Princesshay City Bee Project
Welcome to our beehives! Book a tour now to come and see our buzzy bees.
Princesshay’s City Bee Project began in 2012, when a tranquil rooftop garden was created for honey bees high above the shopping centre as part of an environmental initiative which forms part of the company’s wider biodiversity strategy.
Princesshay’s City Bee Project continues to grow, with the project now housing between 3 – 5 hives with approximately 240,000 bees. Honey that is harvested is sold in Chandos Deli, located in Roman Walk, with all proceeds donated to Princesshay’s Charity of the Year.
Princesshay now also has an observation hive, offering visitors and school groups the opportunity to see the activity inside the hive through glass panels. Princesshay regularly encourages visitors to visit the project and get an insight into the busy world of bees. To date, the City Bee Project has been visited by over 1500 school children, students and members of the public.
Interested in a spring/summer 2026 rooftop garden and beehives tour?
Tour dates will be added soon and can be booked here a month prior to each tour. Tickets for the 2026 tours are free of charge, however donations will be gratefully accepted post tours toward the upkeep of the Princesshay City Bee Project.
Upcoming dates:
April 16 – 11am
May 20 – World Bee Day – 11am, 12pm, 2pm & 3pm
June 18 – 11am
July 16 – 11am
August 13 – 11am
August 27 – 11am
September 17 – 11am
BOOK NOW
In September 2016, Princesshay unveiled a new piece of commissioned public art by Exeter-based artist Amy Shelton. The Princesshay Honey Flow light box is situated in Bampfylde Lane.
The Princesshay Honey Flow light box by nationally renowned, local artist Amy Shelton, is a bespoke, specially commissioned public artwork which showcases the plants most important to the Princesshay honey bees collecting pollen and nectar across Exeter, from the first flowers of spring right through the seasons. Visitors to the light box will be able to see the city from a bee’s perspective!
Find out more by watching this short film.