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The Essential Guide to Plymouth, MA

Famed as the site of the first Pilgrim settlement, Plymouth, MA, is loved for its classic New England charm.

By Cathryn McCann

Jul 06 2022

Guide to Plymouth, MA | Harbor

Founded in 1620, Plymouth, MA, is a coastal town south of Boston that’s anchored in history as the site of the first Pilgrim settlement. But while all its historical markers and sites may be the initial draw, Plymouth has a quintessential New England feel and historic architecture, downtown shops, and expansive ocean views that keep visitors coming back year after year. From tasty cuisine to cranberry festivals, there’s always plenty to do in “America’s Hometown.”

Intrigued by this seaside town that is equal parts historical and modern New England? Here are some of our favorite places to eat, things to do, and places to stay in Plymouth, MA.

Things to Do in Plymouth, MA

Plimoth patuxet.

This living history museum (formerly Plimoth Plantation) allows visitors to immerse themselves in the past as they walk through a 17th-century English village, tour a replica of the Mayflower (the ship is currently receiving a full restoration and will return in 2019), and visit the Wampanoag Homesite and the beautiful and iconic Plimoth Grist Mill . The plantation, with its interactive elements and ocean view, is a great destination for families. Named a 2017 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Historical Experience.”

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PLYMOUTH FARMERS’ MARKET

Set on the grounds of Plimoth Plantation, this market gets extra points for its scenic backdrop and living-close-to-the-land vibe. Held outdoors every Thursday from May to October (and once a month indoors during winter), it rounds up the region’s bounty from 40 vendors that run the gamut from farmers and fishermen to beekeepers and bakers. Relatively speaking they’re a small group, but one clearly devoted to a larger mission—our Pilgrim forebears would no doubt have approved. Named a 2018 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Farmers’ Market.”

HISTORIC SITES

While you shouldn’t miss Plymouth Rock, touted (more as legend rather than fact) as the first bit of land touched by the Pilgrims after their voyage across the ocean, there are also many historical sites available for touring — including homes of original Mayflower passengers. Among the options are the Jabez Howland House, the Richard Sparrow House, the Spooner House, Hedge House, and Harlow Old Fort House. And be sure to take a moment to view the National Monument to the Forefathers, a towering 81-foot-tall statue on the Allerton Street hilltop that commemorates the Pilgrims.

PILGRIM HALL MUSEUM

For history you can enjoy indoors, head to Pilgrim Hall Museum, easily spotted from the street thanks to its ornate architecture and stone columns. Built in 1824, it’s among the oldest public museums in America and brimming with American Indian and Pilgrim artifacts. You can even touch a piece of Plymouth Rock here.

OUTDOOR EXPLORATION

Given Plymouth’s setting on the coast of Massachusetts, there are plenty of lovely natural areas to explore here. Check out Pilgrim Memorial State Park, Nelson Memorial Park, Myles Standish State Forest, Ellisville Harbor State Park salt marsh estuary, or White Horse and Plymouth Long beaches. You can hike the Town Forest Trail (7.9 miles), Center Hill Preserve Trail (1.7 miles), or Russell and Sawmill Pond Trail (1.8 miles), or head to some of the preserves and conservation areas for more options. For a little exploration from the water, try Billington Sea Kayak.

Otherwise known as the Spire Center for Performing Arts, this impressive three-story, 225-seat performance hall downtown is the place for enjoying theatrical and musical productions while visiting Plymouth.

CRANBERRY HARVEST CELEBRATION

Every October, locals and visitors alike gather in nearby Wareham for this weekend celebration of the Massachusetts state berry. Hop on a bus for a ride to a stretch of bogs to learn about the harvest process, or slip on some waders and get right into the flooded cranberry bog. Enjoy food, music, crafts, paddleboat rides on Tihonet Pond, children’s activities, cooking demonstrations, wagon rides, and even helicopter rides.

COLONY PLACE SHOPPING

If you’ve had your fill of history, head to Plymouth’s premier shopping and dining destination, Colony Place. At the region’s largest open-air retail center, located just minutes from downtown, you can browse among 40 stores and get a bite at any of nearly a dozen restaurants on-site.

Places to Stay in Plymouth, MA

A 50-guestroom retreat in a French manor house, Mirbeau surrounds its guests in beauty, thanks to detailed architecture, Monet pond gardens, and lovely landscaping and decor. On-site dining is available at the Bistro & Wine Bar. Named a 2015 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Chateau Lodging.”

THE JESSE HARLOW HOUSE

This bed-and-breakfast on Watson’s Hill, overlooking downtown and the harbor, offers a perfect blend of history (it was once the home of Revolutionary War captain Jesse Harlow) and modern luxury (full gourmet breakfast, silk drapes, landscaped gardens). Plus, it’s within walking distance of many Plymouth attractions and dining options.

WHITFIELD HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST

If you want to be in the heart of history, consider the Whitfield, an 1782 Federal home on Plymouth’s second-oldest street. Located in the historic waterfront district, the house was occupied by descendants of the original owner for 200 years before being passed to its current owner, in 1987.

JOHN CARVER INN & SPA

This 80-room boutique hotel is a solid option for families, as it provides a range of amenities that appeal to all ages. The on-site Pilgrim Cove Indoor Theme Pool features an 80-foot water slide, waterfalls, and a Jacuzzi. Pamper yourself at the Beach Plum Spa, dine at the Hearth ’n Kettle Restaurant or WaterFire Tavern, and then settle into one of the spacious rooms or fireplace suites. Named a 2014 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Indoor Pool.”

PINEWOOD LODGE CAMPGROUND

For fans of the great outdoors, Pinewood Lodge Campground — with its 200 acres of white pine forest, 3,000 feet of lake frontage, six-acre island, and 300 campsites — is a great option. Enjoy fishing, swimming, boating, exploring, or just relaxing. The campground has a store with all the supplies you may need, plus modern bathroom facilities and RV hookups.

PILGRIM SANDS HOTEL

If you like the idea of walking out of your room and onto the beach, Pilgrim Sands might be the place for you. Its private beach leads to Plymouth Long Beach, which offers miles of seaside strolling. If the ocean doesn’t beckon you, however, Pilgrim Sands features both an indoor and outdoor pool, plus beachfront dining and a lounge. Named a 2012 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Base for Families.”

Where to Eat in Plymouth, MA

Leena’s kitchen.

This downtown dining destination specializes in farm-to-table cooking that spotlights seasonal ingredients from local producers. From beet salad to braised lamb, there’s a dish for every palate at this inviting and relaxing eatery.

KKATIE’S BURGER BAR

Sometimes you just really need a good burger, and that’s what you’ll get at “Kuh-Katie’s,” served fresh and prepared to order. With a full menu of burgers (plus other options), there’s plenty to choose from, but we suggest trying “The Plymouth Rock”: four quarter-pound patties stacked with cherrywood-smoked bacon, cheese, crispy onion rings, and “special sauce” on a grilled roll.

Built in 1792 by Josiah Cornish, the building that is now Rye Tavern was for years a popular inn, tavern, and stopping place for horse-drawn carriages. The tavern now has a new name, but it looks and feels much the same as it did centuries ago, with its preserved historic details and welcoming atmosphere.

THE NEW WORLD TAVERN

With 32 drafts on tap and more than 120 bottle selections, the New World has a beer to complement anything on its menu of hearty tavern food. Plus, it often hosts live entertainment, so stop by to grab a meal or just to enjoy some music while sipping a cold one. Named a 2015 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Beer List.”

LOCAL YOLK COMPANY

If you’re all about a good breakfast, look no further than Local Yolk Company. The breakfast and lunch restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients to provide made-from-scratch meals every day, from savory Southwestern frittatas to sweet cinnamon bun crepes.

DILLON’S LOCAL

There’s something about visiting the New England coast that can whet your appetite for a bowl of clam chowder. You can find it — as well as everything from comfort food to cocktails — at Dillon’s Local, overseen by a chef who is also a Plymouth native.

Have you ever been to Plymouth, MA? Tell us about it!

This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated. 

SEE MORE: Plimoth Patuxet  | New England Living History Museum The Plymouth Grist Mill | Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, MA Plymouth Rock | Facts and Trivia

Cathryn McCann

As Digital Assistant Editor, Cathryn writes, manages, and promotes content for NewEngland.com and its social media channels. Prior to this role, she lived and worked on Martha’s Vineyard as a newspaper reporter, covering everything from environmental issues and education to crime and politics. Originally from New Hampshire, Cathryn spends most of her time out of the office on the trails, slopes, or by the water.

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Known as Britain’s Ocean City, Plymouth is one of the most vibrant waterfront cities in Europe. The jewel in the crown is the harbour and the water front with the dazzling views, rich history and the number of attractions, Plymouth has everything you could need for a day trip or a longer holiday.

History, culture and more

Plymouth is split into several smaller regions, each with their own set of popular attractions.

Visitors travel from all over to see the Barbican and Sutton Harbour. Famous for quaint cobbled streets, a picturesque harbour and a wealth of independent shops, galleries, bars,  cafes and restaurants  line the water's edge. This part of town is also home to the Elizabethan Gardens and a bit of American heritage, the Mayflower Steps, where the Pilgrim fathers set sail on their first voyage across the pond. The Barbican’s Historic Quarter is a lure for any art fans, where you can pick up unique pieces of art or just marvel at the talent on display.

Not just content with having a piece of American history, Plymouth is full of British history too. Head to Plymouth Hoe to where Sir Francis Drake set sail to engage with the Spanish Armada. Once you’ve had your fill of the history, stop for a picnic under Smeaton’s Tower for some spectacular views and be sure to visit Tinside Lido, the Royal Citadel and keep your eyes peeled for the many memorials that can be found around this part of the city. The Hoe is a truly spectacular places with jaw dropping views and interesting places to visit.

Another famous area of the city is the Royal William Yard, constructed in the 1800s, it is still considered to be one of the most important historic military buildings in the country. It is also the largest collection of Grade 1 listed military buildings in Europe. These days, although there is still a strong maritime and military atmosphere in Plymouth, visiting the Royal William Yard is  full of eateries  and you’d be hard pressed to find somewhere else quite as impressive to have your dinner.

World class shopping centre

The Independent quarter is the place to browse if you want to see what the independent and specialist retailers in the city have to offer. If shopping is your thing, the city centre has many places for you to spend your money and pick up a few items. There are outdoor markets as well as national brands and independent retailers for you to choose from. Drake Circus is the landmark shopping centre should you be looking for a gift or particular item. 

When it comes to nightlife and entertainment, you’ve come to the right place.  Plymouth is full of theatre, arts and film culture, as well as a lively music scene and some of the best comedy gigs in the region. You’ll also find a great mix of  pubs,  bars and clubs making it ideal for celebrating a special occasion or if you fancy going out just because.

Whether you’re looking to be active, to shop, to be entertained or just to learn more about the heritage of the area, Plymouth has everything you could want and more.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Plymouth have a beach? 

Plymouth is surrounded by beaches - the closest sandy beaches are Bovisand and Wembury, which are just 15 minutes from the city centre by car. 

Bovisand beach is a sandy beach and is popular with visitors, especially those that like swimming, it is within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and can be accessed via the South West Coast Path. Dogs not allowed May 1st to September 30th, when a seasonal ban is in place.

Wembury is managed by the National Trust and can be accessed via the South West Coast Path, the beach is a mixture of pebbles and sand and there is a historic mill and a marine centre for visitors to explore. 

Can you get to Plymouth by train? 

Plymouth has its own train station which is managed by GWR, travelling from London takes around 3 hours via train. You can travel around Devon using the rail network, as there are connections to and from Plymouth across the county. This station has step-free access to all platforms / the platform and has staff on hand should you have any additional access needs. 

Can you fly to Plymouth? 

Plymouth does not have its own airport, but there are three within easy distance. Exeter airport is around an hour away, while Bristol airport is 2 hours and Newquay airport is just over an hour away. From Exeter airport, there are several transport links to help you with your onward journey. 

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A local's guide to Plymouth: 10 top tips

The ‘ocean city’ is awash with new art spaces and community festivities as it commemorates the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower

Everyone’s talking about The Box, Plymouth’s new, £46m “cultural destination” combining a museum, gallery and archive, plus cafe and bar, which opens on 29 September (postponed from May). A transformation of the original, Edwardian city museum and art gallery, extended and amalgamated with the former city library and St Luke’s Church, it will open with what organisers are calling a “myth-busting”, Mayflower-themed Legend and Legacy show, and Making It , a contemporary art show featuring works by Leonor Antunes, Eva Grubinger, Alexandre da Cunha, Christopher Baker and Sir Antony Gormley.

Karst , an independent, artist-led studio and gallery space, holds its own with the best of that on offer in Berlin. The gallery has been chosen as a host for the British Art Show 9 in 2021. The Leadworks , in a former paint factory on the city’s beautiful – albeit bruised – Stonehouse peninsula, is the sort of social enterprise project Plymouth does well. It’s up and running as a space for artists, designers and the like, but funds are being raised to further convert the interior into an inclusive, accessible, multi-use space. The Plymouth Art Weekender is a volunteer-run showcase of galleries and studios and an opportunity to see the best of the city’s art scene – all adhering to the “rule of six” .

More Mayflower

The national Mayflower400 festival started in November 2019 and was meant to run for 12 months. Many events were cancelled because of Covid-19, while others have been rescheduled for 2021. An installation called Speedwell, by the Still/Moving artist collective, has been erected on the Mount Batten Breakwater: its simple message, “No New Worlds”, is intended to stimulate debate about the legacy of the pilgrims’ landfall in native American territory in 1620. The site-specific work will stay until 29 November.

On West Pier at West Hoe, Look II, by Sir Antony Gormley, is a 3.7-metre tall, three-tonne cast-iron human figure gazing out to sea, an angular counterpoint to the classically heroic statue of Francis Drake that looms over the Hoe. Other events include Wampum: Stories from the shells of Native America , a touring exhibition of tapestry belts. This Land , a theatrical production featuring 120 performers from Plymouth and 30 members of the Native American Wampanoag tribe from Massachusetts, is due to take place at the Theatre Royal in April 2021. Visitplymouth.co.uk

Almost every street has its own fish-and-chip shop, and locals are fierce in their loyalties, but my favourite is national award-winning The Harbour on the Barbican. Plymouth Fish Market is here, and 200 metres away is seafood restaurant Platters , with an open kitchen, and decor so bad it’s good. I bring friends here to eat cod, haddock, bream, skate, hake and bowl upon bowl of bouillabaisse. If you fancy a 30-minute cruise before lunch, hop on the ferry from the Barbican to Kingsand/Cawsand; the Devonport Inn does takeout beers (plus sushi and fish and chips), to enjoy on the shingle beach.

The waterfront

Plymouth’s waterfront is its USP and the reason it’s dubbed Britain’s Ocean City. For a city hike that delivers a mix of urban grit and maritime grandeur, start at Royal William Yard, built by architect John Rennie between 1825 and 1831 and the largest collection of Grade I-listed military buildings in Europe. You have to go inland from here to get past the sprawling barracks and ferry port, passing through Stonehouse – a very old district – and on to the Hoe. The views over Plymouth Sound are fab: the art deco Tinside Lido, built in 1935. Further on is Smeaton’s Tower , removed from Eddystone reef in the Channel in 1880, and the 17th-century Royal Citadel, home to 29 Commando Royal Artillery, and below is the Barbican, overlooking Sutton Harbour – the city’s original port and departure point for the Mayflower. plymouthboattrips.co.uk

Concrete heart

Plymouth was bombed to bits in the second world war, and the legacy of this is still felt in the city council’s tendency to bulldoze and build again. The new Box is a positive instance of this, but so was Sir Patrick Abercrombie’s Plan for Plymouth, which reimagined the city along modernist lines after the war. The city centre is a grid of right-angled streets, with the main north-south thoroughfare, Armada Way, kept free for pedestrians. White Portland stone buildings with subtle artistic details were arranged along functional lines, taking inspiration from Canberra and New Delhi, but also from the homegrown Garden City movement: at its heart is the Civic Centre, opened in 1962 and Grade II-listed since 2007.

Pubs and parks

Bread & Roses is a social enterprise pub on Ebrington Street, close to Plymouth College of Art and the Arts Faculty of the University of Plymouth. I used to go for the live music, but it’s still great for a drink. The Lord High Admiral on the Stonehouse peninsula has been a lifeline during lockdown, offering temporary premises for the Hutong cafe and Knead Pizza. It’s near to the Cremyll Ferry, the historic foot ferry over to the Rame peninsula, Cornwall’s “forgotten corner” of white sand beaches and rolling country parkland.

Janners – as Plymothians, and others who live on this bit of Devon coast, are known – have been drinking gin for centuries. Plymouth Gin dates from 1793, but the Black Friars’ building that houses the distillery was built in the 1400s, and has a medieval hall with a hull-shaped timber roof. The distillery has a range of tours (from £11, booking essential).

Soapbox Theatre

Devonport Park is the oldest in the city, and one of its highest spots, good for gazing on Plymouth Sound and the Tamar Estuary. It’s also home to the Soapbox Theatre . A professional theatre for children up to 15, it puts on immersive performances on a child-size stage. The next production is The Quest for The Ice Dragon in December, which will take place outside. The Barbican Theatre has a new director, who programmed a giant puppet promenade performance to bring staff back off furlough. It happened in the back lanes of St Judes so audiences could watch it from windows and gardens at a safe distance. For now, the space is focusing on training and masterclasses, but it’s one to watch.

Bakes and cakes

The Column Bakehouse, Plymouth’s first and only social enterprise bakery, reinvested all profits from its sourdough and artisan breads – baked in-house – into jobs and apprenticeships for local people. While the bakery element is closed, one of its locations is still open – the Real Ideas Cafe at Ocean Studios , Royal William Yard – using produce from other local enterprises instead. It hosts regular craft sessions and a monthly “makers’ market” (next one 19 October, 10am-3pm). I also love the Jacka Bakery in the Barbican for its coffee and cinnamon swirls.

Punk cinema

Founded by Plymouth-based filmmakers and academics Allister Gall and Dan Paolantonio in 2010, Imperfect Cinema began as an open-access film collective. The duo create films that explore place, people and memory, and facilitate local participatory film projects. They are currently working on a large-scale film commission for the BFI and The Box, which will explore local communities after dark. For the past two years, they have also been researching Plymouth’s Union Street and in particular its incredible, and largely forgotten, cinema history for their Home of Movies project. Planned Home of Movies events for 2020 were postponed, but rescheduled screenings and events in the city will be announced soon.

Gemma Blackshaw is honorary professor of art history at University of Plymouth and professor of art history at London’s Royal College of Art. She lives in Plymouth

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The Top Things to Do in Plymouth, England

When the Pilgrims set off on their epic trans-Atlantic voyage 400 years ago, it was only by chance that the port of Plymouth, England, was their final point of departure from the Old World. Originally, they’d set off from Southampton with two ships, but 300 miles out to sea, the Speedwell, their second ship, began leaking so badly they were forced to turn back, hoping ship builders in Plymouth could make the vessel once again seaworthy. But when they learned the Speedwell couldn’t be saved, as many of the Pilgrims as possible crowded aboard the Mayflower and set off again. 

This year the Mayflower 400 celebration taking place in both the Old World and the New will see many visitors paying call at the various places throughout the United Kingdom associated with the Pilgrims, including the tiny villages in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire many of them came from. Plymouth, right on the border of Devon and Cornwall, two of England’s most beautiful counties, will likely be a major attraction. Here are the musts of what to see and do both in and near Plymouth.

Amble Through the Barbican

Plymouth was nearly leveled by German bombers during World War II, but by great good fortune, little damage occurred to the Barbican, the warren of ancient streets near the harbor with more cobbled streets than any other city in England. The area still contains many buildings the Pilgrims would have known. Two of them, the Island House and the Elizabethan House, are likely places where they lodged while awaiting to learn the fate of the Speedwell. A new museum offers interactive exhibits inside the Elizabethan House, and don’t miss the lovely hidden garden behind it. On the water’s edge, the monumental Mayflower Steps also have been recently restored. Since this area was out in the harbor in 1620, it’s not possible the Pilgrims would have descended these stairs to board the ship. A popular local legend maintains, however, that the actual steps they used were covered over a century and a half later by a structure now housing the Admiral MacBride, a charming English pub, with the original stairway supposedly buried underneath.

Take a Harbor Cruise

Plymouth’s harbor, which separates the English counties of Devon and Cornwall, is one of the finest in the world. It’s also the point where Sir Francis Drake, Captain Cook, and Charles Darwin all began their historic voyages and where many of the Titanic’s survivors returned. Today, hourlong cruises are available from Plymouth Boat Tours that explore the city’s highlights visible from the water, as well as passing by mighty warships and nuclear submarines moored at the Royal Navy Dockyard. Themed cruises offered by the company include Pirate Adventures, as well as jazz and sunset tours. Harbor ferries transport visitors to the Cornwall side of the harbor to Mount Edgecombe Country Park, where an elegant estate house and formal gardens can be seen, or to the twin Cornish villages of Cawsand and Kingsand, quaint towns with a history of smuggling in their past. Deep sea fishing expeditions depart from the harbor, and opportunities for paddle boarding, sailing, kayaking, and scuba diving are also available.

Sample Gin with a Mayflower Connection

The oldest working gin distillery in England, Plymouth Gin established the spirit as a nobleman’s drink and for centuries was the supplier for officers in the Royal Navy. Made with pure soft water from nearby Dartmoor National Park and with a proprietary blend of botanicals, the company’s gin products are all made in a Victorian-era still that can be viewed during the popular 40-minute tours. And Plymouth Gin has its own unique connection to the Mayflower also. Originally constructed as a monastery dating to the 1430s, the structure currently has a swanky upstairs cocktail lounge, a long room with magnificent soaring ceilings that was once the refectory where the monks took their meals. It’s also the room where it’s commonly believed the Pilgrims had their final meal before setting off to the New World the next morning—a list of all 102 Mayflower passengers is emblazoned on the wall. Don’t leave before picking up a recipe for the “Mayflower Martini” in the gift shop.

Sample Local Eats

A diversity of culinary choices makes dining in Plymouth an adventure. Seafood is of course abundant with menu choices at the many restaurants lining the harbor including local fish like whiting, sprat, and plaice. The Barbican’s historic Jacka Bakery, established in 1597, now prepares artisanal bread, pastries, and cakes, but in 1620 they supplied the Pilgrims with the hardtack carried on the Mayflower—it can still be ordered online. Be sure to sample Cornish pasties, savory pies filled with meats and vegetables shaped into a semi-circle with crimped edges. Partaking in a Devon Cream Tea, an afternoon ritual of drinking tea and munching on scones covered with clotted cream and jam, shouldn’t be missed. The folks in Devon insist the jam be placed atop the cream, while in neighboring Cornwall it’s the other way around. Try both ways at the Tudor Rose Tea Room or at the Duke of Cornwall Hotel, where the elegant “Tea at the Top” also offers scenic views from the hotel’s highest floors.

Park Yourself in the Hoe

Think of the Hoe as Plymouth’s Central Park. Sitting adjacent to an imposing 17th-century fortress, the Royal Citadel, the Hoe’s wide expanses high above the harbor offer spectacular views. Legend has it that Sir Francis Drake looked out on the passing Spanish Armada from here as he enjoyed a game of lawn bowling. Even better views can be had from atop Smeaton’s Tower, a beloved red-and-white striped lighthouse. Elsewhere in the park are an impressive Naval War Memorial; the Tinside Lido, an Art Deco saltwater swimming pool; and “The Beatle Bums,” an art installation on the very spot where the Fab Four sat and had a famous photo taken of them when they visited Plymouth in 1963. For two days in August, the Hoe will host the British Fireworks Championships.

Get Close to Sharks

Just steps from the Barbican, the National Marine Aquarium offers “fin for everyone” inside the United Kingdom’s largest aquarium. With more than 4,000 aquatic animals in four separate zones, the main focus is on the waters near Plymouth Sound, the British coast, and the Atlantic Ocean, but a section called “Blue Planet” offers brightly colored fish from the Great Barrier Reef and elsewhere in the world. Only a plate of glass separates viewers from sharks, green turtles, barracudas and rays swimming in huge tanks that visitors walk both through and under. VIP Behind-the-Scenes tours are offered as well as daily talks and shows like “Meet the Sharks” and “Dive Show.”

Shop for Local Wares

Shoppers in Plymouth can choose from the Drake Circus Shopping Mall in the center city with more than 70 of the United Kingdom’s top brand names, or they can hop on a ferry from the Barbican to go to the Royal William Yard, a former naval provisions storage facility that’s been repurposed into a home for restaurants, art galleries, and shops like independent clothing boutiques. Open air events like live music are offered as well as rotating art exhibitions, and the Ocean Studios located at the Yard is a creative hub where you can be paired with local makers to fashion your own ceramics, jewelry, and mosaics. Many of the centuries-old buildings lining the streets of the Barbican now house unique shops, including The House that Jack Built, a quirky arcade with meandering passageways complete with water fountains and witches and gnomes rotating on poles. Shops range from purveyors of handmade chocolates to vintage fashions. There’s even a resident tarot card reader!

Think Inside “The Box”

A new cultural hot spot for Plymouth that opened in the spring of 2020 is called The Box, which brings together local archives, natural history exhibits (including a “Mammoth Gallery”), contemporary art, and temporary exhibits like “Mayflower 400: Legend and Legacy” that has been created in cooperation with hundreds of museums, libraries, and archives in the U.S., U.K, and elsewhere, as well as the Wampanoag tribe of Native Americans in Massachusetts. Objects and images in the exhibition will take a look at early English colonization efforts in North America while at the same time detailing the lives of the Mayflower’s passengers, showing the political and religious contexts for their journey. The 18-month exhibition will extend until September of 2021. Another traveling exhibit, “Wampum: Stories from the Shells of Native America,” will be highlighted with a new wampum belt pieced together by the Wampanoags that will travel throughout England and be on display in Plymouth from September 5 to October 24.

Take a Hike

For those who enjoy long walks, the entire region of Devon and Cornwall offers a multitude of options. The 630-mile Southwest Coastal Path along the shores of both counties offers stupendous views in many places, and although the nine miles of it passing through Plymouth are largely urban, a good sampling of it can be had by taking the ferry across the harbor to Mount Edgecumbe, exploring its gardens, then setting off on the coastal path to the twin Cornish towns of Cawsand and Kingsand with their charming pubs, restaurants, and shops. Just east of Plymouth, a total of 40 walks through defined “Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty” are suggested by the organization South Devon Explorer. Spot peregrine falcons on the Plym Valley Trail, described as a green corridor connecting Plymouth to Dartmoor National Park. And organized walking tours inside Plymouth itself include one offered by Devon and Cornwall Tour Guides that gives a good overview of the Pilgrims’ story including colorful tales like the one concerning young Pilgrim John Howland, who was swept overboard but saved. In the New World, he fathered 10 children to become the ancestor of millions of Americans, including both President Bushes.

Dart Over to Dartmouth

Further east along Devon’s coast lies another enticing destination with a Pilgrim connection. The charming town of Dartmouth was actually the first town where the Pilgrims’ two ships stopped after the Speedwell started taking on water. Several days were spent there making repairs, to no avail since the Pilgrims were forced to turn back once again, this time to Plymouth, where the Speedwell was finally declared unfit for travel. Take a walk through the narrow, picturesque streets of Dartmouth with Les Ellis, the “Town Crier,” dressed in red, blue, and gold with a tunic, waistcoat, breeches, and a tricorn hat with an ostrich feather in it.

An absolute must-see in the area is Greenway, Agatha Christie’s holiday home, easily accessible by an old-time steam train from Dartmouth. Family furniture and artifacts fill the house, including the piano Agatha played (but only when no one was listening) and relics from digs found on trips to the Middle East she made with her archaeologist husband. The extensive and heavily wooded gardens outside contain 2,700 species of trees and plants, and a steep path down to the river transports visitors to the boathouse, scene of the crime in Christie’s "Dead Man’s Folly." Afterwards, take the ferry on the River Dart back to Dartmouth, passing the huge Mayflower Tree, where a local legend maintains the Pilgrims worshipped during their time in Dartmouth.

Enjoy the Wide Open Spaces at Dartmoor

Imagine an area the size of London but with more sheep than people. That describes Dartmoor National Park with its stunning vistas of hilly woodlands and heather-covered moors, punctuated by 160 rocky granite outcrops called tors that are perfect for rock climbers of all abilities. England’s highest waterfall is here, as well as the largest concentration of Bronze Age ruins in the country, including stone rows, circles, and round houses. Dartmoor is both beautiful and eerie at one and the same—it’s the place where Sherlock Holmes went in quest of the supernatural “Hound of the Baskervilles.” Recreational possibilities abound, including hiking and horseback riding where you can watch wild ponies and their foals from your own tamer steed. Tours to Dartmoor by Select Southwest Tours and Unique Devon tours are regularly scheduled or can be arranged privately, and the adventurous can rent bicycles or even get a bird’s eye view of the whole 400-square-mile park from a hot air balloon!

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How To Spend A Fantastic Day In Plymouth, Massachusetts

Sharon Odegaard

• Activities and Interests
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• Massachusetts
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Plymouth spreads out along the coastline of Massachusetts and carries the label of “America’s Hometown.” Here, in 1620, the Mayflower made landfall, the sea-weary passengers stumbled off the ship, and soon the village of Plymouth took shape. After spending months tossed about on the waves of the Atlantic, the group was happy to come ashore, form a colony, and begin a new life.

Just a 45-minute drive south of Boston, the town of Plymouth is an ideal day trip. It’s also just a short drive from Cape Cod. In Plymouth, you can tour reproductions of the Mayflower and the first English settlement, called Plimoth Plantation. The daily life of the Native Americans, here long before the English, is on display at Patuxet. Add to your day a visit to a grist mill, a look at (tiny) Plymouth Rock, and sampling local beers, and you have lots of possibilities for enjoyment.

Pro Tip: If you time your visit for the fall, Plymouth will be showing off its splendid leaves of red and gold. And you can also go to a nearby cranberry bog as the berries are floated up to harvest. The red-colored bogs are an unforgettable sight.

Step Aboard The Mayflower

This full-size reproduction of the Mayflower is newly restored and recently re-docked in Plymouth Harbor. You’ll find the Mayflower at the State Pier in Pilgrim Memorial State Park in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of its arrival in New England. Step onboard this ship and experience firsthand what it was like to live in this confined space for weeks at sea.

This is a living history museum, with people dressed in period clothes and talking with you about their voyage. Be sure to strike up conversations as you move through the ship. You can learn about the mechanics of sailing the ship, as well as daily life onboard.

What struck me immediately was how small this vessel is. It must have been difficult for passengers to spend day after day in the dark confines below deck. The Mayflower picked up people at different ports in England, so some spent as long as nine months on the ship.

Allow about an hour at the Mayflower.

Pro Tip: I began my day here, then headed to Plimoth Plantation and Patuxet Museum, free to spend the remainder of the day, as there’s more to see there. Also, you will beat the crowds by going to the Mayflower early in the day.

Immerse Yourself In The Daily Life Of The Pilgrims At The Plimoth Plantation

Follow the signs and drive about three miles inland from the Mayflower to Plimoth Plantation . This recreation of the English settlers’ first village includes about a dozen buildings, gardens, fences, woodpiles, and livestock. Life in the 1600s is on display, and you can walk through it all. You meet living history guides of all ages who will tell you what they are doing and talk about life in the early days of the village.

The first village was located about three miles away, also on a hill above the water. Plimoth has been recreated using notes, journals, drawings, and archeology. The result brings colonial Plimoth vividly to life. You will feel you have traveled back in time. Interpreters will explain what they are eating for lunch or how they chopped wood for that big pile to prepare for winter. On my first visit, I went with my dad, and he helped build a fence. The wooden nails fascinated him. On my next visit, I watched a young man put on a roof as he explained the process to us.

Feel free to ask the costumed colonists anything about their lives. Nothing is off the table. Discuss religious views, healthcare, education and raising children, cooking, and how they get along with the Native Americans who live nearby. Also, take time to relax on a wooden bench and revel in the historic atmosphere.

Animal lovers will be pleased to know about the plantation’s Rare and Heritage Breeds Program. Many animals originally living here are no longer used in agriculture and are endangered. At Plimoth, these historic breeds are being saved. As you tour, you may see Milking Devon and Kerry cattle, Wiltshire Horned sheep, and San Clemente Island goats. Head for the Nye Barn to find out more.

You may wonder why the plantation spells its name different from the town, substituting “Plimoth” for “Plymouth.” In the 17th century, words were often spelled phonetically without consistency from document to document. Governor William Bradford wrote his history of the colony using “Plimoth,” so the administration of the historical site chose to use his version.

Learn About Wampanoag Culture At The Patuxet Museum

The outdoor Patuxet Museum , located along the banks of the Eel River, is adjacent to Plimoth Plantation and portrays the life of the native Wampanoag people. The Native people you meet here are planting crops, fishing, gathering wild herbs and berries for food, and fashioning reeds into mats and baskets. Homes in this village include the mat-covered wetu and a longer, bark-covered house with three fire pits inside. Food is cooked over an open fire using only the ingredients that were available in the 1600s.

Your experience here differs from Plimoth Plantation because the staff members are not playing a role. They are Native people, dressed in the deerskin style of the 17th century, but they speak from a present-day viewpoint. They will greet you and invite you inside a wetu or talk about what’s growing in the garden. You can learn about Wampanoag history, hear stories, and play a traditional game of hubbub. The Wampanoag People have lived in this region for more than 10,000 years, and they are pleased to share their culture with visitors.

Stop At The Visitor Center

The visitor center at Plimoth Plantation and Patuxet Museum offers museum shops that carry everything from books and toys and specialty foods to Native jewelry.

If you’ve worked up an appetite during your tours, the Plentiful Cafe features menu items adapted from both English colonial and Native cultures. Eat in the spacious restaurant or take your food to go and spread out a picnic on the lawn overlooking Cape Cod Bay.

Find Plymouth Rock

You’ve likely heard that famous Plymouth Rock can disappoint when you finally see it. Still, you must stop by this small boulder when you are in Plymouth. It’s legendary.

The rock became famous through oral history as the landing place of the English colonists. Early settlers would take their children to stand on the rock. Stories of the Mayflower voyage and landing here were imparted from generation to generation.

The rock became a symbol of liberty after the American Revolution. It’s fenced off for protection and awaiting your visit, just a few steps from the Mayflower.

It’s worth knowing that Plymouth is actually the second place the Mayflower landed after its historic voyage. The destination had been the mouth of the Hudson River. But, blown off course, the Mayflower landed far to the south. On November 9, 1620, passengers spied land at last after a long, tortuous voyage and docked at what is now Provincetown, Massachusetts, at the tip of Cape Cod. After a few days here, the Mayflower sailed across Cape Cod Bay to present-day Plymouth. And it was in Plymouth that the group settled.

Learn About Milling At The Plimoth Grist Mill

Mills were essential to an economy that grew corn, and Plymouth had a beautiful one. Plymouth’s Grist Mill is recreated to look as it did in 1636. This fully functional mill runs on water power from Town Brook. Two huge millstones grind corn. Tour the mill, then stop to buy stone-ground cornmeal at the shop.

Savor Local Cuisine (And Beer)

Plymouth is home to a local brewery that produces unique, high-quality ales and lagers. The Mayflower Brewing Company opened in 2007 and is dedicated to “celebrating the history and legacy of beer in America.” Founded by a descendant of John Alden, who was the beer barrel cooper on the Mayflower, this brewery makes traditional-style beers and serves them on the patio. Enjoy food from a variety of food trucks as you sip your lager.

For a delicious restaurant dinner, you can’t go wrong at Carmela’s Restaurant . The Viscariello family runs a successful Italian restaurant in Kingston, Massachusetts, and opened a second location in Plymouth. Fresh ingredients go into their pastas and flatbread pizzas. And gluten-free menu items are available.

Plymouth fans out from the water and climbs up gentle hillsides. The views and fresh sea air alone are worth a visit. Add to that the rich heritage of the area and the opportunities to travel back in time, and you have a fascinating place. You’ll be glad you spent a day reveling in the beauty and history of Plymouth.

Related Articles:

• 11 Best Small Towns To Visit In Massachusetts
• 10 Best Things To Do In Adorable Manchester-By-The-Sea, MA
• 11 Tips For Experiencing Boston’s Freedom Trail

As the owner of the travel blog, Exploring Our World , Sharon enjoys taking her readers on a journey with her. Articles often delve into the history of a place, and by adding in a generous number of photos, she inspires others to explore for themselves. In her early travels, she was most frustrated by coming back home and learning that she had missed a fascinating sight or a hidden gem. Now she helps travelers prepare for a trip by passing along travel tips, pointing out lesser known things to see, and alerting them to enjoyable day trips from major cities.

Her travel articles have been published by Stripes Europe Newsletter and the World War 2 Writing and Research Center. Whether she's discovering more about her hometown of San Diego, California or flying to faraway places, she enjoys sharing with travel lovers around the world.

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Plymouth, England

Why we love Plymouth

Britain’s Ocean City, Plymouth offers a seamless blend of maritime charm and natural beauty. It’s a cultural hub filled with award-winning museums and waterfront attractions. Dive into the depths of Plymouth’s National Marine Aquarium, be immersed in the wonders of the National Marine Park and stroll through the cobbled streets of its picturesque old port, the Barbican. From discovering Pilgrim life aboard the Mayflower to embracing the natural world, there’s a wealth of adventure to be had in Plymouth.

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National Marine Aquarium

Dive into the UK’s largest aquarium in Plymouth for an underwater exploration like no other. Spy over 4000 sea creatures and take a watery journey through the world’s oceans, from the brisk Atlantic to the colourful Great Barrier Reef. For a full-on immersive experience, pick up a snorkel and head beneath the surface, or dine under the bubbles of the Eddystone and Atlantic Ocean exhibits.

Destination Plymouth

Catch your Cook at the Hook & Line

Set out from Royal William Yard for a foodie voyage like no other. You’ll be (hopefully) catching your own mackerel out at sea and returning to The Hook and Line to cook it up yourself. There may be opportunity to catch other fish as well, including the likes of herring, pollock and conger eel.

Plymouth Gin Distillery Tour

Take a tour of the oldest working gin distillery in England at Plymouth Gin’s historic Black Friars Distillery, a landmark building. Learn the ancient secrets of making gin, using the same recipe since 1793 and sample some of the many flavours of this ancient distillery in the Barbican, Plymouth. There are different types of tours to choose, then finish with a drink at the Refectory Bar.

Things to do in Plymouth

South west sup.

Pick up a paddle and take to the open water as you explore Plymouth’s coastline on a stand-up paddleboard.

Mount Batten Watersports and Activities Centre

Whether you’re a natural on the water, or wanting to try something new, make a splash at this activity centre.

Dartmoor Zoo

Hear the roar of lions, spot playful otters and cute capybaras as you explore this animal kingdom.

Mayflower Museum

Travel back in time with the exhibition which shares the story of the Mayflower, an English ship that carried the Pilgrims.

Destination Plymouth/Dom Moore

Gaia Spa, Boringdon Hall

Take time out in one of the country’s top spas, in the grounds of Boringdon Hall hotel near Plymouth. With stunning hydrotherapy pools, steam rooms and saunas, this adults-only space is total bliss.

gaiaboringdon

Devon, England

Plymouth Hoe and Smeaton’s Tower

Look out across Plymouth Sound and visit the iconic lighthouse alongside shoreside views.

Plymouth Sound National Marine Park

Visit the UK’s first National Marine Park that brings together water sports, maritime history, and a whole host of events.

Pennywell Farm

Meet the farmyard animals of the city with rides, play areas, pig racing and more for all the family!

Featured things to do

On the water with Plymouth Boat Trips

Whether it’s a scenic cruise past Drakes Island, a romantic sunset sail, or a journey out to Tamar Valley, there’s a whole host of ways to see Plymouth and beyond from its waters.

Scott Grenney

Swim at shoreside Tinside Lido

You’ll be making a splash in a unique location at this art-deco style lido that comes with impressive sea views. Relax on the sun desk before taking a dip in the saltwater pool.

Explore culture at The Box

One for the creatives, the art-fiends and culture lovers, visit the museum and art gallery for exhibitions, galleries, and collections.

Feel theatrical at the Theatre Royal Plymouth

It’s all centre stage at the Theatre Royal. Sit back and enjoy the show as actors take the limelight in a play, musical, opera and more. Look out for festive shows during December.

Places to stay in Plymouth

City centre.

Filled with internationally recognised hotel brands, restored historic buildings and budget-friendly options, a stay in Plymouth’s city centre is a must for all culture vultures.

The Waterfront

From the renowned Royal William Yard to the cobbled streets of the Barbican, the Waterfront is the perfect blend of history and vibrant city living.  

Tamar Valley

Escape into the wild with a stay in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. From farm stays, camping and rooms in countryside homes, there’s something for everyone.

Explore nearby

Cornwall and the isles of scilly.

Renowned for its glorious countryside, striking coastline and unique attractions.

VisitBritain/Ben Selway

Dartmoor and Exmoor

With tangled oak forests and looming peaks, it can feel like the edge of the world.

King Charles III England Coast Path

A masterpiece in the making, filled with beaches, clifftops, cities and nature.

South West Coast Path/Roy Curtis

Getting to Plymouth

Located in southwest England, the port city of Plymouth sits on the south coast of Devon. Plymouth is easily accessible by road, rail, ferry, and air.

Bristol Airport is the nearest major international flight hub, connecting to more than 100 destinations. Brittany Ferries also serve the city from France and Spain. Train services from London to Plymouth via Great Western Railway take around three hours, while Stagecoach offers connections to surrounding areas, including Bristol Airport and Exeter. Flixbus also operates a route between Plymouth and London.

Getting around

Exploring the city and beyond by foot is a great way to see the sights at your own pace.

Plymouth’s Waterlinks have taxis and ferries that run to areas including the Mayflower Steps.

Bike and scooter hire provide a different way to get in some sightseeing. Download the Plymouth Cycle Map as a handy guide.

Want to know more?

Head to Visit Plymouth for insider tips on Plymouth from those in the know.

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10 Very Best Things To Do In Plymouth, England

Nestled on the south coast of beautiful Devon , Plymouth is a historical city with hundreds of years of maritime history. Not only that, there’s a heap of spots to see and the best things to do in Plymouth that make it a great little city break whilst exploring wider Devon. 

Over the centuries, Plymouth has seen its fair share of histories; all of which has shaped the city of the years. Home to England’s biggest seaports and naval bases, the city basks in rich maritime history, which includes its role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

Nowadays, you don’t need to worry about any sailing armadas and you can stroll the city with ease! So, to help you get the most out of your trip, I wanted to share some gorgeous spots you shouldn’t miss when you visit Plymouth.

Take a look, below, at the best things to do in Plymouth in Devon . Have an amazing visit. 

1.) Plymouth Hoe

Plymouth Hoe, or simply “the Hoe”, is considered the centre and beating heart of the city.

Perched high above the harbour, this gorgeous park offers breathtaking views of the city and the wider area around Plymouth Sound. These are totally stunning, especially on a sunny day! 

As you stroll, you’ll spot the Naval War Memorial and the Armada Monument which is designed with the coats of arms of the towns that aided in the battle in the 1500s.

After walking the Promenade, make your way over to the art installation known as the “Beatle Bums”. It serves as a reminder of the time when The Beatles came to Plymouth back in the 1960s.

Oh, and don’t forget the Tinside Lido, an outdoor swimming pool that is worth visiting on a warm summer day.

You’ll also get some picture-perfect spots from the viewing platform of the Smeaton Tower, a magnificent red-and-white striped lighthouse that stands proudly. 

Read more: Best places to visit in Devon

2.) Plymouth Sound

The Plymouth Sound, or locally known as “The Sound”, is a natural harbour that stretches from the southwest corner of Penlee Point in Cornwall up to the southeasterly point of Wembury Point in Devon.

This six-kilometre bay area is the perfect spot for a stroll along the trails. In fact, I’d say it’s one of the best things to do in Plymouth if you fancy a little stroll away from the city itself.

You see, from here, you can join the famed South West Coastal Path. It’s one of the big ones to join (so prep well) or just choose sections to stroll (like we tend to do).

Plus, you’ll get some gorgeous views from Mount Edgecumbe Country Park. It’s easily accessed via the Cremyll Ferry and well worth a stroll.

Read more: Best hikes in England

3.) Royal Citadel

Right next to Hoe Park, the Royal Citadel is a historic fortress that has defended the coastline since the 17th century.

Nowadays, you can head inside to explore the citadel and visit spots like the Royal Chapel of St. Katherine-upon-the-Hoe. Plus, from here, you’ll also get some superb views of Plymouth Sound (from near the ramparts which are still armed with cannons).

It’s an iconic part of Plymouth and can’t be missed. 

The guided two-hour tours in the Royal Citadel are open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from April to September. 

Read more: Best beaches in Cornwall

4.) Plymouth Gin Distillery

Fancy a tipple? Then the Plymouth Gin Distillery should be your port-of-call! 

It is one of the most historic gin distillers, producing its famous nectar since 1793. The gin product even became the liquor that was regularly supplied to the Royal Navy officers for centuries. 

Today, you can hop on a guided tour in the facility and learn all about the gin distilling process itself. You’ll also get to learn more about its connection with some of the key pieces of Plymouth’s history. Such as the Mayflower and the Pilgrims.

Best of all, you’ll even get to try a few! 

Read more: Best places to visit in the South of England

5.) Wembury

Heading east, across the South Devon Area of Natural Beauty (AoNB), is the coastal village of Wembury.

It’s another little gem that’s well worth visiting and feels like stepping back in time. Nowadays, the village is preserved and supervised by the Devon Wildlife Trust, which means it’s nicely protected for us all to enjoy. 

Take a little stroll around the cosy village and be sure to spend some time on the coastline. It’s very quiet and serene and the perfect spot to visit if you fancy a quieter day away from the city. The views from around Mill Cottage are just gorgeous, especially at sunset.

Read more: Best places in Cornwall to visit

6.) Royal William Yard

Just on the coastline, to the west of Hoe Park, is Royal William Yard – an impressive Naval building from the 19th Century that stands proudly on the waterfront.

Here, you’ll get to wander the converted buildings that are filled with little shops, restaurants and stalls that line the route. You might even spot some of the art studios within the yard, too. 

If you fancy a wider stroll, head up to nearby Devil’s Point which has some lovely views down Firestone Bay. 

If that’s not your thing, head over to Crownhill Fort – just outside the city centre itself. Established in the 1860s, the fort is considered to be the best-preserved stronghold among Lord Palmerston’s ‘Ring of Fire’ which protected the city of Plymouth during the Victorian era.

Today, the Landmark Trust manages the Crownhill Fort and opens it to the public every last Friday of each month. You can scout the fort’s ramparts and mysterious tunnels during guided tours, and relive the memories of the battleground with historical reenactments. In Spring, Firepower Day is a highly anticipated event wherein the visitors can witness the historic artillery guns in action.

In addition to the tours, the former Officers’ Quarters and fully-furnished luxury suites of the structure are also available for overnight stays.

7.) Saltram House

One of the best things to do in Plymouth (that’s just shy of Saltram Beach) is visiting Saltram House and Gardens. This National Trust property has a whopping 500-acres of an estate to explore which is totally breathtaking. 

Once here, make sure to explore the Orangery and pristine gardens before hopping inside to see the collections of ceramics and art pieces in the manor.

8.) The Barbican

History flows along the narrow cobbled lanes of The Barbican, the circuit of ancient streets where 200 listed buildings of both Tudor and Jacobean architecture are perched.

It’s easily one of the most iconic spots and the best things to do in Plymouth if you want to a little stroll, shop or cafes for a bite to eat. 

Strolling the area around Sutton Harbour will lead you to the Mayflower Steps.

These are well-known to have been taken by the Pilgrim Fathers upon their departure from England aboard the Mayflower to seek a new life in America in 1620.

Getting hungry? Stop off for lunch at Bonne Santé for their yummy firecracker prawns. 

9.) Devonport Naval Heritage Centre

If you’re interested in exploring more of Plymouth’s maritime history, then head over to the Devonport Naval Heritage Centre. 

The museum walks you through the whole development of the Dockyardand keeps the records of Plymouth’s crucial support to the Royal Navy. All of which’s pretty interesting. 

Not only that, the Devonport Naval Heritage Centre provides shelter for the decommissioned naval submarine ‘Courageous’. 

Afterwards, head on over to Fletcher’s Restaurant for their yummy seasonal menu. The venison was so good. 

10.) Burrator Reservoir

Just outside the Plymouth is the lovely Burrator Reservoir.  It’s a unique and relaxing escape to the countryside that’s within easy reach of the city and totally lovely to stroll around.

With heaps of woodland and trails, you might even get to spot some deer along the way! Now, it’ll likely take you around two (or more) hours to fully cover – so plan your trip in advance.

Oh, and if you’re looking for parking then head over to Burrator Quarry . It’s probably the easiest place we found to park up.  

When you’re back in Plymouth, head over to the Tudor Rose Tea Rooms for some of their freshly-baked scones. They’re delicious. 

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• November 23, 2019

Our family was thrilled to be visiting Plymouth , Massachusetts to explore the Pilgrims, the Mayflower & Plymouth colony back in 2014. I discussed the sites & provided our Itinerary in my Plymouth in a Day  post here. By the end of the day, what we learned surprised & fascinated us. Walking the same land where they lived, seeing it with our own eyes helped give us a deeper glimpse & reminded us that they weren’t just caricatures in a play or a painting, they were real people in a harsh world that makes many of ours look quite delicate.  We learn tidbits about this US history staple in school.  But, here are 10 things about them you probably didn’t know:

1. The Pilgrims were the minority- both on the Mayflower & at the 1st Thanksgiving

‘King’ Massassoit, leader of the Wampanoag tribe had an alliance with Plymouth colony & attended the 1st Thanksgiving with them.  

2. Plymouth was not the intended destination

Massachusetts wasn’t even in their plan.  They had a contract for a charter with the Virginia Company of London and intended to land at the northernmost part of their land of Virginia, which was in the vicinity of today’s New York City.  They were blown over 200 miles off course by stormy seas, becoming the 1st permanent settlement in all of New England. The contract & charter they had were only good for Virginia. The ‘strangers’ said the rules no longer applied & threatened to go off on their own.  The Mayflower Compact was written, a governor voted in, and the colonists stuck together under this self-governing document.  Because of the unforeseen need to create this self-rule, the fundamentals of their legacy influenced democratic traditions in other colonies, even impacting America today.  The Revolutionary founding fathers referred to those principles in drafting the Declaration of Independence & the U.S. Constitution. England, however, was not impressed & the king did not recognize this unofficial plan and a more permanent agreement was approved the following year. 

Landing in Plymouth also had disastrous consequences.  Their expectations wrong, they paid a heavy price.  With 2 false starts, a 2 month delay and stormy seas, the trip took longer and used more food & water than planned.  Shortages & poor diet left them weak. Farther North than they expected, they were unprepared for the Massachusetts winter.  The heavier winter & frigid cold, and the necessity to stay bundled together on ship till homes could be built led to shared germs & exposure.  They lost 1/2 the colony within the 1st few months of landing.  

(Plymouth Governor) William Bradford- wrote the journals & manuscript that we have much of our info from

3.  They didn’t land in Plymouth 1st   

They 1st landed on the Northern tip of Cape Cod in Provincetown, Massachusetts.  The Mayflower Compact was signed just offshore.  They had nearly ru n out of food, firewood & water after the delays.  They found and took a cache of corn buried by the Native Americans and used it to barely stay alive (& later repaid).  After exploring the bay area & finding Native Americans already occupying Cape Cod, they settled on Plymouth, just across the bay, a month later.  It had a good harbor, freshwater stream abundant in fish, and land abundant in game with ‘the greatest amount of fowl they’d ever seen’.  There was land already cleared & abandoned.  Unbeknownst to them, it was because nearly 90% of the local tribes had died off from ‘Indian fever’ the few years before.  There was a large hill near the shore to watch for dangers inland & out at sea.  Supplies were thin & winter was worsening and the colonists stayed put & began their settlement in Plymouth.   

4.  Two babies were born on the (crowded, unsanitary) Mayflower

They left England with 102 people, 2 died on the voyage, 2 were born & they arrived with still 102.  Oceanus Hopkins was the 1st, & was born at & named for the sea.  Sadly, he died as a little boy.  Another baby boy, Peregrine White, the 2nd baby, was born on the Mayflower while it was anchored outside Provincetown & the men were out exploring for a good place to settle.  The Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth has Peregrine’s little wicker baby cradle exhibited, today.  Peregrine means ‘traveler’ or ‘pilgrim’.  Baby Peregrine’s father died within a couple months, that 1st winter.  Peregrine’s mother, then, married another colonist who lost his wife to the winter.  They married 2 months later, in May of that spring.  The remarriage is shockingly quick in today’s mindset, but marrying quickly was not unusual for the times.  Not only as a help within the household, but for the Pilgrims, it was essential to maintain population growth for the future of their community.   She already had baby Peregrine & a 5 year old child and went on to have 4+ more after.  Theirs was the 1st marriage in Plymouth.  Peregrine lived to a ripe age of 83 & fathered 7 children.   For a look into the conditions these babies were born into on the Mayflower, see my article Plymouth in a Day – Itinerary .

Plymouth Rock Portico with view of Cape Cod Bay where the Mayflower sailed in

5. They probably didn’t step out onto Plymouth Rock

In the known Plymouth documents found so far, the Pilgrims didn’t mention the rock.  It was only identified 121 years later in 1741. A 94 year old man whose father arrived in Plymouth a couple years after the Mayflower & who knew some of the Pilgrims, himself, said he had been told by them & his family that the boulder was their actual landing spot. As for stepping onto it, it’s unclear. His emotional account is the only ‘evidence’ to the story.  However, it was in the immediate area at the time, just down from their homes & fort, and at very least nearby the landing.  For more on our visit & Plymouth Rock through the years, see my article Plymouth, Massachusetts in a Day- Itinerary

6.  They didn’t call themselves ‘Pilgrims’

They called themselves ‘Saints’ coming from the term being used throughout the Bible to refer to God’s people, Jesus’s followers. The term ‘Pilgrim’ was used over 150 years later after a casual mention was found in (Plymouth governor) William Bradford’s letters, published as ‘ Of Plimoth Plantation ‘.  He was referring to the Bible’s use of ‘pilgrims’ as visitors & strangers in a land who long for their citizenship in Heaven. Bradford’s manuscript was stolen from the tower of the Old South Meeting House in Boston during the Revolutionary War when British soldiers occupied the church.  It was rediscovered in the 1850s & England brought it back into print.  They returned it to the U.S. in 1897.    

Sarcophagus on Cole’s Hill with the bones of Pilgrims who died in the 1st winter

7.  A mass grave of Pilgrims overlooks Plymouth Rock  

In Plymouth, today, you can visit the mass grave, bones of men, women & children of Plymouth colony, held in a sarcophagus.  As the colonists huddled on the Mayflower as homes were built, they died off that winter, often several a day.  William Bradford wrote that ‘the living were scarce able to keep up to bury the dead’ and ‘not sufficient to tend the sick’.  They buried their dead at night so that the natives wouldn’t know how many they’d lost, and they smoothed the ground & planted seed on top to disguise the graves.  They hadn’t met the nearby Native Americans, yet, and didn’t know if they would be friendly, or if they might attack.  This small hill between the future fort & the shore, Cole’s Hill, became their First Burying Ground.  Heavy spring rains over a century later exposed skulls & skeletons & washed out bones into the bay, in the 18th & 19th centuries.  They were collected & stored in the attic of the Plymouth Rock portico until 1920, when they were re-interred in the sarcophagus for the 300th anniversary of the landing.  These Mayflower Pilgrims never made it to the 1st Thanksgiving.  They died before homes were built & they got to see it succeed.  Others were later buried in their next cemetery by the fort at Burial Hill, visited in my Plymouth in a Day article .   The only remaining original gravestone of a Pilgrim is in Salem & is discussed in one of my Salem articles, here. 

8.  Kids were the majority

With 1/2 the colonists dying the 1st winter, 78% of the women had died, leaving just 4 grown women with 22 men, and about 27 kids & teens in Plymouth.  You can bet that those kids helped the 4 women prepare the Thanksgiving feast.  It was unusual that women & children were brought to settle the New World, from the beginning.  Settlements were usually started by men who were there to make their fortune, such as in Jamestown which saw no women for at least a year, or to ‘subdue’ a new land & explore.  The Pilgrims, however, came to build a society, so they brought their whole families in an act of faith.  It wasn’t an easy life for the kids, though.  There was hard, long work for everyone and plenty of it.  Even on Christmas.  The Pilgrims didn’t celebrate it, viewing it a Roman Catholic creation.

Wheat kids peeking out of the Mayflower II in one of the few windows from the belly of the ship 

9.  Thanksgiving games were as prominent as the food 

Their games at the harvest celebration were much more lively than Thanksgiving football or the Macy’s parade.  They played various colonial games and shot off guns & conducted military exercises together.  They sang and danced and prayed.  Add this to #8 of this list and it was sure to be a lively Thanksgiving!  It was a great celebration of joy that took place over a 3 day period.  When visitors came, they stayed for quite awhile because it was a very long walk home.  There was much to be thankful for.  They were thrilled that not only were they alive having survived the 1st winter that took 1/2, but they had plenty of food to eat & the natives had shown them how to plant there & what to eat in this very different land.  They had not only peace, but an alliance & trade with their local Native American friends.  A peace that last for 55 years.  It wasn’t unusual for them to focus on gratitude.  It was the Pilgrim’s practice to give thanks to God, for everything they had, on a daily basis.  The Native Americans lived by gratitude, as well.

10.  Turkey Wasn’t the Centerpiece of the Thanksgiving Meal 

Turkey wasn’t the centerpiece on the Thanksgiving menu-  They had fowl, which may have included turkey, as well as duck, goose, pigeons & swans. They likely had an abundance of seafood, as well, being right on the ocean and having an abundance of freshwater herring from the local stream. The main show, however, was the 5 deer the Native Americans brought to serve.  Venison was likely roasted over an open fire and possibly used in stews.  No types of potatoes were in North America, yet.  The sugar was gone, by then, and they didn’t have butter nor flour, and not even ovens, yet, so no bread & pie. They may have flavored with herbs, onions, or nuts. Aside from meat, they dined on nuts and also vegetables, such as corn, beans, spinach, turnips, squash, leafy greens, carrots and peas. They had raw fruit, as well, such as berries, cranberries, plums & grapes. Some early settlers had hollowed out pumpkins with milk, honey and spices and roasted them to create a type of custard, and this may have been part of their meal, as well. Squanto of the Patuxet tribe had taught them how to farm the land, showed them the edible & poisonous plants, and where to fish and hunt, which almost certainly saved their lives.

There had been various national days of thanks declared for various reasons for over a century before it became a natioonal holiday in the U.S.  George Washington declared a day of thanks after independence was won in the American Revolution.  Both the Union and the Confederacy called for a day of thanks after Civil War battle wins.  Sarah Josepha Hale (journalist & author of ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’) had been calling to have a national Thanksgiving declared.  She believed it might bring together the North & the South who were still steeped in the Civil War & the country divided.  Both sides were already separately celebrating an unofficial variation of it during the fall.  Finally, she wrote to President Lincoln asking him to declare a single, national Thanksgiving to give thanks.  Lincoln saw the potential to unify the people and he had the Secretary of State draft the proclamation within a week and we celebrate it, still today, 400 years later.  Visiting Plymouth should definitely be on your bucket list!

• Our other Massachusetts Posts
• Our History Travel Posts

For more information, visit: 

Leo Martin at Jenney Museum for a tour ;  & also his book, “ Pilgrim Pursuit of Happiness”.  Both were helpful in offering me knowledge. 

pilgrimhall.org

history.com

saints-  biblegateway.com   ;    pilgrims – biblegateway.com

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15 Top-Rated Attractions & Places to Visit in Plymouth, England

Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated Dec 25, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Plymouth, in the beautiful English county of Devon, is one of Britain's largest seaports and naval bases. As such, it ranks as the country's most historically significant ports. It was here, just off the coast of Plymouth, that the English navy defeated the Spanish Armada, marking the beginning of the country's rise as a world power.

Situated at the mouth of the River Tamar, the boundary between Devon and Cornwall, Plymouth is now a sizeable city that includes Stonehouse and Devonport. For visitors, this means there are many great attractions to visit and fun things to do nearby.

Bordered by a rocky and sometimes steep shoreline interspersed with sheltered beach areas suitable for swimming, this attractive coastal city is nestled between hills that reach down to the adjoining bays. Surrounding woodlands and meadows combine with extensive parks and gardens to give the city an open, attractive look.

Famous names connected with British maritime history, such as Sir Francis Drake and the Mayflower , are closely associated with this historic port. With the many cobbled streets and narrow alleyways of the Barbican waterfront area, as well as its wide seafront promenade, these and other major points of interest are easy to explore on foot.

As you put together your England travel itinerary, be sure to refer often to our list of the top attractions and things to do in Plymouth, England.

See also: Where to Stay in Plymouth

1. Take in the Views at Plymouth Hoe & Smeaton's Tower

2. visit historic saltram house, 3. have fun at the barbican waterfront, 4. explore the royal citadel, 5. take the kids to the national marine aquarium, 6. the mayflower museum and mayflower steps memorial, 7. plymouth city center, 8. tour the historic elizabethan house, 9. follow the heritage trail through historic devonport, 10. spend a night at crownhill fort, 11. take the ferry to mount edgcumbe country park in cornwall, 12. take a drive to cotehele house, 13. cotehele mill, 14. bridging the tamar visitor and learning centre, 15. visit the cornish town of saltash, where to stay in plymouth for sightseeing, map of attractions & things to do in plymouth, england, plymouth - climate chart.

Some of the finest views over the town and Plymouth Sound are to be had from Plymouth Hoe, often referred to as simply the Hoe. Spacious Hoe Park opened in 1817 and is traversed by the Promenade, and extends past Drake's Island as far as the lighthouse on Eddystone Rock, 14 miles away.

It's also where you'll find the Armada Monument , erected in 1888 and decorated with the coats of arms of the towns that helped in the struggle against the Spanish. The nearby massive Naval War Memorial is worth a look, as is the Sir Francis Drake Statue. Other memorials along the wide, paved Hoe Promenade include the Plymouth Naval Memorial, commemorating the lives of sailors from Britain and the Commonwealth who died in two world wars, and the Royal Air Force and Allied Air Forces monument.

Also in the Hoe, the upper part of Smeaton's Tower -parts of which were taken from the original 18th-century lighthouse once located offshore-is open as a viewing platform. Be prepared to tackle the 93 steps of the tower, including steep ladders, to the lantern room for the lovely views. If you're here in August, try to coincide a visit with the annual British Fireworks Championship , an event that draws huge crowds from across the country.

Be sure to also spend a little time wandering West Hoe Park , on the westernmost tip of the Hoe. It's popular with families for its kid-friendly rides and miniature railway.

Address: 4 Osborne Place, Plymouth, Devon, England

Saltram House, just three miles east of Plymouth, was begun by John Parker in 1750 and has seen little change since its construction. It is notable for its 14 paintings by Joshua Reynolds, who lived in nearby Plympton.

The artist liked staying at Saltram and painted portraits of the lord of the house and his family. The portrait of the artist himself dates from 1767 and hangs on the stairway, and is the work of Angelika Kaufmann. Also of interest are works by Rubens, Stubbs, American presidential painter Gilbert Stuart, and superb collections of porcelain.

After visiting the home's beautiful interior, be sure to spend time exploring its magnificent grounds, including the unspoiled woodlands and tranquil gardens. The views over Plymouth Sound are also worth checking out. Self-guided tours of the expansive grounds-crisscrossed by a network of hiking and biking trails-can be picked up when purchasing tickets.

Tours of the manor house are also available, and a café and tearoom are available for those wanting to linger longer.

Address: Saltram, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon, England

Official site: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/saltram

Known as the Barbican, Plymouth's historic harbor area is fun to explore on foot. Consisting of cobbled streets and scenic views over fishing boats and pleasure craft, it's also one of the city's most popular dining districts, with casual seafood kiosks rubbing shoulder with restaurants and eateries offering outdoor al fesco dining.

At Sutton Harbour, formerly known as Sutton Pool, pleasure ships offer fun excursions around the harbor and Plymouth Sound, and regular ferry services can whisk you away to other destinations across the city.

Of particular interest to American tourists is the Mayflower Museum covering the fascinating history of this famous vessel's voyage to the New World. You can also visit the nearby Mayflower Steps Memorial, the spot from which the Pilgrims are said to have embarked on their epic voyage.

A short distance away is a memorial commemorating the arrival of British aviators Alcock and Brown who, in 1919, became the first people to cross the Atlantic in a seaplane.

Other Barbican highlights include the National Marine Aquarium , the Barbican Theatre , the Plymouth Arts Centre , and countless shopping opportunities and restaurants. The Barbican is also the scene of numerous events, including concerts and food festivals.

Official site: www.barbicanwaterfront.com

The Royal Citadel was built on the site of an earlier fortification in the 17th century and remained the most important coastal defense in England for more than 100 years. The structure encompasses the site of an earlier fort built in the time of Sir Francis Drake.

It's still used by the military, so be sure to check tour availability for the attraction. Entry is via guided tours only, which must be booked in advance of your visit.

A highlight of a visit is the Royal Chapel of St. Katherine-upon-the-Hoe. Originally licensed for services in 1371, it was rebuilt over the centuries. A road runs around the citadel, affording excellent views, and a pleasant footpath can also be strolled.

Address: Lambhay Hill, Plymouth, Devon, England

Official site: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/royal-citadel-plymouth/

Located adjacent to the Barbican waterfront area, the National Marine Aquarium is the UK's largest aquarium and offers superb educational programs and displays. Exhibits cover the world's oceans, from the shores of England to Pacific coral reefs.

More than 70 sharks from 10 different species are housed here, along with small dogfish and large sand tiger sharks, all of them featuring in an excellent interactive dive show. An on-site restaurant offers views of exhibits or across Plymouth Sound, and there's a good-sized gift shop selling a variety of souvenirs.

Fun behind-the-scenes tours are available, as are a variety of daily talks about the facility's residents and other marine related matters. Other fun things to do include joining a "shark sleepover," including snacks and a unique chance to see these amazing creatures at night.

Also fun for the kids, the nearby Plym Valley Railway consists of preserved steam engines and rolling stock running on a 1.5-mile line.

Address: Rope Walk, Coxside, Plymouth, Devon, England

Official site: www.national-aquarium.co.uk

While a big draw for tourists from the United States, the Mayflower Museum is also well worth a visit for those with an interest in Britain's rich naval history.

Located in the Barbican area and focusing on the remarkable journey made by America's founding fathers aboard the Mayflower , this first-rate museum commemorates Plymouth's important part in the epic journey undertaken by the Pilgrims to the New World. Highlights include the chance to try out period costumes, numerous fun interactive games, along with a scale model of the famous ship.

Afterwards, be sure to snap a photo of the Mayflower Steps Memorial , a historic gateway built in memory of the Pilgrim Fathers. These, and the museum, can be included in a number of fun walking tours of the Barbican and old town area.

Address: 3-5 The Barbican, Plymouth, Devon, England

Plymouth's bustling city center occupies the area around two broad avenues, Armada Way and Royal Parade , which adjoin Hoe Park to the north. Near St. Andrew's Church are the 15th-century Prysten House, the city's oldest home; the 16th-century Merchant's House, a Tudor building housing a museum of social history; and the beautiful Guildhall with its pretty little towers.

Opposite St. Andrew's is the Civic Centre , worth visiting for the viewing platform on the 14th floor, with its breathtaking views of the city, which on a clear day enables you to see as far as distant Dartmoor . On Derry's Cross is the famous Theatre Royal, with the Athenaeum Theatre next door.

You can find many things to do at the Plymouth Pavilions , a conference and leisure center with a swimming pool, wave-machine, and ice rink.

Finally, a little northwest of the city center is the Drake Circus Centre , a pedestrian zone with passageways of shops and restaurants. In addition to its great shopping and dining experiences, it's here you'll find the stunning " The Box ." Home to the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, this architectural gem is well worth seeing if not just for its design, but its exhibits relating to local art and history.

Address: St. Andrews Street, Plymouth, Devon, England

In the narrow cobbled streets of The Barbican, Plymouth's historic quarter centered around Sutton Harbour, you can see an excellent example of 16th-century architecture in the Elizabethan House on New Street.

Fitted out exactly as it would have been in Tudor times, it's a delight to explore. Fascinating displays lead you through the building's rich history as a boarding house over the centuries, from its construction right through to the humble lodgings of its last tenants in the 1920s.

Also worth visiting are the neighboring Elizabethan Gardens and the 100-plus other listed historic attractions here. You should also visit nearby Southside Street, where you can see the remains of a 14th-century Dominican monastery.

Address: 17-19 New Street, Plymouth, Devon, England

Official site: www.theboxplymouth.com/outside-the-box/elizabethan-house/restoration

To the west of Plymouth city center, Devonport has many fine old Georgian and Regency houses. The Royal Dockyard, established in 1691 by William III, contains a memorial to polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott.

Born in Devonport in 1868, Scott died in 1912 on an expedition to the South Pole with his ship Discovery , now on display in Dundee. Gun Wharf, built in 1718, is also architecturally interesting.

The Devonport Heritage Trail is a great way to explore the area (particularly for hikers), while the more sedate Waterfront Walkway offers good sightseeing for all ages and abilities. Be sure to also visit the excellent Devonport Naval Heritage Centre, with its displays and exhibits relating to the city's historic dockyards.

Highlights include a former Royal Navy submarine, as well as the opportunity to tour the still operational naval base (tours need to be booked in advance).

Address: Vivid Approach, Off Granby Wy., Devonport, Plymouth, Devon, England

Crownhill Fort, built in the 1860s, is the largest and best preserved of Plymouth's ring of Victorian Forts. There are cannons and tunnels to explore, as well as ramparts and a massive dry moat, and you can take in numerous historic reenactments throughout the year. Guided tours are available.

For an unforgettable experience, look into booking one of the Fort's unique overnight stays. Offered in the former Officers' Quarters, these fully-furnished luxury suites contain separate bedrooms and full kitchens.

Address: Crownhill Fort Road, Plymouth, Devon, England

Official site: www.landmarktrust.org.uk/crownhill-fort

From Plymouth, there's a ferry service to Cremyll in Cornwall and the sprawling Mount Edgcumbe Country Park. Overlooking this huge parcel of land-the park in fact includes two villages, Kingsand and Cawsand-is Mount Edgcumbe House, a fine example of English 18th-century interior design.

Featured in the Oscar award-winning film, Sense and Sensibility , the house includes a large collection of period furniture and numerous fine paintings, including examples by Joshua Reynolds. Rare Chinese and English porcelain, as well as a unique collection of Bronze Age horns originating from Ireland, can also be viewed.

Be sure to spend time in the colorfully landscaped park, noted for its many European and exotic plant varieties. Other notable features include a number of follies, fortifications, and temples, most of which can be explored.

There are plenty of trails to explore, too, including a nine-mile section of the popular South West Coast Path and a long stretch of coastline. For those wanting to bed down for a night or two, a number of quaint cottages, along with a glamping site, can be booked.

Location: Cremyll, Torpoint, Cornwall, Devon, England

Official site: www.mountedgcumbe.gov.uk

Located a pleasant 30-minute drive inland from Plymouth, Cotehele House is a National Trust property that should be added to your local travel itinerary. While records indicate a manor home existed on the site in the early 1300s, much of the splendid medieval building on display today was built in the late 15th century by the Edgcumbe family, who were also responsible for the already-mentioned Mount Edgcumbe House.

Notable among its many interesting features are the well-preserved outbuildings, its three charming chapels, plus a large collection of old furniture and tapestries. The picturesque 14-acre grounds are well worth exploring and back onto the River Tamar.

Highlights include a marine exhibit at the Cotehele Quay, along with a lovely tearoom, formal gardens, a tower, and a Victorian-era summerhouse.

Address: St. Dominick, Saltash, Devon, England

Official site: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele

When visiting Cotehele House, be sure to also check out the neighboring Cotehele Mill . This remarkably well-preserved water-powered mill demonstrates traditional milling methods that were once common before the arrival of steam power and electricity.

While the exact date it was built remains a bit of a mystery, it's believed to have been here in medieval times, and the current water wheel itself is known to have been added in the 1800s.

In addition to its working blacksmith shop and fascinating displays of old tools, you can still see local grain being ground just as it would have been centuries ago. Cotehele flour is also used in the wonderful baked goods you can sample here.

This attraction can get busy, so try to allow plenty of time in your schedule to wait a short period of time before getting in, but hey, it's an idyllic stream-side setting in which to spend some time.

Address: St. Dominick, Callington, Devon, England

Official site: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele-mill/features/explore-cotehele-mill

Devon's newest tourist attraction, and one of the top free things to do in Plymouth, the informative Bridging the Tamar Visitor and Learning Centre opened in 2019 and provides a fascinating look at the two major bridges crossing the River Tamar: the Tamar Bridge and the Royal Albert Bridge.

Built in the 1960s and the 1850s respectively, these two impressive structures stand side by side over the river, connecting Devon and Cornwall. Plymouth, on the east bank, is where the informative visitor center is located, while the Cornish town of Saltash is located on the west bank. Each bridge had a huge impact on the area when it opened.

Through informative, interactive displays and exhibits, the visitor center showcases the construction of both bridges, offering a fascinating glimpse into their history, as well as their operation. Workshops and guided behind-the-scenes tours are available.

Address: Pemros Road, St. Budeaux, Plymouth, Devon, England

Official site: https://bridgingtamar.wpengine.com

Often referred to as the "Gateway to Cornwall," the town of Saltash sits directly across from Plymouth on the west bank of the River Tamar. It's well worth taking the time to explore and is accessible via a short train ride-worth it for the chance to cross Isambard Kingdom Brunel's magnificent Royal Albert Bridge , built in 1859-or on the pedestrian and bike path that utilizes the modern Tamar Bridge.

Popular things to do once here include exploring the Saltash Waterside, the historic part of the town once known for its boat building workshops and trades that supported local fishermen. From here, you're able to access the historic Mary Newmans Cottage , built in 1480 and furnished with period furniture.

You'll also want to visit the fascinating Elliott's Shop , a grocery store that has remained unchanged since the 1970s. Many of its displays date even further back, as the store was established in 1903.

If time allows, hop aboard a pleasure boat ride along the Tamar. These fun excursions operate off the Saltash Pier .

Looking for somewhere good to stay during your time in Plymouth? We thoroughly recommend these delightful hotels located near sightseeing locations such as Plymouth Hoe and the Barbican historic quarter:

Luxury Hotels :

• The luxurious Boringdon Hall Hotel and Spa is located in a magnificent old manor house in a picturesque countryside setting, just minutes from downtown Plymouth, and features an indoor heated pool and a wellness spa.
• Located waterside, Plum Holidays - Drake's Wharf offers luxury accommodations in a heritage naval building with upgraded décor and water views.
• Another unique experience located in a historic site, Rooms by Bistrot Pierre offers elegant accommodations in the heart of the magnificently restored Royal William Yard. Beautiful gardens, fine dining, a marina, and quiet walking trails are all just a short stroll away.
• Equally sumptuous, 1 Elliot Terrace features spacious suites with great views over Plymouth Hoe.

Mid-Range Hotels :

• A favorite in the mid-range price category, the Invicta Hotel is a great family-run hotel in a convenient location with extremely friendly staff.
• The Grosvenor Plymouth is another excellent option and features affordable rates, a great location just steps from Plymouth Hoe, along with modern décor and a delicious free breakfast.
• The Crowne Plaza Plymouth is also worth checking availability at, and features quality rooms with superb views, all just steps away from Plymouth Hoe.

Budget Hotels :

• For the budget conscious, the Premier Inn Plymouth City Centre (Sutton Harbour) Hotel is a good choice, located near the National Marine Aquarium, all rooms (including the larger family rooms) feature tea and coffee makers.
• While a cut above the average in this category, The Duke of Cornwall Hotel is well worth looking into for its attractive setting and affordable rates.
• Also good, Rainbow Lodge offers B&B-style rooms with a great cooked breakfast included.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

City Slickers : The UK capital of London offers no end of fun things to do, from spectacular Buckingham Palace to the wonderful Covent Garden market area. Other destinations to include on your England travel itinerary include the university towns of Cambridge , home to gorgeous medieval architecture, and Oxford , famous for its old colleges and attractive old town center.

Country Folk : England also boasts no end of quaint smaller towns and charming countryside to explore. It's also home to excellent beaches , including the coast of Brighton , as well as the spectacular scenery in Cumbria's Lake District . There's even a little of the countryside to be enjoyed in London, especially in places like Hyde Park and Kew Gardens .

England Vacation Ideas : Popular vacation destinations in England include Bath , famous for its incredibly well-preserved old Romana Baths and splendid Georgian architecture. Nearby Bristol is another great place to visit, especially around its historic harbor area. Another important port is Southampton , which, like Plymouth, boasts many sea-faring and maritime-related attractions.

More on England

A Day In Plymouth

One of my missions this year is to explore more of the UK, by taking  micro gaps to explore more of the beautiful place I live! One of the first micro gaps I took this year was a day trip to Plymouth, I live in North Devon so it only took around an hour and a half of the train.

When visiting new places I like to get an authentic taste of what the place has to offer and therefore did a lot of research beforehand. One thing I struggled with was finding information, there was not a lot of info out there about the best places to visit, so I hope if you’re planning a day or weekend in Plymouth, this blog will help you!

Getting There

As I mentioned, I already live in Devon, therefore, travelling to Plymouth wasn’t too long. My sister and I both wanted to have a few drinks, therefore, opted to get the train. Booking in advance and having a 16-25 railcard helped bring the cost down, for a £6.95 (a bargain if you ask me!) and my sisters only cost £10.55 without a railcard. We arrived in Plymouth at 08.30 and our train to depart left at 19:40, giving us around 11 hours to explore. 

Starting off our day we knew we wanted to have some American pancakes, and came across The Dock when looking online. After a very early start on a Saturday, I paired my maple syrup pancakes with a latte. There’s plenty of choice on the menu from cooked breakfasts to pastries and milkshakes, so it’s a place I’d highly recommend heading to.

When in Plymouth, head to the Plymouth Gin Distillery for a tour. The distillery has been crafting gin since 1793, there are a few different tour options to choose from; Gin Distillery tour (£10 – 40 minutes), Gin Connoisseur’s tour (£25 – 1 hour 30 mins) and Master Distiller’s tour (£45 – 2 hours 30 mins). 

We opted for the tour which lasted 40 minutes, giving you an overview of the history of the distillery, how gin is distilled and of course, allowing you to taste it! I would recommend this tour if you like gin, I’d also suggest trying the sloe gin which is incredible!

Is a weekend away, a weekend away without some shopping?! Drakes circus is full of great shops for a browse! And you have to head to Primark too! 

We were still feeling quite full from breakfast and just fancied a cake from a cute little café, and we could not find any! We walked around for around an hour, researched online and found it very odd that we couldn’t find somewhere independent. It was getting late on in the day and needed something small before ice skating, so ended up at Wetherspoons for some chips (not very authentic!).

Anyone else a fan of Dancing On Ice?! I’ve been obsessed with ice skating from a young age and this is the closest proper ice rink in the southwest. The ice skating rink in Plymouth is at Plymouth Pavilions, you can also go swimming there and catch a gig! We opted for the cheap sk8 which takes place from 16:00 – 17:30 every Saturday and only costs £6. It does get quite busy but within around half an hour I wasn’t clinging on the side and had a blast, I also didn’t fall over – bonus! 

After using all our energy on ice skating we needed to refill! Between Drakes Circus and Plymouth Pavilions, there’s a street called Union Street which has bundles of places to eat. We booked a table on route to the rink at Wildwood, an Italian. It’s a chain so it’s not unique to Plymouth, but we’d both not been before. It was 241 as we arrived, so both got Passion Fruit Collins! We then decided to share some four cheese arancini balls and I opted for the chicken and meatball calzone for main. It was a tasty meal, so I’d highly recommend visiting a Wildwood wherever you are in the UK!

To end what had been a great day, we headed for cocktails at Vodka Revolution (also on Union Street). Being at uni in  Bristol I’d been to vodka revs a lot but unfortunately, where I live in Devon, we don’t have one close. There are many great places to grab a cocktail in Plymouth, from Tigermilk to The Dairy, be sure to check a few out!

At this point it was time for us to get our train home, however, if I was to spend a night out in Plymouth I’d suggest heading to Walkabout, Slug & Lettuce and then finding a club that suits your music taste; Pryzm, OMG, Factory, Cuba, or Popworld. 

I hope that this blog has helped inspire you to take a day trip to Plymouth, or even prolong it to a weekend in Plymouth! Do you have any places you’d recommend to visit? Let me know in the comments!

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• 1.1 Orientation
• 1.2 Background
• 1.3 Geology
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.3 By train
• 2.5 By boat
• 3.1 On foot
• 3.3 By taxi
• 3.4 By boat
• 4.1 Museums
• 7.1 City-centre shopping
• 7.2 Independent shops and markets
• 7.3 Supermarkets
• 8.2 Mid-range
• 8.3 Splurge
• 13 Stay safe

Plymouth is a city in Devon , and the largest city on England 's south coast, with a population of 265,000 in 2021. It is about 190 miles (310 km) south-west of London, where the River Plym and the River Tamar (pronounced "TAY-mar") flow into the large bay of Plymouth Sound, creating a perfect natural harbour. The sea has been at the heart of Plymouth since it was founded in the middle-ages as a trading post and the source of its prosperity. Plymouth was the point from which the Pilgrim Fathers left England in 1620 for Massachusetts , commemorated today in the Mayflower Steps.

Understand [ edit ]

Plymouth is one of England's classic ocean cities, and for centuries has been a centre for shipping; first for trade and commercial shipping, and today as a base for the Royal Navy. Indeed, the city's Devonport Dockyard is the most extensive naval base in Western Europe. The water, with its leisure activities, brings many tourists to Plymouth, as do its various museums and other tourist attractions. In addition, its location close to Dartmoor and other sights of south Devon to the east and Cornwall to the west make it an excellent base for a trip to the south-west of England.

The city was heavily bombed in World War II and much of the city centre was destroyed. After the war, a comprehensive reconstruction plan was first produced the carefully planned urban spaces and elegant buildings of the shopping streets in the city centre, constructed in the 1950s. However, due to budget restrictions, many of the buildings erected in the 1960s and 70s were of poor architectural quality, and these are now being torn down and replaced across the city by modern ones (with exceptions of some quality, such as the listed tower of the Civic Centre on the Royal Parade). As a result, there are many modern buildings with others under construction.

Plymouth is a friendly city with an egalitarian feel and a sense of openness among its people, and there is less evidence of a sharp divide between rich and poor that is found in much of the southern half of England. Wonderful Devon and Cornwall scenery surrounds the city and famous city locations, such as the Hoe, the Barbican, and Plymouth Sound draw thousands every year yet Plymouth doesn't have the "tourist trap" feel that hangs over many other English cities. For those who love the sea, or the coast, or the brooding landscapes of Dartmoor , or just want a break in a welcoming and interesting city, Plymouth is an enticing and friendly destination.

A resident of Plymouth is called a Plymothian . You may also hear the more derogatory term "Janner" being used, but don't call anyone this if you are a visitor! There is a large military presence in the city, with the Royal Navy's main base at Devonport, a commando regiment of the British Army at the Royal Citadel, and a Royal Marines base at Stonehouse. In addition, you'll likely find a lot of tourists and students.

Orientation [ edit ]

The city is located at the southwest corner of Devon, with Cornwall beginning immediately to the west of the city. It lies between two river mouths: the estuary of the River Tamar ("TAY-mar") to the west (the estuary is called the Hamoaze ) and the estuary of the River Plym to the east (called the Cattewater ). To the south is Plymouth Sound (everyone just calls it "the Sound"), a large bay bounded to the west by the Rame Peninsula which is now part of Cornwall, and to the east by the Mount Batten Peninsula. This produces one of the world's most impressive natural harbours, in which you'll see innumerable yachts, sailing ships, kayaks, other pleasure craft, and even small fishing vessels (of which there are a reasonable number in Plymouth). The Sound is protected from the sea by a huge breakwater at its southern end, easily seen from the shore. You'll often see naval vessels around it.

Immediately above the water is a grassy area called Plymouth Hoe (always just called "the Hoe"), whose name comes from a Saxon word for "grassy slope". You can spot the Hoe easily because of the lighthouse (Smeaton's Tower) that sits on it, and its wide grassy area. From here, planned as part of the grand reconstruction of the 1950s, runs north of the "spine" of the city. From Smeaton's Tower on the Hoe to the railway station north of the city centre (which you can identify from its 1970s tower, InterCity House). This "spine" is Armada Way , a wide street, mostly pedestrianised, with council offices at its southern end, and shops and banks and cafés as you head north. Running east-west across Armada Way are other important city-centre streets with their elegant yet now-faded buildings; Royal Parade, New George Street, Cornwall Street, and Mayflower Street. These city-centre streets are bounded by busy main roads. To the east of the Hoe is the Barbican area (with its historic streets and large harbour/marina), and the University of Plymouth's large and impressive campus is just across the main road at the north-east of the city centre. Other major streets can be found off these.

The Tourist Information Centre is in the Barbican area, at the quayside just opposite the Mayflower Steps, at 3-5 The Barbican (that's the street address). It is open all year M-F 9AM-5PM and Sa 10AM-4PM.

• Visit Plymouth website

Background [ edit ]

Plymouth City is within the historic county of Devon. The area was first recorded in the Domesday book as "Sudtone" (1086; later Sutton), which was located where the Barbican area of the city is today. Around this time also existed the trading port of Plymstock, further up the river (it still exists today as a suburb). However, the River Plym at Plymstock silted up in the 11th century and the area gradually came to be known as "Plymouth". The sea has always been at the heart of Plymouth's story and it has a long and historic seafaring tradition. Its growth from a small fishing village and then trading port has been based on its position on one of the world's largest natural harbours and the enterprise of its seafarers: fishermen, merchants, privateers and later the Royal Navy.

Plymouth was the home of Elizabethan privateer and hero/villain Sir Francis Drake (though he was born at Tavistock a few miles north), and from here he planned his raids and other maritime adventures. In 1588, the English Navy, which was led in part by Drake, set sail from Plymouth to defeat the Spanish Armada . It is said that Drake refused to leave port until he had finished his game of bowls on the Hoe. While this is probably more legend than history, there is still a bowls club on the Hoe today. In 1620 the Pilgrim Fathers sailed to the New World after setting into Plymouth for repairs, escaping from religious persecution to eventually set up Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts. Plymouth was a stronghold of Parliamentarian forces in the English Civil War, written across its history in areas such as Freedom Fields park. After the restoration, the new king, Charles II, ordered the construction of a massive fort (the Royal Citadel ) to protect the town from invaders,?such was its strategic importance. But the fort's guns also faced inland, it is said as a signal to the people of the city about where their loyalties should lie! The Royal Citadel is still home to a unit of the Army. The Royal Dockyard was built in the area, on the banks of the River Tamar, in 1690. Plymouth was amalgamated in 1914 with the towns of Devonport and Stonehouse to form the modern city which was granted city status in 1928. It includes the historic areas of Plymstock and Plympton.

The city was seriously damaged by bombing during the Second World War (1939–45) and the city centre was extensively redeveloped afterwards. At Charles Cross, the ruined Charles Church was left as a memorial to the many dead. Behind it, the Drake Circus shopping centre was constructed to frame it in dramatic fashion, as an impressive entrance to the city from the south-east. The shopping streets of the city centre were first to be reconstructed, according to the grand plan of Sir Patrick Abercrombie. This resulted in the elegant large buildings from the 1950s that can be seen on streets such as Armada Way, New George Street, and Cornwall Street. However, these are now in need of restoration. Much of the rest of the reconstruction involved cheap buildings in the Brutalist style fashionable in the 1960s and 1970s, most of which had no architectural merit. However, exceptions included the Civic Centre which is Grade II-listed. Many historic buildings remain, particularly in the Barbican area, isolated city-centre examples such as the City Museum, and also outside the city-centre which escaped the worst of the bombing (e.g. the Royal William Yard).

With its dramatic coastal setting, the surrounding landscape is quite striking. Plymouth is by turns rugged and hilly, or green and rolling. Famous Dartmoor was designated a National Park in 1951. Popular sites include Smeaton's Tower (a lighthouse rebuilt on the Hoe from its original location at Eddystone Rock when it was replaced with a new one), the Mount Batten Peninsula, the National Marine Aquarium, and Buckland Abbey, which was Drake's former home. Tourism is an important aspect of Plymouth's economy. Nearly 12 million people visit Plymouth every year. As well as all the attractions of a modern city, Plymouth is a popular launch pad to other notable areas including the beaches and footpaths of the Devon and Cornwall coastline and the brooding landscape of nearby Dartmoor.

Geology [ edit ]

The city of Plymouth covers multiple rock types, the Hoe, in the south of the city is composed of Devonian Limestone, which was also used for building a fairly high proportion of the city (most of the older houses and buildings are at least fronted with the stone). the area around the Station is formed of mudstone, which too is Devonian. The outer areas of the city are increasingly higher grades of metamorphosed mudstone, with the occasional pillow lava on hills. Dartmoor is a massive batholith (big lump) of granite, while Cawsand and Kingsand (reachable by ferry from the Barbican) contain various igneous structures.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

Plymouth no longer has its own airport as it closed in 2011. However, you can use others in the region and make a connection by bus, train, or car. Visit www.nationalrail.co.uk to plan journeys from these cities or Gatwick airport's own station to Plymouth.

• 50.734444 -3.413889 1 Exeter Airport ( EXT  IATA ) is a 45-minute drive to the north-east (or bus to Exeter and train from there).
• 51.382778 -2.719167 2 Bristol Airport ( BRS  IATA ) is also nearby and operates flights across the UK and Europe with various airlines including easyJet, Ryanair, Air France, and others. You can get a frequent bus to Bristol Temple Meads station, from where it's a two-hour train ride to Plymouth. There is also a direct bus from the airport to Plymouth city centre, operated by Stagecoach and taking about three hours.
• 51.148056 -0.190278 3 London Gatwick Airport ( LGW  IATA ) is a useful option if you are coming from abroad or further afield in the UK. Flights are offered from all over Europe, and other world destinations such as the Middle East and Canada (though not from the US ). You can get a train from Gatwick's own station to Reading , and change there for trains to Plymouth; the total journey with change takes about 5 hours.
• 51.4775 -0.461389 4 London Heathrow Airport ( LHR  IATA ) is useful because flights arrive here from every nation in the world. Get the Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect train to London Paddington station; from Paddington, direct trains take 3½–4 hours to Plymouth.

By car [ edit ]

Plymouth's principal access route from the East and the West is the A38 dual carriageway which runs through the city (the Devon Expressway). It connects to the M5 at Exeter for onward journeys, and into the heart of Cornwall to the west. The A386 connects Plymouth to Tavistock , Okehampton, the A30, and North Devon.

By train [ edit ]

If you are coming to or from the East, you will probably travel on the stretch of line between Newton Abbot and Exeter. This is one of the most scenic in the UK, as the train travels on the Riviera Line along the sea wall between Teignmouth (pronounced "Tin-muth"), Dawlish, and Starcross, and incredible sea cliffs and rolling hills line the entire route. Keep your eyes glued to that window!

• Inter-City services are provided by First Great Western (mostly using InterCity 125 trains) and CrossCountry (mostly using Voyager trains or sometimes InterCity 125). Direct trains arrive and depart for London Paddington (taking 3–4 hours), Bristol (2 hours), the Midlands (e.g. Birmingham 3 hr 40 min), stations in the North of England (several hours), and Scotland (e.g. Edinburgh in 9½ hours, Aberdeen in 12 hours!) You can also take inter-city services west to Cornwall to destinations like Penzance , and Truro . By direct train, or by making a change, you can get to almost anywhere in England, Scotland, or Wales.
• Sleeper services to London are provided by First Great Western. The 'Night Riviera' leaves London at around midnight every weeknight and Sunday, arrives in Plymouth at 5:22AM (5:36AM on Sundays) and departs at 6:30AM; the train continues to Penzance in Cornwall. Wake-up calls are available, or set the alarm on your phone!
• Local services are provided throughout the region by First Great Western (mostly using Sprinter trains), to stations in Cornwall, stations in Devon, and further afield.

To get from Plymouth Station into the city centre; from the main concourse, turn right as you head out the door. At the main road, turn left and walk down it (that's Saltash Road — you'll see cars speeding for the city centre). When you get to the interchange/roundabout, take the pedestrian subway to cross the roads and head into the city down the central avenue (that's Armada Way). You'll see city-centre buildings ahead of you. Armada Way leads directly through the retail area, and up to the landmark naval war memorial on the Hoe. There are also loads of taxis at the station, or you can get a bus from stops on Saltash Road (though it really isn't far).

By bus [ edit ]

Both the Plymouth Coach Station and Armada Bus Station are on Armada Way. This replaces the now-closed Bretonside Bus Station on Exeter Street.

• 50.37302 -4.142901 6 Plymouth Coach Station , 165 Armada Way, PL1 1HZ , ☏ +44 871 781 8181 .  

National Express ) operates services around the UK which arrive and depart from here. In addition, local and regional services also arrive here from towns in the region.

South West Falcon buses connect Bristol, Taunton , Exeter , and Plymouth. A single fare from Plymouth to Bristol is £28. Tickets can be booked online in advance, but reservations are not required.

If you are coming in by car but don't want to face the parking problems of the city-centre, there are also three main Park & Ride sites serving the city: 50.393871 -4.082201 1 Coypool (east near Plympton), 50.428016 -4.111886 2 George Junction (north) and 50.388766 -4.152642 3 Milehouse (city centre)

By boat [ edit ]

• Ferry Terminal . Brittany Ferries operates services to Plymouth from Santander (22 hours) and Roscoff (6 hours during the day, 8 hours during the night). The Ferry Terminal is to the west of the City Centre at the Millbay Docks, about 0.5 mi (0.80 km) (800 m) a mile walk from the Hoe and Central shopping precinct. ( updated Dec 2023 )

Get around [ edit ]

Most of the places where hotels are located and tourists visit are located in the city-centre and it's easy to walk between them. In fact, walking is a great way to see the city and get a feeling for the Plymothian way of life. However, in winter or when going further (e.g. visiting historic Devonport), or when you just don't want to or cannot walk, there are other options.

On foot [ edit ]

You can get a map from the Tourist Information Centre at the Barbican. Alternatively, you can print one from an online mapping service such as OpenStreetMap, or use a smartphone's maps app, as the city will be covered in detail.

Bus is the main form of public transportation in Plymouth, with services running all over the city. Two private companies operate all buses on a profit-making basis: Plymouth CityBus (owned by the GoAhead Group) and Stagecoach South West. Many of these services call at Royal Parade in the city centre. Fares for both depend on how far you're travelling. For a short journey (e.g. railway station to Royal Parade), a single adult fare might be £1.00 or £1.10; it will increase for longer distances and could be up to £2.50 if going a long way. You can pick up bus maps from the Tourist Information Office at the Barbican, or visit the bus companies' websites at www.plymouthbus.co.uk/ and www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/devon_cornwall/ [dead link] .

By taxi [ edit ]

To order a taxi, a useful number is Taxifirst on ☏ +44 1752 222222 .

One of the most 'local' ways to get around is by water taxi or boat. The majority of these services leave from the Barbican Landing Stage (by the Mayflower Steps) and are operated by private companies. Although this has not always been the case, the majority of lines do now operate in the winter. It is nevertheless advisable to check timetables as some services may be reduced, typically in the evening.

Depending on the length of the journey and the operating company, prices can range from £1.50 to £4.00. Generally speaking, you do not pay when you get on. Once the boat has set off, or just before setting off, a member of crew will come around to take payments.

The two most popular services amongst locals are probably the Barbican-Mountbatten line and the Cremyll Ferry from Admiral's Hard to Mount Edgecumbe. These can be relatively busy during the evenings and at rush hour; the Cremyll Ferry in particular can be quite full of school children at around 4pm during term time. That said, they do knock a significant amount of time off your journey.

Other routes useful to tourists include the Barbican-Royal William Yard line, Barbican-Mount Edgecumbe and Barbican-Cawsand/Kingsand.

See [ edit ]

• 50.3702 -4.1425 6 The Post-War City Centre . Focused on Royal Parade and Armada Way, has been much maligned by locals and the media. It is, however, worth stopping to have a look around you when you're in town. As the most complete example of a post-war reconstruction in the UK, this is a historically and architecturally significant district. It was planned by none other than Patrick Abercrombie, who also redesigned Hong Kong, and some of the buildings boast Thomas Tait as their architect. With a modern, almost American look, it was, in the words of Professor Jeremy Gould, 'an egalitarian grid, spacious, airy, uncomplicated, accessible and gapingly open to all... the architecture of the future: clean, bright, democratic and, most of all, optimistic.' Some of the best examples of the 1950s style are found along the main axis of Royal Parade and Armada Way, including the Royal Bank of Scotland building, the Pearl Assurance House and the former Co-Op Building at Derry's Cross.  

• 50.369944 -4.142124 15 Christ The King Roman Catholic Church , Armada Way, PL1 2EN . A postwar sandstone brick church, opened in 1962. Significant as the last work of Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, also responsible for Waterloo Bridge, Battersea Power Station, Liverpool Cathedral and even the red telephone box. He continued to work on the plans for the church even when hospitalised for lung cancer, and did so until his death. Today the church is well attended by young students and is worth taking note of on your way down to the Hoe.  
• 50.383825 -4.049781 16 Plympton Castle , Plympton ( Bus 21/21a from the City Centre ). Small ruins of the shell of a thousand-year-old motte and bailey castle. Good views over the conservation area of Plympton St Maurice , an ancient stannary [tin-mining] town worth seeing for its well-preserved medieval streets and architecture in the historic vernacular, including an old school, church and small guildhall. Many houses also boast fine Georgian facades. The castle has no 'gatekeeper'; i.e. it is open all year round, at all times of the day — just walk in and explore! The motte is a very steep climb. Free .  

Museums [ edit ]

• 50.36677 -4.13501 18 Elizabethan House . On the Barbican for more information.  
• 50.374335 -4.138329 19 The Box , Tavistock Place PL4 8AX , ☏ +44 1752 304774 . Museum and gallery including an exhibition on Mayflower . ( updated Apr 2021 )
• 50.3688 -4.1395 20 Merchant's House . A historic building tucked away down one of the city's oldest streets: the Merchant's House is Plymouth’s finest surviving example of a 16th/17th-century residence. During the 17th century it was home to three Plymouth mayors including privateer William Parker, a friend of Sir Francis Drake.  

Do [ edit ]

• Take a seafront walk . You can get fantastic views of the marina, the Sound, and out to sea if you walk along the seafront from the Barbican. The walk will take you along Madeira Road (constructed in the 1930s to provide work for the unemployed during the Great Depression), round the bottom of the Royal Citadel's walls. The road leads past the Hoe, and you can follow it along to the Millbay Docks. Fantastic views are available the whole way, including of Royal Navy ships in the Sound, the type of which you can often identify by the silhouette. You'll likely also see yachts, sailing ships, fishing boats, and other watercraft in the Sound. You might notice the breakwater at the southern edge of the sound, with its Napoleonic fort.

• 50.393523 -4.081629 3 Plym Valley Cycle Path , Plympton . Accessible from Plympton in the north east of the city, this path follows the Plym valley firstly alongside an old railway line and then on it through beautiful countryside all the way to Tavistock ; there is very little infrastructure or facilities along the path, so any food or drink should be picked up before leaving Plymouth. There is a large Sainsbury's located at Marsh Mills, just before you reach the beginning of the cycle path. There is a viewpoint on the first large viaduct out of Plymouth overlooking a disused quarry where peregrine falcons nest in the spring. Kingfishers, dippers, mandarin duck and many other species are found along the river Plym which flows through the woods here. Also of interest are the Cann Wood railway cottages, an abandoned Victorian railway village whose ruined houses are free to explore. The path can be followed all the way up to Dartmoor; it is possible to follow a route right up to Princetown. Can get quite crowded on the initial stretch with families on bicycles at weekends. Free .  
• Plymouth Pavilions is an entertainment centre that hosts big bands from time to time, ten-pin bowling, laser games, ice skating and the Pavilions funpool containing flume rides, Jacuzzi, wave machine and even an indoor beach. The centre is in the west end of the city centre on Union Street. It is supposed to be demolished, though there is no sign of this happening yet.
• Take a boat tour Plymouth boasts one of the best natural harbours in Europe and maybe even the world, taking to the water can give you a new view on the city. Most boats leave from the Barbican, often from a jetty next to the Mayflower Steps. Various boat trips are available, lasting between 1–3 hours, taking in the Navy dockyard, Brunel's Bridge and the Hoe foreshore but various different destinations are available. There are also shorter ferry services designed to get you from place to place across the water. You can get more details at the Tourist Information Office which is just opposite the entrance down to the jetty. Plymouth Boat Trips is one company operating trips.
• Football: Plymouth Argyle FC (aka The Pilgrims) were promoted in 2023 and now play soccer in the Championship, England's second tier. Their stadium is at Central Park (capacity 18,000), half a mile north of city centre. Plymouth Parkway also play at Bolitho Park in the Southern Premier League, as of 2023.
• Rugby Union: Plymouth Albion RUFC which plays at National Division 1 level, as of 2023, and also by Devonport Services RUFC.
• The British Firework Championships are an extremely impressive two-day championship between the best professional firework display companies to be crowned 'Champion of Champions'. Recognised as the UK's premier annual show, this takes place in the 'natural amphitheatre' of Plymouth Sound, meaning the fireworks can be viewed from the city itself, from the surrounding hills or from boats in the Sound. This yearly event attracts thousands of visitors and the Sound becomes packed with both private and commercial craft, so it is worth arriving in advance. It is recommended to take public transport if coming from the suburbs, as the traffic can be extremely heavy.
• 50.351079 -4.121589 5 Jennicliff . A designated 'county wildlife site' and offers breathtaking views over Plymouth Sound and towards the city centre. A water bus ride of around five minutes from the Barbican Landing Stage , followed by five to ten minutes on the SW Coastal Path, this is the perfect place for picnics, letting the kids run around and let off steam or just watching the world (and shipping!) go by. A small pebbly beach is located at the foot of Jennycliff, accessed down long but shallow (not steep) steps. There is also direct access onto the Southwest Coastal Path for longer walks to Heybrook, Wembury, Noss Mayo and beyond. A small café with facilities is available.  

Learn [ edit ]

Plymouth has two universities. The main university, and the one most visitors notice, is the immense University of Plymouth , with around 30,000 students. It is based on a large campus at the north-east corner of the city-centre, and puts on regular events for citizens and visitors. Even if you don't realize it, you are surrounded by its many students, particularly if you are in the city-centre, and in summer they open the halls of residence to visitors, providing good, affordable self-catering accommodation. You can walk around the impressive campus, and the Roland Levinskiy building is open to visitors to see its exhibitions, for events, and to visit the café. It stands out because of its scale, a tower of unusual shape in brown metal and glass. It became a university in 1992 having been a polytechnic for many years, but is one of the best-regarded of the former polytechnics which became universities that year. Plymouth's second university is University of St Mark & St John , usually abbreviated to "Marjon", with about 5,000 students. It is located in a northern suburb of the city, close to Dartmoor. It attained full university status in 2012 after being a university college for many years and offers an increasing number of degree programmes.

Plymouth is also home to nearly a third of all state schools in Devon , some of which are counted among the best in the country. Plymouth still has three selective grammar schools and a small independent school.

There are also a lot of private language schools, in particular in the city centre and around the railway station. Numbers swell in the summer as foreign school groups descend upon Plymouth to improve their English.

Buy [ edit ]

This is a city from where great voyages have begun for centuries. As no voyage can depart without supplies, there has always been a need to stock everything imaginable! Today you'll find fashion, clothing, local food and many other items.

City-centre shopping [ edit ]

Plymouth's city-centre shopping area is the largest and most comprehensive in the West of England outside of Bristol . Most stores as open M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Th until 8PM as late-night-shopping night, and Su 11AM-5PM. The main shopping areas are the streets of Armada Way and those running off it: the Royal Parade , New George Street , Cornwall Street , and Mayflower Street . These are housed in elegant 1950s buildings erected as part of the post-war reconstruction of the city, and mostly pedestrianised. Armada Way in particular is a broad avenue with trees, water features, and other interesting features running down the centre of the street. At the intersection of Armada Way and New George Street is the Armada Dial, a giant and striking sculpture of a sundial. However, these streets have been hit in the past few years by the closure of various major stores, including Woolworth's and the Derry's department store. It would be fair to say that these streets require some regeneration. But they are still busy during the day and especially on Saturdays, and you can find most chain stores here, as well as all the banks and some building societies that operate in England. There is a House of Fraser department stores here with entrance on Royal Parade.

There is no branch of John Lewis Waitrose or Ikea in the city (you have to go to Bristol for that). However, there is a Waitrose just over the Tamar Bridge, in Cornwall. There is another, older mall in the city, the Armada Centre which is on the corner of Armada Way and Mayflower Street. However, it is in decline and only features discount stores and pound-shops, though you might want to make a trip there for the big Sainsbury's supermarket.

Independent shops and markets [ edit ]

A visit to the independent shops in the Barbican area are a must, particularly on New Street and Southside Street. Here you'll find art and prints, antiques and collectables, and all sorts of other interesting shops — see what you can find! There are also all sorts of items on the Pannier Market which is held most days around Southside Street (this is not the same as the covered Pannier Market in the city-centre on Cornwall Street, which is usually known as the City Market). The Barbican area is also a good place for souvenirs of the city, which are also stocked at the Tourist Information Centre and the Edinburgh Woollen Mill, both near the Mayflower Steps.

Many tourists like to buy sea-themed souvenirs from their trip to Plymouth. There is a good selection at the Edinburgh Woollen Mill which is in a glass-faced shop in the Barbican, near the Mayflower Steps. Plymouth is the home of Plymouth Gin, and if you like English gin you may want to pick some up from the city it was distilled in even though the business is now owned by Pernod Ricard.

The 'Independent Quarter', to the West of the city-centre, contains smaller shops including a French-family owned bakery, a specialist pipe and tobacco shop, and many charity shops where second-hand goods donated by the public are sold to raise money for good causes.

Finally, you should pay a visit to the City Markets (previously known as the Pannier Market, but this is also the name of another at the Barbican which was confusing). The City Market is a covered indoor market of permanent stallholders similar to the St. Nicholas Markets in Bristol or the Grainger Market in Newcastle, but in an elegant modernist building constructed in the 1950s. The impressive scalloped roof fills the market with natural light. Here you'll find all manner of items for sale, including food (including produce fresh from farms in the region and freshly-caught local fish), clothing, collectables, decorative items, items for the household of all kinds, and many other things, and of generally high quality. There is no hawking or "hard sell" atmosphere as is found at some other places, nor the (albeit exciting) craziness and threat of the Camden Markets in London. Instead, there is a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, as a microcosm of that in the city as a whole. Some of the shops round the outside and on the mezzanine are somewhat retro. There are also some old-style British cafés on a mezzanine floor, of the sort which have mostly disappeared from British high streets to be replaced by coffee shops. The atmosphere in the market captures the classless and community-spirited air of life in the city. The market has entrances on Cornwall Street and New George Street (at the western end of these streets) and is open 9AM-5PM most days.

Supermarkets [ edit ]

If you are staying in self-catering accommodation, or just need to buy food other essential items, try the following:

• Tesco Metro has a store on New George Street (at the eastern end of the street), open 7AM to 10PM every night (except Sundays when it is 11AM to 5PM). This is a small supermarket which stocks most everyday food and other items.
• Sainsbury's has a store at the Armada Centre (entrance at the corner of Armada Way and Mayflower Street). This might be useful if you need a larger selection of items than at the Tesco Metro as it is somewhat larger. It's open 7AM to 8PM every night (except Sundays when it is 10:30AM to 4:30PM).
• The Cooperative Food has many small stores located throughout the city. These act as handy convenience-store outlets and are usually open until late. For example, stores are located at Southside Street and Hoegate Street in the Barbican, with another at Regent Street which is handy if you are staying at or near the University or its halls of residence. You'll also find them throughout the suburbs and other areas of the city.

Outside of the city centre, there is another larger Sainsbury's at Marsh Mills, an Asda in Estover (open 24 hours except Sunday) and two large branches of Tesco (one in Crownhill and one in Woolwell, the latter of which is an Extra and open 24 hours except Sunday).

Eat [ edit ]

For a city of its size, Plymouth does not have many fine restaurants, though it is home to the Tanners Restaurant run by brothers James and Chris Tanner. James is a well-known chef on British television. There are many good restaurants in the wider area. Among them: The Horn of Plenty at Gulworthy (20 miles), near Tavistock; the New Carved Angel at Dartmouth (35 miles) which was once voted the top restaurant in Britain; and the Gidleigh Park Hotel at Chagford .

The Barbican has a number of restaurants and bars lined up along the quayside. Notably few serve fresh locally caught fish; a local peculiarity for a fishing city. North Sea cod is generally only served battered and fried, with chips.

As with any major city, there are plenty of takeaway and fast food retailers within easy distance of most parts of Plymouth. Buying a takeaway in Plymouth can prove a cost effective alternative to a restaurant, with as many different food choices.

Naturally, any visitor to the West Country should try a traditional pasty (if in Plymouth, asking for a 'Cornish' pasty may attract some derision: just say "pasty"; they will understand!) a meat and potato mix wrapped in pastry. Try Ivor Dewdney's pasties to eat like the locals have done for over seventy years, or try the wonderfully entitled Oggy Oggy Pasty Company which has many branches, or the excellent Barbican Pasty Company on Southside Street in the Barbican area. The traditional filling is a mixture of shredded beef, swede, onion and potato, but various different flavours are available now. Vegetarian fillings are often available.

Traditionally, you eat by holding the thick pastry crust and eating from the soft pastry side — that kept your dirty fingers off the main part of the food if you were a miner (metal mining was big business in Devon and Cornwall in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially for tin, lead and copper) or fisherman. The thick crust meant that if you would be eating your lunch with poisonous tin or lead on your hands, you wouldn't be poisoned! Of course nowadays you can eat the whole thing, crust included!

Budget [ edit ]

• 50.3676 -4.13419 1 Cap'n Jasper's , 18 The Barbican . 8AM-11PM . 'World Famous for Fine Food', a great-value eating place on the Barbican. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 50.369727 -4.148038 2 Union Rooms , 19 Union St . Wetherspoon's pub in the city centre that has food such as beer and burger meals. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 50.36536 -4.150961 3 Port O Call , 23 Bishops Place . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 50.370794 -4.144465 4 Noahs Ark , 32A Courtenay St . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 50.37229 -4.147235 5 Cornwall Street Fish Bar , 33-35 Market Ave . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 50.372781 -4.145986 6 The Snack Box , 7 Market Way . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 50.37231 -4.144788 7 Jake's In The City , 85 Cornwall St . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 50.367259 -4.134923 8 Harbourside Fish and Chips , 35 Southside St . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 50.370483 -4.139955 9 Brass Monkey , 12-14 Royal Parade . ( updated Feb 2023 )

Mid-range [ edit ]

• 50.367806 -4.137721 10 The Barbican Kitchen , Black Friars Distillery, 60 Southside St . Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, it is in the historic gin distillery on the Barbican (as the name suggests!) ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 50.373263 -4.144616 11 Veggie Perrin's , 97 Mayflower Street ( Just opposite the lower end of Armada Centre ), ☏ +44 1752 252888 . 6-10PM . A very pleasant, family-run Indian restaurant, which makes fresh vegetarian food while you wait. The samosas and dhal are exceptionally tasty. Highly recommended. £15-25 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 50.37243 -4.14451 12 Lantern Restaurant , 88 Cornwall St . Cypriot and Greek fare £15-30 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 50.380926 -4.165193 13 Cafe India , 18 Church St, Stoke Village . Highly regarded Indian restaurant in Plymouth. £15-25 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 50.36707 -4.134693 14 Platters , 12 The Barbican . Very reliable seafood dishes, try the scallops as a starter, and if you have room, the large fish and chips. £20-30 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 50.367304 -4.13556 15 Barbican Pasta Bar , 40 Southside St . Mainly Italian food: pizza and pasta. It is moderately priced with pasta dishes. £15-25 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 50.37245 -4.143879 16 Foodie , 72 Cornwall St . A cafe restaurant serving delicious Polish traditional food and English Breakfasts. £10-20 . ( updated Feb 2023 )

Splurge [ edit ]

• 50.361432 -4.161321 17 The Artillery Tower , Durnford St, Stonehouse . ( updated Feb 2023 )

Drink [ edit ]

If you're looking for a place to go out for a drink, there are two main places: the West End (especially Union Street and around Derry's Cross), and the Barbican . Of these, the Barbican has a somewhat nicer atmosphere, particularly on summer evenings when many people are drinking outside. However you can also find good pubs and bars in other parts of the city, including in the Mutley area, which attracts many students.

• 50.37528 -4.15966 2 The Millbridge Inn , 23 Molesworth Rd, Stoke, PL1 5LZ , ☏ +44 1752 563056 . Su M-W 10AM-11PM, Th 10AM-midnight, F Sa 10AM-1AM . In Millbridge, Plymouth, a Ferkin pub this usually has live music on a Friday and Saturday night.  
• The China House . at Coxside, this has great views over the harbour to the Barbican.  
• 50.39178 -4.04903 3 The Lord Louis , Glen Rd, Plympton, PL7 2DE . in Plympton is a suburban steak house.  
• Voodoo Lounge , 1 Charles St, PL1 1QH . In city centre is an alternative pub that hosts rock/indie/punk/alternative bands, open mic nights and quiz nights.  
• Pubs, clubs and bars due to the massive student population Plymouth has pretty much every national chain and plenty of local talent, good drinking areas include the Barbican, the area around the University, Mutley and Union Street especially on Friday or Saturday nights.

Sleep [ edit ]

There are many hotels, bed and breakfasts, guest houses, and other places to stay in Plymouth. If you find yourself in the city and needing a place to stay, try walking around to the west of the Hoe, around Citadel Road East/West and Leighton Street. You can also visit the Tourist Information Centre at the Barbican, which has a more comprehensive list of places to stay.

As with any decent sized city there are plenty of accommodation options, the Plymouth Tourist Information Centre ( ☏ +44 1752 306330 ) will be able to provide more assistance

There is suddenly a surplus of medium to low-price hotel or Travelodge style accommodation in the centre of the city where deals are always to be had and which provide better value and convenience than traditional bed and breakfast hotels although dozens of these are working hard to up their game.

• Plymouth University Summer Accommodation , ☏ +44 1752 588644 . July and August only . For comfortable, city centre accommodation during the high season. A choice of single standard or single and double en suite rooms are available from as little as £20 per night, with a choice of self catering or room only. The accommodation is within walking distance of the main shopping area, the waterfront and the train and bus stations. ( updated Feb 2017 )
• Ibis , Longbridge Road, PL6 8LR ( in Marsh Mills (to the north west of the city, directly off the Devon Expressway) ). ( updated May 2016 )
• 50.3745 -4.1431 1 Copthorne Hotel , Armada Way PL1 1AR , ☏ +44 17 5222 4161 . Part of a chain which has a hotel in the centre of Plymouth ( updated May 2016 )
• 50.3674 -4.1416 2 Crowne Plaza Plymouth . Known for having the best view of the Sound in Plymouth from its bar. ( updated May 2016 )
• There are a camp-sites also in Marsh Mills Riverside Camp-site it is well signposted from both the city centre and the road to and from Exeter, Plymouth Sound Caravan Club [1] , Brixton Caravan & Camping Park and many more in the surrounding area.
• 50.36981 -4.15405 3 Plymouth Backpackers Hotel , 172 Citadel Rd, The Hoe, PL1 3BD . ( updated May 2016 )
• Avalon Guest House , 167 Citadel Road The Hoe Plymouth PL1 2HU , ☏ +44 1752 668127 . Check-in: 1PM , check-out: 10AM . Friendly relaxed and comfortable family run guest house bed and breakfast situated on Plymouth Hoe in the heart of Plymouth.  

Connect [ edit ]

As of Sep 2023, Plymouth and its approach roads have 4G from O2 and 5G from EE, Three and Vodafone.

Cope [ edit ]

Derriford Hospital is in a northern suburb of the city. Emergency care is free to all, and holders of a European Health Insurance Card are entitled to free treatment on the NHS in all departments.

Stay safe [ edit ]

It is unlikely you'll experience any problems in Plymouth as long as you use common sense. Although certainly not the most dangerous of British cities, Plymouth has several areas which are best avoided at night, especially if you are alone. These include the area around Union Street late at night, where drinkers can get rowdy and the atmosphere can be unpleasant. It is not unusual to see drunken brawls in the Union Street area after dark. For this reason there is generally a police presence there at night.

The city has always struggled with a degree of social deprivation, with salaries still well below the national average and surrounding 'destination' towns and resorts in Devon & Cornwall themselves often patronised by incomers from wealthier regions. Beggars sometimes hang around the city centre. If asked, do not give them any money as this exacerbates the problem and your money is likely to be spent on alcohol or drugs. Avoid making eye contact with them, and if you are asked to "spare a little change please", just keep walking by while you offer a firm but polite "not today" or "no, sorry". The main police station is at Charles Cross.

Go next [ edit ]

• Take a boat from the Barbican in Plymouth to Cawsand, a small and very picturesque village just across the Sound in Cornwall (30 minutes). Cawsand has a small stony beach and nice pubs and cafes. From there you can walk through along the stunning South West Coastal Path via the sandy beach at Whitesand Bay, past the ancient windswept chapel at Rame Head and Napoleonic fortifications and through the beautiful 18th-century landscape of Mount Edgcumbe country park (3–4 miles) to Cremyll. You can take the Cremyll ferry back to Plymouth (get a timetable from the Tourist Information Office, but they're fairly frequent for the 10-minute trip). A fantastic day out. If you want a map, the Tourist Information Office have some or try Ordnance Survey Explorer 108 (Lower Tamar Valley and Plymouth)
• Take a bus to Wembury and walk back into Plymouth along the South West Coastal Path an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Scenically tucked away nearby are Noss Mayo and Newton Ferrers (30-min drive from Plymouth), a plutocratic ex-fishing village with a couple of well-sited up-market foody pubs by a crook in the river.
• Canoe tours Tamar Trails are a beautiful way to explore the magical winding Tamar Valley and depart from nearby Callington where you can also visit National Trust Property Cotehele, the ancient seat of the Edgcumb family.
• Antony House and Pentillie are nearby country estates in Cornwall open to visitors ; National Trust Saltram House is in Plympton, Devon with extensive landscaped gardens overlooking the Plym at Laira.
• Walk further along the South West Coastal Path. As a map try the A-Z Adventure South West Coast Path series (you can get these from city bookstores or the Tourist Information Centre at the Barbican), or an Ordnance Survey Explorer map for the area you plan to walk (e.g. Ordnance Survey Explorer 108 - Lower Tamar Valley and Plymouth).
• Try the beautiful coastal walk from Polperro to Looe (or vice versa).
• Tavistock is an attractive, historic tin-miners' town and is a good place to set as a hub for visiting Dartmoor . It can be reached by taking bus, number 83, 84 or 86. It also has an amazingly good cheese shop, [2] .
• The cathedral cities of Truro , in Cornwall (1 hr 30 min drive, from 1-hr train; from £8 adult return), and Exeter (40-min drive, or 1-hr train; £7 adult return, or 'fast' bus from Plymouth taking around 1 hr 20 min) are worth a visit.
• About a 20-minute drive north will take you into Dartmoor National Park , where some fantastic views and walks are to be had. A good first stop would be in Princetown where the tourist information office will give you details on some recommended walks close by.
• Dartmouth a scenic town with the Royal Naval College and restaurants including the Carved Angel.
• Totnes , Salcombe and Kingsbridge are notably upmarket, bohemian communities of the South Hams to the east of the city with good restaurants and a foody, crafty, culture centred around Dartington Hall. Local wine and cheese production amid the fertile green coombes can be found at the well-known Sharpham Estate near Loddiswell.
• The Plymouth suburban rail services, such as they are, predominantly continue out of town up the Tamar Valley to the former mining districts around Calstock and Gunnislake. The journey is remarkably sedate (and therefore infrequent, since one train operates a shuttle all day), the scenery magnificent, the fares reasonable and the destination interesting. Gunnislake has good walking country, albeit with a lot of minor roads rather than minor paths, and the pubs are mostly worth a visit. There is a RailAle Trail for those planning this last option, which offers discounts on the drinks and urges responsible consumption. Owing to the rural nature of most of the line and the poor service offered to the urban stations, traffic levels are low and getting a seat will rarely be an issue for most of the day. It is a little-known route, so good for those wishing to avoid tourist hotspots.

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The 15 Best Things to do in Plymouth, Massachusetts

When you visit Plymouth , Massachusetts , there’s history everywhere you look. Dating back to 1620, Plymouth’s story is one of perseverance. The Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth after a long and challenging journey from England to create a new home where their future children could prosper.

But the story of Plymouth is also greatly misunderstood, with many people being unable to tell the facts from the myths. When you plan a trip to Plymouth, you can immerse yourself in the real history of this legendary location. From living history museums to houses preserved in their heyday, you’ll learn about the people who came across the world to call this land home, as well as the people who called it home for generations prior.

Planning a trip to this historic destination? We’ve compiled a list of the best things to do in Plymouth, from cruises with stunning views to tours that take you into a world you’ve never seen before. Stick to this Plymouth bucket list, and you’re bound to have an amazing time in this famous colony.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

The 15 Best Things to do in Plymouth, MA

1. take a cruise on the pilgrim belle.

While Captain John Boats may run all kinds of cruises, with a fleet of five different boats that visitors can climb aboard, there’s nothing quite like a ride on the Pilgrim Belle . Taking a cruise on the Pilgrim Belle is one of the most unique things to do in Plymouth, as it’s a stunning, authentic paddlewheel boat that feels perfectly at home in Plymouth’s historic harbor.

The Pilgrim Belle offers cruises through the beautiful harbor, where you can soak up the sun on the deck or relax in the climate-controlled cabin on your 75-minute, narrated journey. You’ll bob around the water as you take in the sights of Plymouth from the comfort of the classic ship. A full bar is also available aboard the boat but requires cash.

Harbor cruises are available during the day, or you can book a special sunset cruise. With a cocktail in hand, you can watch as the sun descends over the harbor and take in the evening air over the ocean. 

2. Explore Myles Standish State Forest

Looking to get out in nature during your trip to Plymouth? Then, Myles Standish State Forest belongs on your Plymouth bucket list. Named for the military advisor to the Pilgrims, Myles Standish State Forest offers tons of recreational opportunities to have you get out and enjoy the great outdoors. With over 12,400 acres to explore, you’re bound to see all types of beautiful creatures in this forest.

Take in the fresh smell of the pine trees as you traverse 13 miles of hiking trails. There are many routes to take in this state forest. Take the Rocky Pond Cranberry Bog Trail to see a seven-acre commercial cranberry bog in operation in the state forest. Or go biking on over 15 miles of paved bike paths. Hiking and biking are particularly beautiful in the fall, as the forest becomes a sea of reds, golds, and yellows mixed in among the green.

Or perhaps you’re planning a summer trip. With the forest’s many ponds, you can go swimming, canoeing, or fishing on the water. 

3. Step Back in Time at Plimoth Patuxet Museums

Formerly known as Plimoth Plantation, Plimoth Patuxet Museums offer you a chance to explore what life was like back during the age of the Pilgrims. These living history museums provide one of the coolest things to do in Plymouth if you want to be truly immersed in history.

Plimoth Patuxet Museums includes several exhibits that bring to life the original Plymouth colony and the history of the Indigenous tribes who have long inhabited here. In the Historic Patuxet exhibit, you’ll learn about the Native Wampanoag people who lived in this area for over 12,000 years. 

You’ll explore their homes and see how they lived, from playing their games to helping to make a mishoon, which is a dug-out canoe. You may even try a bite of a traditional Wampanoag meal as you learn about how their people harvested and prepared food.

Over in the 17th-Century English Village, you’ll meet villagers who can tell you all about historical events in the 1600s and what their day-to-day life is like. Here, you’ll participate with the Pilgrims in their goings-on, from making remedies for the home to helping to keep the town safe to simply playing traditional Pilgrim games. 

Near the 17th-Century English Village, you’ll find the Craft Center, where you can learn about crafts and herbal remedies from the 1600s. In the Humoral Gardens, you’ll find medicinal herbs that demonstrate the Doctrine of the Humors, the leading medical theory in the Plymouth colony. 

Inside the Craft Center, you’ll learn about how those herbs were used and see how they were turned into treatments. Also in the Craft Center, you’ll see skilled artisans hard at work recreating historic items from the 17th century.

4. Tour the Mayflower II

The Mayflower II functions both as a part of and independently of the Plimoth Patuxet Museums. You can buy a ticket that gets you access to the other museum sites and the Mayflower II, or you can simply grab a ticket that gets you onboard this historic replica.

The Mayflower is one of the greatest pieces of American history, which is why visiting its replica, the Mayflower II, is one of the must-do things in Plymouth. This replica, which has become the centerpiece of Plymouth Harbor, is a monument to the journey that was taken more than 400 years ago that led to the America we know today. 

While no one knows what happened to the Mayflower, its replica is a historic ship in its own right, having been added to the National Register of Historic Places following its return to Plymouth in 2020. The Mayflower II is a working vessel, having sailed from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1957. It was restored in 2020 and found a home at the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, now functioning as its own exhibit.

5. Step Inside the Plimoth Grist Mill

Like the Mayflower II, the Plimoth Grist Mill is a part of the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, but you can either purchase a ticket to this Plymouth attraction as a part of your pass to the other parts of the museum or just pick admission to the mill. The mill itself is located on Town Brook, the waterway that powers it.

The Plimoth Grist Mill is a real working mill working to rebuild regional grain economies, which you can support by purchasing the stone-ground grains when you come for a tour of this mill. It’s a recreation of the original 1636 grain mill that the Pilgrims once used, but it’s historic in its own right, using 200-year-old millstones to grind the corn.

Outside the mill, you’ll see how water diverted by the Town Brook turns the waterwheel to power the mill. Inside, you’ll see how the mill works to cut the corn into finer and finer pieces. If you plan on visiting the Plimoth Grist Mill, you may want to aim to arrive on a Saturday afternoon, which tends to be when the millers are hard at work. 

You can also interact with the mill in the hands-on exhibit area, where you’ll experiment with simple machines to learn how water power works and learn about the river herring that migrate past the mill every spring.

6. See a Show at Priscilla Beach Theatre

What’s so special about Priscilla Beach Theatre ? Seeing a show means traveling back in time to the days when barn summer stock theaters were popping up around the US. In fact, this historic theater was one of the first such theaters in the nation, dating back to 1937, which is why it remains one of the coolest Plymouth attractions.

Located one block from Priscilla Beach, this theater is set on a charming two-acre campus, with its beautiful barn as the centerpiece. Priscilla Beach Theatre produces six shows from May to October, so if you’re planning a trip in the late spring to early fall, catching a show is one of the best things to do in Plymouth. 

Got a little one interested in acting? You can also consider signing them up for the theater’s training camp. Many young actors have gotten their start at this iconic theater, including Paul Newman, Rob Reiner, Peter Gallagher, and Jennifer Coolidge.

7. Visit the Iconic Plymouth Rock

Seeing the world-famous Plymouth Rock is just a must-do thing in Plymouth. When you see it, admittedly, there’s not much to it – unless you know the story behind it.

Located in Pilgrim Memorial Park on the shore of Plymouth Harbor, Plymouth Rock may be something that we can see and admire, but it’s more of a legend than anything else. We will likely never know the exact landing spot of the Pilgrims who came over on the Mayflower, but there’s one story that’s made Plymouth Rock an iconic symbol of freedom. 

The boulder actually became famous 121 years after the arrival of the Mayflower. When Thomas Faunce, a church elder, heard that a wharf was to be built over the rock, he claimed that he must say a final goodbye. His father, who did come over on the Mayflower, assured him that the rock was the Pilgrims’ landing site. The story spread, and Plymouth Rock has been a historical landmark ever since. 

From Memorial Day through Labor Day, you can hear the story and more about the famous rock in a 10-minute talk at the rock’s site. Talks typically happen every 30 minutes.

8. Go on a Whale-Watching Tour

In addition to the Pilgrim Belle, Captain John Boats also offers whale-watching tours in Plymouth . If you’re visiting during their whale-watching season, running from April to October, hopping on board to witness gentle giants at sea is one of the top things to do in Plymouth.

Departing from Plymouth Harbor, your four-hour journey will be led by a naturalist. Not only are you likely to see stunning creatures in the water, but you’ll also learn about them from a knowledgeable expert. You’ll venture out to Cape Cod Bay and Stellwagen Bank, a marine sanctuary and one of the primary feeding grounds for several types of whales.

What whales might you see out in the water? Some of the most commonly sighted include humpbacks, finbacks, and minke whales. But you might also catch a glimpse of some of the less commonly spotted types, like the pilot whales and the endangered right whales.

Be sure to dress warmly if you intend to stand out on the deck, but you also have access to the climate-controlled cabin. Food and beverages, including alcohol, are available on board, but both are cash only.

9. See History Preserved by the Plymouth Antiquarian Society

The Plymouth Antiquarian Society is the city’s largest organization dedicated to preserving historic sites. They strive to tell the story of everyday life in Plymouth from the mid-17th century through today through their exhibits, tours, and special events. 

Visiting the historic sites this society has preserved is one of the coolest things to do in Plymouth because you get to explore Plymouth’s history beyond the Pilgrims. Learn about the Native people of the area at the ancient Sacrifice Rock, an essential stop by Wampanoag wayfarers throughout time. 

Or venture back to the 17th century at the Harlow House, built in 1677 as the family residence of the settler William Harlow, who served as a sergeant of the local militia. It is today one of the few remaining 17th-century buildings in Plymouth.

The Spooner House takes you into the 18th century, having been built in 1749. Though it was built for the widow Hannah Jackson, it became known as the Spooner House as the Spooner family inhabited it for over 200 years.

One of the best examples of Federal period architecture in Plymouth, the Hedge House, dates back to 1809. It was built by shipowner William Hammatt, but when merchant Thomas Hedge purchased it in 1830, he built upon it to accommodate his large family.

Tours of the historic sites are available seasonally or by appointment. Special events may also open the houses up for visitation.

10. Learn About our Past at the Pilgrim Hall Museum

As it’s in a city that’s filled with history, it should come as no surprise that one of the best things to do in Plymouth is visit the oldest public museum in continuous operation in the US. Pilgrim Hall Museum dates back to 1824 and is filled with early Plymouth artifacts that can teach you about how the Pilgrims and the Native Wampanoag people lived.

Collections include historical paintings, furnishings, texts, patents, and the Sparrow-Hawk, a small vessel that only housed 25 passengers who were attempting to land in Virginia. They encountered a horrible storm that led to them landing in Plymouth, though many lives were lost at sea.

The museum is open from April through December. Throughout this time, it features both permanent and rotating exhibits. Here, you’ll learn about the interactions between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag, from their first meetings to the terrible days of King Philip’s War. You’ll also see pieces of history that date back to the Mayflower’s crossing, like Governor William Bradford’s Bible and military leader Myles Standish’s sword.

11. Unearth the Pilgrims’ World at the Jabez Howland House

There’s history everywhere you look in Plymouth, and perhaps one of the best Plymouth attractions for history fans is the Jabez Howland House . The house is the only existing house in Plymouth where the Pilgrims actually spent time, though the homeowner did not come over on the Mayflower himself. The house, a two-story timber-framed structure, was owned by Jabez Howland, the son of Mayflower passengers John and Elizabeth Howland.

Jabez lived there until 1680, and it remained a private residence until 1912, when it was bought and turned into a museum. It now holds a place on the National Register of Historic Places. In the 1940s, it was returned to the way it looked when Jabez owned it, so stepping foot in this house is indeed much like stepping into a Pilgrim’s home.

The museum has an extensive collection of artifacts from the age of the Pilgrims, including 17th-century furnishings, archaeological digs from the Rocky Nook homes of John and Elizabeth, items uncovered from their son Joseph’s farm, letters to the Howland family from descendants of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, and much more.

12. Stroll Around the Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary

The Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the top things to see in Plymouth. Once a working cranberry farm, the sanctuary underwent the largest freshwater ecological restoration project in the Northeast. The result was a 481-acre haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with tons of trails to explore, filled with unique flora and fauna. Here, you’ll find cold-water streams, ponds, forests, woodlands, and the many creatures who call these environments home.

Currently, there are four miles of trails to traverse throughout this sanctuary, though more are being developed. The trails will take you past old cranberry bogs, cattail marshes, and many more unique ecosystems. 

While you can explore here on your own, the sanctuary also offers many programs that will help you learn more about what you’re seeing. From guided walks to reading groups, these programs are a great way to connect with nature while also getting to know the people of Plymouth and your fellow travelers.

13. Have a Day at the Beach

If you’re visiting when the weather’s warm, you may want to add a beach day to your list of things to do in Plymouth. Plymouth is home to a diverse array of beaches, each offering something a bit different.

Long Beach is as popular for people as it is for migratory birds. If you want to do some bird-watching, this beach is a great place to go. It’s also great for long walks in the sand at sunset.

Or head to Ellisville Harbor State Park if you want to experience the beach alongside other spectacular ecosystems, including a beautiful red pine forest. If you’re visiting in the winter months, you’ll still want to head to this beach to hopefully catch a glimpse of harbor seals.

Visiting with little ones? Stop by Nelson Memorial Beach Park . In addition to the beach, you also get many amenities here, including a play area and splash pad for kids. If you’re worried about your children not being ready for the ocean, you can still enjoy the stunning views while your little ones have some fun in the splash pad.

14. Take a Cranberry Bog Tour

Plymouth and its surrounding communities are filled with cranberry bogs, and visiting these bogs is one of the most unique things to do in Plymouth. But there’s a very limited amount of time to see the harvest in action.

Massachusetts Cranberries offers tours from their barn in nearby Carver. From there, they take groups out on rented school buses to bring them up close to where the wet harvest is happening. But tours only run for the public on the weekends during the harvest season. They begin at the end of September and last until the first weekend in November.

The cranberry harvest is a stunning sight. Plus, you’ll learn about what it takes to harvest these crimson beauties and how your favorite cranberry treats are made! And when the tour ends, you can take home some cranberries and cranberry-filled products from the company’s small shop.

15. Have a Spooky Good Time on a Ghost Tour

In a place known for its history, it makes sense that there might be more than a few spooky specters hanging around Plymouth. Gear up for some scary Plymouth sightseeing on a tour with Dead of Night Ghost Tours .

On their Nightly Twilight Lantern Ghost Tour, you’ll go on a two-hour walking tour of the most historically haunted areas of the city. As you walk along the oldest streets in the US, you’ll hear tales of the paranormal and make your way to where the most frequent ghost sightings happen in Plymouth.

Visit the old Town Square, said to be forever cursed by Wampanoag sachem Metacom, known to colonists as King Philip. Venture through Burial Hill, the burying ground of many Pilgrims. And hear tales of local legends and folklore that date back centuries. 

Your guide has been studying the paranormal for decades, and she can tell you about the many encounters she’s had over the years, including one that led to the creation of this very tour. Be sure to bring your camera, as many a chilling sight has been caught on film on this tour!

There you have it! The 15 best things to do in Plymouth. What’s your favorite thing to do in Plymouth? Let us know in the comments!

Planning a trip to Massachusetts? Check out our favorite books and travel guides!

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About the Author:

Jacqueline is a writer and editor pursuing the freelance life to explore the world. Born and raised in New Jersey, she spent her college years in Boston before settling down with her partner and puppy in Monterey, California. When she’s not writing, you can often find her planning her next trip. Road trips are her favorite, whether it’s driving across the country or simply exploring a new city in her own backyard. She loves uncovering the history of every new place she goes. Jacqueline has a restless passion for learning and makes it a goal to pick up a new skill every year. She’s picked up embroidery, crocheting, knitting, and cross-stitching, but she’s hoping to master more languages to help her in her travels. She’s also a published author, with short stories and poetry appearing in several anthologies.

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How To Spend 1 day in Plymouth

By Author Christian L.

Posted on Published: April 13, 2021  - Last updated: October 2, 2021

Categories Destinations , Europe , United Kingdom

Plymouth isn’t the most popular tourist city in the UK, but it’s certainly one of the most historically significant. It has an immense history around seafaring, with countless notable sea voyages leaving from the port. It’s also been home to many interesting characters over the years – some of whom you’ll definitely know!

Plymouth is quite small, and you can easily see it in a day. Firstly, there’s the Barbican – this is the historic area that has been lovingly restored by locals. Here, you’ll find lots of independent shops, as well as the waterfront at Sutton Harbour. 

Also of interest is Plymouth Hoe, an area on top of cliffs where there are epic views of the River Tamar and over the border into Cornwall. Here you’ll find the fascinating Smeeton’s Lighthouse, the ‘Beatles Bums’ which replicate where the Beatles once sat, and various statues of notable Plymouth people.

I’d generally recommend at least a weekend in Plymouth so you can enjoy the surrounding beaches as well – but you’ll definitely feel a sense of accomplishment after just a day trip to the city. 

Here’s exactly how to make the most of a Plymouth day trip! 

Getting to Plymouth

Because of Plymouth’s geographical position – it’s just over the Tamar River from Cornwall, England’s most southwesterly region – it takes a while to reach it from many parts of the country.

However, it’s a feasible day trip from cities like Exeter, Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, London and Birmingham. 

There are direct train links from Exeter (50 minutes), Bristol (2 hours), London (3 hours) and Birmingham (3.5 hours), and for services from Bath (2.5 hours) and Cardiff (3.5 hours), you can change trains in Bristol.

Alleyway in the city

It’s a little far to drive from London to Plymouth just for the day (4 hours), but it’s around 3.5 hours from Birmingham, 2 hours from Bristol, 2.5 hours from Cardiff and Bath, and less than an hour from Exeter. 

There are also coach links, but it’s probably only worth utilizing these if you are travelling from Exeter (1.5 hours) or Bristol (3.5 hours). 

Plymouth is a popular day trip on the way to or from Cornwall. If you are going on a Cornwall staycation or are driving to this region from an airport elsewhere in the UK, you could easily pop into Plymouth on the way there or on your return journey. 

The cheapest places to park are Martin Street or Western Approach – both of these are a little far from the Barbican but are half the price of parking closer to the waterfront, so it may be worth the walk! 

Best Place For Breakfast In Plymouth

For breakfast, I’d recommend dining at Boston Tea Party. This cafe started in Bristol and has branches all over South West England, with an outpost at the Plymouth Barbican.

They serve delicious coffee and different cooked breakfasts in an enviable waterfront location. 

Top things to visit in Plymouth for 1 day.

Mayflower museum.

Plymouth is famous for being where the Mayflower Pilgrims left from in 1620, before venturing to what is nowadays the USA.

They aimed for Virginia, but after a treacherous journey, ended up in Cape Cod, coincidentally in a settlement that had already been named Plymouth.

Mayflower Steps

The Mayflower Museum explores this voyage, discussing the reasons why the Pilgrims left, how treacherous the voyage was, the effects that this and subsequent settlements had on the Native population and how the Native group effectively saved the lives of the Pilgrims by helping them adjust to their new land. 

Walking Tour of the Historic Centre

Doing a walking tour is a great way to see a city, and Plymouth is no exception. There is only one company that operates walking tours in Plymouth: Devon and Cornwall tour guides.

Old charming streets in the city

They offer a two-hour tour that shows you the most distinctive sights in the Barbican, the Medieval centre and Plymouth Hoe. 

You’ll learn stories like how smuggling was relegated in Cornwall and Devon, the epic tale of Smeeton’s Lighthouse on the Hoe, and meet all sorts of colourful characters – from people who sailed on the Mayflower Voyage to Sir Francis Drake, who spotted the Spanish Armada from the high ground of the Hoe to Napoleon, who was imprisoned on an island close to Plymouth.

Old Streets

The tour lasts two hours and starts and ends at the visitor centre. It costs £12 per person, with discounts for concessions and children.

Old Custom House

Lunch – The Harbour or the Pier Master’s House

There are lots of beautiful restaurants along the waterfront to dine at. If the weather is fine, I recommend The Pier Master’s House.

local harbour

This restaurant has a large outside terrace that juts into the sea, so it’s the perfect place to watch boats go by. The lunch menu includes open sandwiches, with veggie and vegan options, and burgers.

The Plymouth Naval Memorial

Alternatively, you could eat at The Harbour. This is a seafood restaurant, serving the usual staples as well as more unique dishes like crab tacos.

If you don’t eat fish, there are also veggie options. The Harbour is predominantly an inside restaurant, although there is an attached fish and chip takeaway restaurant and space to eat these outside.

Plymouth Harbour Cruise

Next up, it’s time to explore Plymouth Harbour! Plymouth Boat Trips do various tours up and down the harbour and the River Tamar, where you can see the scenery on the Cornish and Devonian sides of the river and learn about the city’s fascinating connection to the water.

The local Marina

Plymouth is the largest naval base in Western Europe, and this boat cruise will take you past Devonport, where most of it is administered. 

Once you’re back on dry land, you have a few options for the rest of your afternoon.

Plymouth Gin Distillery 

If you aren’t driving, you could take a tour around the Plymouth Gin Distillery. Firstly, you’ll learn a little about the history of the place and why it is such a significant distillery (it’s the oldest continuously operating one in the world, so there’s plenty to learn about!).

Plymouth Gin Distillery

Then, you’ll enter the distilling room and learn about the process of gin making. Finally, you’ll be able to try some gin in the upstairs bar – and get a gin and tonic at the end! At £11 for the entire tour and the drink, it’s a bargain.

There is a tour at 4pm every day, so you could pop into the nearby Elizabethan House Museum and Elizabethan Garden if you are there early.

The road towards the Plymouthwith Gin Factory at the end

These are replicas of what both the house and garden would have looked like in the later Tudor period. 

Plymouth Aquarium

Another option is to visit Plymouth Aquarium. This is known as one of the best things to do in Devon in the rain – it is the largest aquarium in the country and is run by the Ocean Conservation Trust. 

There is a strong focus here on learning about the ocean and protecting it, so it’s a great place to visit if you’re in Plymouth with kids and want to teach them a little about marine life. 

Or, head to The Box. This is a brand new museum about a 15-minute walk from the Barbican area.

There are lots of different exhibitions here, including displays about life in Devon, elsewhere on in the UK, and in the wider world. It’s an interactive museum that’s great for people young and old. 

Royal William Yard

For dinner, I’d recommend going to Royal William Yard. This is a bit of a trek from the rest of Plymouth’s attractions – if you don’t want to walk, you can use the Need A Cab app to get a cheap taxi (the app works like Uber). 

Royal William Yard is a historic naval victualling yard – the buildings that you see today were used as storehouses in the Victorian period and up until 1999.

After it was closed for victualling, the buildings were renovated to house luxury apartments, bars, restaurants and offices. 

It’s a unique place to visit in Plymouth, with a really peaceful atmosphere, and it’s worth checking it out for dinner.

Popular chains like Prezzo (for pizza) and Wagamamas (Japanese dishes) call Royal Willliam Yard their home, but there’s also the Hook and Line, which serves seafood, Seco Lounge for burgers, and Le Vignoble which is a wine lounge.

Leaving Plymouth

The last trains to Bristol and London leave between 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm – make sure that you check train times on the National Rail website and leave yourself with plenty of time.

Coaches run throughout the night – you will usually need to book a return ticket when you buy the outgoing one. 

Martin Street Car Park is open 24 hours, and Western Approach shuts at midnight – so if you’ve drove to Plymouth, you’ll have plenty of time to get back to your car!

Plymouth is a fascinating city that is well worth visiting while you’re in the UK. There’s a lot more to do here than meets the eye – its fascinating maritime history means that it has been at the forefront of British history for centuries.

Plus, its waterfront location makes its historic centre one of the most visually appealing cities in the UK! 

There’s lots more to explore as well – we bet that after your day trip to Plymouth, you’ll already be planning your return visit! 

Claire is a South West England local and travel expert.

She writes about Bristol, Devon, Cornwall and Somerset on her blog Go South West England , with the aim to help people explore this region and have more local experiences. 

travel guide to Plymouth a small seaside town in the southern part of the United Kingdom

1-Day Plymouth Itinerary

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• Plymouth in 1 day
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1-day itinerary, drake circus.

Theatre Royal Plymouth

Plymouth Naval Memorial

Plymouth market, rockfish plymouth, where to eat, jake's, the harbour seafood restaurant & takeaway, the greedy goose.

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Home > United Kingdom > 15 Things To Do Alone in Plymouth: Solo Travel in Plymouth

15 Things To Do Alone in Plymouth: Solo Travel in Plymouth

By Dymphe / February 17, 2023

You can find some incredible things to do alone in Plymouth . These activities make solo travel in Plymouth very nice!

Plymouth is a very nice port city in the United Kingdom . You find the city in Devon.

There are some amazing activities in this city if you're alone. For example, a very fun activity is a comedy walking tour. This is an amazing way to explore the city.

Furthermore, if you like learning new things, there are great things to do alone in Plymouth too. For example, you can learn about photography during a class in the city. Or you can do paint pottery classes at Clayart.

Moreover, there are some perfect ways to meet new people. For example, you can join a group and play board games with others. This is a lot of fun and perfect for solo travel in Plymouth! Besides that, you find more amazing solo activities in the city.

Table of Contents

1. Attend a Comedy Walking Tour and Explore the City

One of the best things to do alone in Plymouth is a Plymouth comedy walking tour .

During this 2-hour tour, you can follow a comedian through the city.

This comedian tells you a lot about the city, so you can learn a lot during this tour.

Moreover, this guide does so in a very fun way! And I'm sure you'll laugh during the tour.

So if you want to get to know the city in a fun way during solo travel in Plymouth, this is a great activity for you.

Also, what's great is that you can meet and connect with other people during the tour as well!

2. See Nature at the Port Eliot House & Gardens: Great Thing To Do Alone in Plymouth With Beautiful Nature

Here's one of the best things to do alone in Plymouth if you love nature.

If that's the case, you should check out the Port Eliot House and Gardens for sure.

You can find a very old building at this place, with beautiful architecture.

Besides that, there are beautiful gardens that surround the house. This makes for a great place for a relaxing walk all by yourself! During such a walk, you can relax and enjoy beautiful nature.

Also, you can look at the building at the same time, which is great as well!

When doing solo travel in Plymouth, going here is one of the highlights you have to explore.

3. Attend a Talk at the University of Plymouth

If you want to learn about new things, this is one of the best things to do alone in Plymouth.

You can go to the University of Plymouth.

At this place, you can attend wonderful talks that are about a variety of subjects. For example, you can learn about world history during some of the talks.

Moreover, there are many speakers and each speaker has something different to say

So for those that want to learn new things while doing solo travel in Plymouth!

4. Do a Class and Learn About Photography: Great Thing To Do Alone in Plymouth That’s Interesting

Taking great photos is a lot of fun!

But, you might want to improve your skills to make even better photos.

If you want to do this, you can do a great experience during solo travel in Plymouth.

You can do the " Be a Better Mobile Phone Photographer " experience. This definitely belongs to the most amazing things to do alone in Plymouth.

During this, a photographer tells you about all kinds of settings and other features that you can use.

Also, you'll learn about things to avoid to make better photos.

Furthermore, you'll visit beautiful places during these classes.

This is great as you can apply new skills immediately!

5. Do a Self-Guided Tour of Plymouth

Doing a self-guided tour of Plymouth is one of the best things to do alone in Plymouth.

During such a tour, you use your phone and a route to navigate the city.

For example, you can use a self-guided tour of Plymouth from GPSmyCity .

On that website, you can find several self-guided walking tours that you can do.

For example, you can do a walking tour during which you get an introduction to the city.

Also, there is a walking tour that takes you to various places to shop.

Each tour is great during solo travel, as you can decide everything yourself. And because of that, you can make the tour exactly like you want it to be!

6. Attend Paint Pottery Classes at Clayart

Another one of the best activities for solo travel in Plymouth is going to Clay Art Space.

This is a great place to go if you like being creative.

That's because, at this place, you can do pottery painting classes.

You can pick pottery that you can then paint on your own.

This is very fun to do!

Besides that, what's great is that you can meet new people during these classes as well.

7. Do All Kinds of Activities With a Group: Fun Thing To Do Alone in Plymouth To Make Friends

If you love socializing, this is one of the best things to do alone in Plymouth for you!

You can join the " Plymouth Social Group ".

This is a group that organizes a variety of events in Plymouth and nearby places.

What's great is that these events vary a lot! For example, there are events during which you can listen to live music.

Also, there are events during which you can get to know new food!

Besides that, what makes these activities great is that you do them with other people in the group.

This is a lot of fun, and you might make some new friends when you join the group!

8. See an Art Exhibition On Your Own at The Box

Here's a great activity if you love art.

If that's the case, you can go to The Box .

This is a great art museum and gallery that you have to visit!

The permanent collection of the museum covers art from a large period in time.

For example, you can learn here about pre-historic landscapes in Plymouth.

Also, what's great is that many exhibitions and other activities take place at the museum.

For example, there are talks, classes, music events, and many other types of events.

9. Go to an Event at The National Marine Aquarium

If you want to learn about sealife, this is very interesting for solo travel in Plymouth.

For this, you can go to the National Aquarium.

You can many large exhibits at this place that allow you to see lots of animals.

Besides that, what's great is that many events take place at the aquarium. And each event relates to the ocean.

10. Visit For a Walk on Your Own at The Garden House: Nice Thing To Do Alone in Plymouth That’s Very Relaxing

If you love nature, this is one of the best things to do alone in Plymouth.

You can go to The Garden House , which is one of the best gardens in the United Kingdom.

You can find many different types of gardens at this place. For example, you can find a place with a variety of trees here.

11. Hike With a Group in Plymouth

Do you like hiking? If so, you'll love this activity.

You can join the " Go West Hiking & Walking " group.

This group organizes many hiking events throughout the year.

Each hike takes about 6 to 12 miles, which is great to do.

Also, what's great is that each hike is at a different place in the city. This makes the group a great way to explore the city as well.

Besides that, you might make some new friends among the other people in the group.

12. Do a Guided Tour of the Royal Citadel

Going to the Royal Citadel is great during solo travel in Plymouth.

This is a very old structure that dates back to the 17th century. In the past, the people used this citadel to defend against other people.

What's great is that you can do a tour of this place.

During this, you'll learn a lot, which is great!

Also, it is great to go for a stroll at the citadel and let the structure amaze you!

13. Relax On Your Own and See a Lighthouse at Hoe Park

Going to Hoe Park is great.

This is a beautiful park with a view of the sea. Visiting this park is one of the most relaxing things to do alone in Plymouth.

Also, you can find a very iconic lighthouse in this park.

This is the Smeaton's Tower, which dates back to the year 1759.

Going for a walk at this park is great because it is very relaxing and because you can see this lovely structure.

14. Play Board Games With a Group: Nice Thing To Do Alone in Plymouth To Meet Others

If you love playing board games, this is a very fun activity for you!

You can join the Plymouth Board Games Meetup group.

Through this group, you can play board games with other people. And there are many different board games to choose from.

The group organizes board game nights that are a lot of fun!

For example, you can play Catan or Carcassonne during these events.

These events are not only great if you like games but also if you want to make new friends in the city! It's the perfect way to socialize if you're in the city on your own.

15. Explore the Food of Plymouth With a Group of Other Women

The " Ladies Dinner, Drinks and Adventure " is a great Meetup group to join. This group is perfect for solo travel in Plymouth!

With the other female members of the group, you can explore many eateries in the city.

So, this group is great if you want to get to know the city's food.

Besides that, I'm sure you'll make new friends when going to the events of this group.

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Mayflower II will travel through Cape Cod Canal soon. Here's how you can track the ship.

As long as tides and weather cooperate, the Mayflower II will be homeward bound from the Mystic Seaport on April 10, setting off at about 10:30 a.m., according to the Plimoth Patuxet Museums .

For anyone hoping to catch a glimpse of the tall ship traversing the Cape Cod Canal on the way to her home berth alongside State Pier at Pilgrim Memorial State Park in Plymouth, her progress can be tracked by visiting www.tinyurl.com/trackMayflower2 , a service of marinetraffic.com.

Once it leaves the seaport, the Mayflower II will travel non-stop to Plymouth Harbor. The journey, approximately 78 miles, will take about 20 to 25 hours. It's possible its passage through the canal could begin in the early morning hours of April 11.

"We will give an ETA once the ship actually gets underway and we are better able to determine," said Plimoth Patuxet Director of Marketing & Communications Rob Kluin .  

Although it may traverse the canal while it is still dark, with the lighting that exists along the waterway, spectators would still be able to see the ship as it passes through, according to Kluin. It will take the ship about an hour to traverse the canal.

The 102-foot wooden vessel will not be under sail — the sails have yet to be bent onto the yards, Kluin said — but will instead be towed the entire way by Stasinos Marine out of Weymouth, Kluin said. It will be crewed by the Plimoth Patuxet maritime preservation and operations team led by Capt. Whit Perry. They will not be in period costumes for the voyage.

The crew recently completed up-rigging the ship — putting up spars, blocks and rigging — in preparation for her trip home, according to a post on the Plimoth Patuxet Museums' Facebook page .

The 67-year-old ship, a full-scale reproduction of the vessel that brought the first European immigrants to the shores of Patuxet more than 400 years ago, has been in dry dock at the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard in Mystic, Connecticut since arriving there Dec. 1. Over the winter, it underwent routine maintenance, including cleaning the bottom, painting and caulking the seams. The work was funded by a Save America's Treasures grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services .

The travel schedule is subject to change, depending on tide, weather and other factors. The Plimoth Patuxet Museums will also have updates on its Facebook page .

Mayflower II is slated to be open to the public at her Plymouth berth starting at 9 a.m. on April 13. According to Plimoth Patuxet Museums Executive Director Ellie Donovan, the ship has seen millions of visitors from around the world since it arrived in Plymouth as a gift to the museum from England in 1957.

“We are thankful for IMLS recognizing the importance of this treasured landmark and for helping to ensure she will be preserved for generations to come," Donovan said.

Heather McCarron can be r eached at [email protected] , or follow her on X @HMcCarron_CCT

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This Plymouth waterfront landmark is back in place. Where has it been?

PLYMOUTH – The Mayflower II is safely back home in Plymouth after spending months out of state for restorations and repairs. 

The replica of the ship that carried the Pilgrims across the Atlantic over 400 years ago made the approximately nearly 26-hour journey back from Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. 

It had been undergoing works there at the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard since December 2023. The ship has gone out several times over the last 20 years for maintenance.

It docked in Plymouth shortly after noon Thursday, April 11, after departing from Connecticut at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 10, according to the Marine Traffic page, which provided real-time updates of the ship’s journey home. 

Spectators gathered early Thursday morning as the ship passed through the Cape Cod Canal in foggy weather around 7:15, according to the Cape Cod Times .

The 102-foot wooden vessel did not use its sails for  the journey . Instead, it was towed the entire way by  Stasinos Marine  out of Weymouth. It was expected to be crewed by the Plimoth Patuxet maritime preservation and operations team led by Capt. Whit Perry.

Plimoth Patuxet Museums manages the ship. 

The 67-year-old wooden vessel was designed by MIT-trained naval architect William Avery Baker for Plimoth Plantation (Plimoth Patuxet Museum’s former name). The ship was built in 1955-57 in Brixham, England. 

How accurate is the Mayflower II? 

The Mayflower II is a historical reproduction of the original Mayflower that sailed in 1620.  

The Mayflower II's page on the Plimoth Patuxet website says that the differences between the two ships include a large staircase between the main deck and the lower decks, electric lights illuminating the dark corners of the lower deck and other safety and comfort modifications.  

The ship was named to the National Register of Historic Places for its historical importance, citing its connection to the origins of the United States as a nation and its status as a full-scale vessel with the features of a 17th-century English merchant vessel on Oct. 22, 2020. 

Can you visit the Mayflower II? 

The Mayflower II docked at the Frazier Memorial State Pier at the Pilgrim Memorial State Park on Plymouth's waterfront. will be open from 9a.m. to 5 p.m. daily beginning Saturday, April 13, 

The prices of admission to the vessel are $19 for adults, $13 for children and $17.10 for seniors, 

For more information, visit Plimoth.org . 

David R. Smith is a reporter for The Patriot Ledger. He can be reached at [email protected]

Old Colony Memorial reporter Rin Velasco contributed to this report. She can be reached at [email protected].

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Plymouth Gin’s Splashy New Limited-Edition Bottle Pays it Forward to Endangered Seagrass Habitats

“Our long-term partnership with Plymouth Gin has allowed us to drive awareness of the importance of a healthy ocean by supporting our work, centered around people taking positive action," Roger Maslin, CEO of the Ocean Conservation Trust, said in a news release. "With every sip we’re raising a glass to protect our ocean and marine life, and together, we will be able to achieve our vision of a healthy, thriving ocean.”

“This new limited-edition bottle is the most recent step in Plymouth Gin’s three-year partnership with the OCT with both organizations situated amongst the stunning scenery of the South West coast," said Ian Peart, commercial director for Pernod Ricard UK. "The Plymouth Gin distillery has its home on Plymouth harbor, at the heart of the local community, and, like gin is to tonic, its story is anchored in the benefits of the surrounding sea.”

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