Totnes is full of colour and character that stems from a rich cultural, historical and archaeological heritage. It is full of interesting diversions for the visitor – museums, an ancient Guildhall, a castle, the North and East Gates, the Steamer Quay where one can take a leisurely boat trip to the historic town of Dartmouth, or take time to hunt out the Leechwells near the top of the town in an area known as the Narrows - a collection of claustrophobically narrow streets echoing back to Totnes’ past - or the Brutus Stone half way up the main street.
The Norman motte-and-bailey castle, now owned by English Heritage, was built during the reign of William I.
The late medieval church of St Mary, with its 120 feet (37 m) high west tower visible from afar, is built of rich red Devonian sandstone.
A prominent feature of the town is the Eastgate - an arch spanning the middle of the main street. This Elizabethan entrance to the walled town was destroyed by fire in September 1990, but was rebuilt.
The Butterwalk is a Tudor covered walkway that was built to protect the dairy products once sold here from the sun and rain.
Totnes' Elizabethan House Museum is in one of the many authentic Elizabethan merchant's houses in the town, built around 1575.
There is a regular outdoor market on Fridays and Saturdays, and between May and September there is an Elizabethan Market each Tuesday morning where local people and traders go about their daily business dressed in Elizabethan costume.
