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WE LOVE ENGLAND GUIDE TO PLYMOUTH

Famous for the fact that on Friday 19th July 1588, Sir Francis Drake was playing bowls on Plymouth Hoe when he was told that the Spanish Armada was approaching (of course, he insisted that he finish his game before sailing off to intercept the enemy ships!), Plymouth’s history revolves largely around the sea.  The largest city in Devon, it’s also where the Mayflower set sail from in 1620 when bound for America.

The city still celebrates these connections today, with areas such as The Barbican, Plymouth Hoe and The Royal William Yard very much as they were in centuries past.  There are great opportunities for the visitor to really engross themselves in this worthy subject matter, with various museums telling Plymouth’s story, but there’s more to discover about Plymouth that makes it an appealing and viable destination.  It’s full of life, with up to date shopping centres, art galleries, The Theatre Royal, cinemas, and all sorts of entertainment available, including nightclubs and casinos.

Amongst the deservedly popular attractions are The National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth Gin Distillery, and Saltram House.  With a foodie scene that is going strong here, with some great independent restaurants serving up the tastiest options, and a broad collection of different accommodation types, Plymouth makes for a great base from which to explore both Devon and Cornwall.

WLE RECOMMENDATIONS IN plymouth

accommodation placeholder Hotel and Guest House Accommodation header image

WLE logoAccommodation

Plymouth offers an excellent selection of accommodations for visitors, catering for all budgets in the process.  Whether one prefers to be in a grand hotel overlooking the sea, tucked away in a homely bed and breakfast on the edge of the city centre, or just outside the hustle and bustle in a m... see more
attractions placeholder Attractions and things to do

WLE logoThings to do

Plymouth is Devon’s largest city, and as one might expect there is plenty for the visitor to see and do.  In recent years the city has benefitted from major and well-deserved investment, due in part to Plymouth gearing up for the 400 year anniversary of The Mayflower’s visit in 1620... see more
food and drink placeholder Food and drink

WLE logoFood and drink

There is plenty of choice available to the visitor to Plymouth when it comes to food and drink, with over 400 restaurants, cafes, pubs and takeaways offering a broad range of cuisines, celebrating local produce and multinational flavours.  Many of the most highly rated places are located either... see more

USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT plymouth

The historical maritime port of Plymouth is located in the county of Devon in the south west of England. It is Devon’s largest city and has a lot of top attractions and fun things to do for everyone. Situated at the mouth of the River Tamar, which is the boundary between Devon and Cornwall, Plymouth is easily accessible by road, rail, air and water.

Plymouth by Car

Travelling to Plymouth by car is easily accessible via the M5 motorway which is the main roadway into Devon. At Exeter the M5 merges into the A38 Devon Expressway through to Plymouth.  

Approximate Travel Times

London - 4h     Birmingham 3h 30mins    Manchester 5h 

A Park and Ride service is also in operation and provides frequent services into the heart of Plymouth. 

Plymouth by Bus

National Express operate coach services to Plymouth from locations throughout the UK.

Plymouth Coach Station is located directly in the city centre within easy walking distance of the shops, cafes and taxi ranks.

Plymouth by Train

Plymouth is easily accessible by train and located on the main line to Cornwall from London and the north. 

If your arrive into the country via Heathrow airport, you will need to catch the regular Heathrow Express train that takes you to Paddington Station in London in 15 minutes. From there you can catch the train to Plymouth which takes approximately 3 hours 30 minutes. 

Please visit National Rail or Trainline for information on train times and booking tickets.

Plymouth by Plane

The main airports to Plymouth are Bristol and Exeter and both provide convenient links.

Bristol Airport –

By train – There is regular bus service from the airport terminal which takes you directly to Bristol Temple Meads train station in approximately 30m. From there you can get a direct train to Plymouth which has a travel time of approximately 2h 30m. 

By Bus – Stagecoach provide a service from Bristol Airport to Plymouth with an approximate travel time of 2h 50m.

By Car – Traveling to Plymouth is a direct route south on the M5 motorway which merges to become the A38 just past Exeter. The approximate travel time is around 2h.

 

Exeter Airport –

By train – You will need to take a taxi or bus service from the airport terminal to either Exeter St Davids or Exeter Central train stations. There you can get a direct train to Plymouth which takes approximately 1h  15 m.

By Bus – National Express provides a coach service that will pick you up from Exeter Airport and bring you to the Plymouth Bus Station. The quickest service will take approximately 2h 10m.

By Car – There are a number of car rental services within the airport. Once on the road, follow the signs for the A38 southbound which will take you directly to Plymouth in approximately 50m.