Plymouth
Recommended Tours

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Plymouth and the surrounding area has just about everything! The legacy of centuries of maritime history, which can still be seen in a thriving modern city with a wealth of amenities; the scenic beauty of the coastline; the green rolling hills of the Devon countryside; the stark splendor of Dartmoor; a pleasant temperate climate. What more could anybody want?

City Representatives

Being a city that has always welcomed visitors, Plymouth has now gone the extra mile and appointed an on-the-street source of tourist information and assistance. City centre representatives, wearing distinctive green uniforms, can be found at specific locations on the hour: at the Place de Brest, Frankfort Gate, the Sundial and Old Town Street, outside Boots. At other times you can find them walking around the city centre. They are there for you, providing a friendly face and an endless source of information, and will be happy to answer any of your questions.

Open Top Bus Tour

One of the easiest ways to see all the main sights is to take the Plymouth Bus Tour in an open top bus. This tour, complete with a knowledgeable guide, will take about an hour to complete if you do not get off the bus. But as you can get on and off when you please, you will be able to spend time in each place at no extra charge. The buses run at regular intervals, so once you've seen enough of each sight you can get onto the next bus to travel on. The bus ticket also offers significant discounts at local attractions.

The highlights of the tour are Plymouth Hoe and the Barbican, the Mayflower Steps, Plymouth Gin Distillery, the Elizabethan House, Plymouth Dome and the Royal Citadel.

Walking Tour of Plymouth

Plymouth is a compact city so there is no reason why you shouldn't save money and do an independent walking tour of the main attractions. The new city is based on a grid pattern of streets, which make it easy to get about, but get a map from the Tourist Information Centre to make things even easier.

Start on Royal Parade, the main thoroughfare. The main city church of St. Andrew's has wonderful stained glass windows by John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens. You can also see the place where Sir Francis Drake scratched a voyage plan on the wall perhaps the sermon was particularly boring that day! Stewards will be happy to show you around and fill you in on nearly a thousand years of worshiping history.

Going through the church you will come to the Prysten House, Plymouth's oldest building. Look out for the Plymouth Tapestry, depicting the life and times of the city, the carved bishop's throne and a model of St. Andrew's made by a previous rector's butler out of champagne corks.

Coming out of the Prysten House and turning left you will come to the Plymouth Synagogue. This is one of the oldest congregations in Europe and has some very old artefacts that are well worth seeing. The Guildhall, next to St. Andrews, has stained glass windows showing scenes from Plymouth's past. Walk past a large square pond and you'll come to the 14-storey Civic Centre, built in the 1960s. For a small charge you can see Plymouth's impressive panorama from the 13th floor. The Council House, next door, has displays of city regalia and plate. Check with tourist information for guided tours of these buildings.

Carrying on down Royal Parade you will find the magnificent Theatre Royal, home to many superb performances of drama, dance and music. Backtrack a little and turn right up Armada Way, between the Civic Centre and the Guildhall, heading towards the seafront. Halfway up you'll pass the huge anchor of the naval ship, the Ark Royal. The sight of the Naval War Memorial will bring you to Plymouth Hoe, where Drake played his famous game of bowls at the time of the Spanish Armada.

You'll see a copy of the statue of Sir Francis Drake, the original standing in his birthplace of Tavistock. Turn left and head for Smeaton's Tower, a re-erected Eddystone Lighthouse, which will be hard to miss. Climb the steps to the top for another fantastic view.

Going down the slope of the Hoe towards the sea you'll find Plymouth Dome. You might have missed the Tudor Plymouth of Elizabeth I, but here is a magic place where you can experience it for yourself. This award-winning visitors centre takes you back to the sights of old Plymouth in Elizabethan times, through Civil War battles and the horrors of the Blitz.

Standing on the promenade you'll be able to look out towards Plymouth Sound and see Drake's Island, a sort of Devon Alcatraz, now uninhabited. Walking along, to the left you'll see the Royal Citadel, a 17th century fortification still in military use today. Follow the road down and you'll eventually come to the ancient village within the city, which is known as the Barbican.

This is a 16th century suburb of Plymouth, a mass of narrow streets, lanes, passages to the sea (called opes) and warehouses which survived the bombing of the last war. This area is bursting with life. There are galleries, craft, antique, gift and bookshops, pubs and restaurants. Explore it at your leisure, making sure to call in to Cap'n Jasper's on Sutton Harbour for refreshments.

On the harbourside you'll find the stone arch that protects the Mayflower Steps, where the Pilgrims set sail for America. You can take boat trips from this area with Plymouth Boat Cruises. A plaque commemorating the Pilgrim Fathers can be found on the wall of the Island House Tourist Information Centre across the road.

The Barbican Glassworks is a fun place to catch glass blowers at work. Cross the lock over a little bridge and you'll find the National Marine Aquarium, a jewel of scientific expertise and a great day out for the whole family, especially if you are fond of sharks at close quarters.

Don't miss the Elizabethan House in New Street, which was built during the 1600s. It is a beautifully restored sea captain's home that captures the essence of Tudor Plymouth. Also in New Street is the home of Plymouth Gin. The Elizabethan Garden is an oasis of tranquility in the bustle of the lively Barbican, so be sure to call in here for a quiet moment.

Walk through the Barbican and enjoy the shops, restaurants and views of the fishing boats in Sutton Harbour. Cross the main road and head back towards the city centre, finding the Merchants House Museum just behind the Prysten House. This belonged to an Elizabethan merchant and has fascinating displays of local history. Walking back up past the Law Courts and St. Andrew's Church, you will find yourself back on Royal Parade.

Walk down towards your right and you'll eventually come to a big roundabout containing the remains of Charles Church, which was badly bombed in the war. It has been left as a ruin as a dramatic memorial to those who died in the Plymouth Blitz. Turning back, consult your map and end your tour of the city with a visit to the Plymouth Art Centre in Looe Street. Enjoy the current art or sculpture exhibitions and rest up before exploring the Waterfront Walkway.

Waterfront Walkway

For those who enjoy walking, Plymouth has an exciting tour in the Waterfront Walkway. This follows the water's edge from Admiral's Hard in the west to Jennycliff in the east, over a distance of 10 miles (14 km), passing important landmarks such as Plymouth Hoe and the famous Mayflower Steps. You can start at either end, walking a section each day, or the whole thing if you've got strong legs.

It is well signposted, but a souvenir guide is also available from the Plymouth Tourist Information Centre. This gives details of the route and explains all the features you will see along the way. These include a knitted full English breakfast, a lump of gold bullion, the watching glance of the Green Man, the mysterious presence of Sherlock Holmes, and the memory of stars such as Bing Crosby and Charlie Chaplin. There will be lots of fascinating shops along the way, not to mention waterfront pubs and cafes to ease your journey.