Why visit Lifton
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 2 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Greystone Bridge, Dingles Fairground Museum and Wortham.
Weather in Lifton
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Lifton
Lifton is a village and civil parish in Devon, South West England near the confluence of the rivers Wolf and Lyd, 1¼ miles south of the A30 trunk road and very near the border between Devon and Cornwall. The village is part of the electoral ward of Thrushel. The population of the surrounding Thrushel ward (which includes the much smaller village of Thrushelton to the east of Lifton) at the 2011 census was 1680.
From the Wikipedia article Lifton, Devon (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Greystone Bridge
Bridge · 3.2 mi
Bridge over the River Tamar in England
Museums and landmarks3
Dingles Fairground Museum
Museum · 1.6 mi
History museum in the United Kingdom
Wortham
Museum · 1.2 mi
Grade I listed building in Lifton, West Devon, England, UK
Kelly House, Devon
Museum · 2.4 mi
Grade I listed historic house museum in Kelly, West Devon, England, UK
Restaurants and cafes2
Lifton Farm Shop - Pick your own
Restaurant · Regional · 0.7 mi
Where to stay3
History
The village was one of the first in the west of Devon to be founded by the Saxons, and was of strategic importance because of its location on a major route close to the border with Cornwall. It was first recorded as Liwtune in the will of King Alfred in the late 9th century when it was left to his youngest son Æthelweard (c.880-922).
At a meeting of the Witan in Lifton on 12 November 931 King Æthelstan granted land to his thegn Wulfgar, and the charter was witnessed by King Hywel Dda of Deheubarth and King Idwal Foel of Gwynedd.
Lifton became the centre of an administrative hundred, and was a royal manor, passing into private hands when sold by Queen Elizabeth I to local landowner William Harris of Hayne in the parish of Stowford, Devon, in the late 16th century. Since they had moved here from Kenegie in Cornwall their armorial bearings include a motto in Cornish, which is "Car Dew tres pub tra" ("Love God above everything"). A former inn at Portgate, the Harris Arms, named after the family, is now a private residence
There has been a church in Lifton since Norman times, although little of the existing St Mary's Church is earlier than the 15th century. In 1755 the manor was inherited by the Arundell family. The Arundell Arms is a hotel, formerly a coaching inn known as the "White Horse", which is known today for fishing.
Read more of the history
Agriculture and mining have supported the economy in the past. The dairy company, Ambrosia, has been based here since 1917. Started as a milk factory using supplies from dairy farms in the area, it produced dried milk during the Second World War. The site has been enlarged considerably and the firm is now an important local employer.
Lifton railway station on the South Devon and Tavistock Railway opened on 1 June 1865. The main building was on the platform used by trains towards Plymouth but there was a loop and second platform to allow trains to pass. There was a level crossing at the west end of the station.
The goods yard was on the same side as the buildings but a private siding was opened in 1894 to serve a corn mill, and a factory was opened in the goods yard in 1917 that handled milk, and later made "Ambrosia" rice pudding. Passenger trains and public goods traffic ceased on 31 December 1962 but the line to Lydford was retained to carry the trains from the milk factory but this closed on 28 February 1966.
The village was bypassed by the A30 in 1993, and today, unusually for such a small place, Lifton is a post town and has several youth football teams. It also has the 1st Lifton Sea Scouts.
From the History section of Lifton, Devon on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Lifton
- Robert ArundellBritish cricketer (1904-1989)
- Henry MartynEnglish cricketer (1877-1928)
Born in Lifton, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Churches and places of worship3
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries1
Map of Lifton
15 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Cornwall Airport Newquay (NQY) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 34 miles away.
- Tavistock 9 mi southeast, about 14 min by car
- Princetown 15 mi southeast, about 24 min by car
- Saltash 16 mi south, about 26 min by car
- Plymouth 20 mi south, about 32 min by car
- North Tawton 20 mi northeast, about 32 min by car
- Chagford 20 mi east, about 31 min by car
- Plymstock 21 mi southeast, about 34 min by car
- Winkleigh 21 mi northeast, about 34 min by car
- Bodmin 23 mi southwest, about 37 min by car
- Ivybridge 24 mi southeast, about 38 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Lifton
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Edwards’ Super Chariot Racer & Super Sonic Skid beyond, FHT Lifton 21.09.06 P9210072 (11522258823), Gillett's Crossing from Bristol, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0
- Wortham Manor (24145051807), john shortland from Cotswold Hills, England, England, CC BY 2.0
- Street-level photo, unicorn101, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, unicorn101, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, WaggyDog, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, unicorn101, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, unicorn101, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, unicorn101, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.