ride, download the free Stagecoach Bus app from the App and Play stores. As well as live bus times, you can also buy day and 1 week mobile tickets.

For more information on services please visit www.stagcoachbus.com

For more information about the BID and the Exeter Christmas lights switch-on event, please visit: www.exeterbid.co.uk