Plan the Perfect Autumn Getaway in Plymouth
When it comes to exciting and unique activities, Plymouth has lots of things to keep you entertained. Grab your friends, or family, pack your bags and head to Plymouth this Autumn. Here are our tips for what to see, play, adventure, eat, drink and stay.
Whether you want to sample gin, taste incredible cuisine or catch an impressive performance, Plymouth offers an endless array of captivating activities. Spending time in Plymouth in Autumn is the ultimate way to enjoy some relaxing downtime with friends or family.
If you want to be kept on the edge of your seat, we have just the thing. Described as "the largest and best-attended regional producing theatre in the UK" and "the leading promoter of theatre in the South West", the Theatre Royal Plymouth brings thrilling theatrical performances all year round. These include classic and contemporary drama, musical productions and the presentation of national opera, ballet and dance companies.
Likewise, on either side of the waterfront are two further auditoriums, the Plymouth Pavilions and the Barbican Theatre. Both host a wide variety of performances, from ground-shaking rock concerts to comedic acts that will cause you to laugh until you cry.
If you prefer stadiums to the stage, go see a Plymouth Argyle football match. With green fields and parklands on three sides of their ground, it really has to rank as one of the best-placed grounds in the Football League.
Soak up the last of the golden rays and take in the beautiful changing colours of the trees by experiencing the great outdoors. Explore beyond the city limits to the stunning waterfront location. Take a fishing trip, a fantastic way to get out on the water, have fun and learn more about the local marine environment. You can also hop on the local ferries to experience the Devonshire and Cornish coastline views as you travel across Plymouth Sound. With services taking you as nearby as the Royal William Yard, to further afield, such as the Mount Edgcumbe Country House and Cawsand Beach, means you're sure to see first-hand the beautiful views that await.
Even though Plymouth is known as Britain’s Ocean City, there are also fantastic green spaces to change the scenery from the waterfront walks. There are a host of trails that you can explore and take in the stunning landscape, with the South West Coast Path leading you along the water’s edge. However, do not expect to complete the trail as it is 630 miles, running from Minehead in Somerset to Poole in Dorset.
Plymbridge Woods has a lot to discover, including a woodland, a wander with the remains of Plymouth’s industrial past. Along the way, you may see kingfishers, sea trout, dippers, peregrine falcon, deer and other wildlife. A cycle route also follows the old Great Western Railway track.
Image courtesy of Visit Plymouth
Probably the most famous in the area is Dartmoor National Park. Here you can walk, cycle, go horse riding, climbing and canoeing. It is a landscape quite unlike any other, populated by lofty granite tors, mysterious hut circles and standing stones, ancient woodlands, sturdy clapper bridges, rushing streams, Dartmoor ponies, bustling stannary towns and secluded villages.
From some of the freshest seafood around to quintessentially Devonshire delights of pasties and cream teas, Plymouth has an endless supply of phenomenal eats just waiting for you.
Be sure to visit the City Market and get a taste for Plymouth's culture in every sense of the word. Stroll through the stalls and get a real taste for the local produce, traditional pasties and family-run fishmongers specialising in bringing you locally caught fresh seafood, from cod to lobster – and everything in between. There is an excellent mix of national chains and local restaurants at Sutton Harbour and The Barbican, with views of the water.
In Fishbone Restaurant at Future Inn Plymouth, the team serve a full English breakfast, lunch, homemade afternoon tea, evening a-la-carte and traditional roasts on Sundays. All the produce used in the menus uses fresh fish from The Barbican, Devonshire meats and local produce.
Unless you have been living under a rock the last few years, chances are you have noticed that Gin is very much the modern booze. So, a visit to Plymouth Gin is a must. The distillery building is a national monument. The Black Friar’s building dates back to the early 1400s. The most intact part of the distillery is the Refectory Room, a medieval hall with a beautiful hull-shaped timber roof built in 1431. It is one of the oldest buildings in Plymouth and is protected as a precious national monument. Not least because it is now also an important centre of excellence for gin cocktail making.
Image courtesy of the Gin Kin
If you want to sample some local ales, the Barbican & Sutton Harbour is host to some historical dwellings where you may also get the odd ghost story or two as you enjoy your pint. The Admiral McBride, a traditional English pub that offers fabulous sea views and a relaxed atmosphere which makes it a great place to socialise with friends.
You also have the Minerva Inn, which is Plymouth's oldest serving public house, circa 1540. The pub is timber-framed, which is reportedly timber used from the Spanish Armada Fleet. The spiral staircase leading to the private residence in the centre is from the mast of one of the fleet.
Future Inn Plymouth is an ideal base for the night, offering various-sized rooms, including bedrooms that can sleep up to four adults or a family. Perks include;
Book direct for the best rates guaranteed, with rooms from £67 per room per night.
Book direct for the best available rates on our website or by contacting the Reservations Team on 01752 701000 or reservations.plymouth@futureinns.co.uk.
