Explore Plymouth

Plymouth is an easy and rewarding day trip from the English Riviera, offering a mix of maritime heritage, cultural attractions and waterfront experiences. With strong transport links and a compact city centre, Plymouth complements a Riviera stay with its historic dockyards, museums and coastal setting. Visiting Plymouth adds depth and variety to a South Devon itinerary. Why not spend a day in Plymouth finding out more about its naval history and browsing its many attractions, shops, cafes, bars and restaurants? It’s only an hour from the English Riviera. Find out more here. Find out more on the Visit Plymouth website.

Things to See and Do in Plymouth

Mayflower Museum

Enjoy a visit to the Mayflower Museum, which you can find just opposite the Mayflower Steps.

The Barbican and Plymouth Gin Distillery

Historic Barbican, Plymouth’s charming old port, is a joy to visit where narrow cobbled streets and Elizabeth warehouses are now home to boutiques, art galleries, shops, cafes and restaurants. It’s a vibrant and buzzing area, perfect for a day visit. Why not pop in for a tour of the famous Plymouth Gin Distillery, which has been making Plymouth Gin to the original recipe since 1793? 

Plymouth Hoe

Rejoice in the awe-inspiring green space that is Plymouth Hoe with its spectacular views of beautiful Plymouth Sound and its instantly recognisable red & white striped Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse.  It was here that Sir Francis Drake, world famous sea captain and explorer calmly finished his game of bowls before heading out to meet the Spanish Armada.  At the eastern end of the Hoe you’ll find The Royal Citadel, the most impressive 17th century fortress in Britain. English Heritage manages it and prebooked guided tours are available April-September.

National Marine Aquarium

Nearby you’ll find the National Marine Aquarium, the UK’s largest public aquarium and home to sharks, tropical fish, crustaceans and other aquatic species.  You can view Britain’s deepest tank and meet characters like Friday the Turtle, Citron the lemon shark and Miss Squishy the giant Pacific octopus.  

Shopping in Plymouth

Modern day Plymouth has a real cosmopolitan feel to it and it is the largest centre for shopping in Devon.  Barbican’s historic quarter, Drake Circus shopping centre and the West End are favourites where you can browse and stroll with lots of cafes, bars and restaurants along the way.

Mayflower 400 and Links to Brixham

The Mayflower Steps are commemorated as the place where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for North America aboard the Mayflower in 1620. 2020 was the 400th anniversary of this historic voyage and many celebratory events took place.   There are strong links with Devon’s English Riviera.  In 1956, skilled Brixham shipwrights built a replica of the Mayflower as accurately as possible with oak timbers, hand-forged nails, hand-sewn linen canvas sails, hemp cordage and the Stockholm tar of the type use in 17th century ships.  She set sail from Brixham for her voyage across the Atlantic in 1957 and is now berthed in Plymouth Massachusetts, not far from where the first Pilgrims landed. 

Getting There

You can drive or take the bus or the train to Plymouth in just over an hour from Devon’s English Riviera.  In fact, you can easily explore the whole of South Devon from the stunning English Riviera, thanks to the new South Devon Highway plus excellent bus and train links.