Ten reasons why you should visit Plymouth
Rain or shine, Plymouth, Britain's Ocean City, is home to breath-taking views, plenty to see and do and lots of fresh, sea air. From families to older visitors, and couples looking for a weekend away, there is plenty to explore in Plymouth.
We think Plymouth is pretty great, and believe that people from all over the UK and further afield should take the time to visit us. Here are our ten reasons why:
Hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, and the locals too, enjoy a jam-packed calendar of events. There is the Ocean Festival, Pirates Weekend, Plymouth Half Marathon, Lord Mayor’s Day, Flavour Fest, Armed Forces Day, MTV Music Week, Blues and Jazz Festival, Plymouth Pride, British Fireworks Championships, Motorcycle Festival, West End Carnival, Seafood Festival, Plymouth Triathlon, Plymouth 10K, Illuminate and the Christmas Markets – to name only a few. You can see What's On and Upcoming Events here.
The city’s waterfront is genuinely breath-taking. Plymouth has been given the title of Britain’s Ocean City. There are so many opportunities to get out on the water. Take part in a course at the Mount Batten Centre, trying your hand at sailing, kayaking, canoeing and more. Learn to sail and powerboat with the Plymouth and Devon Schools Sailing Association. Head out on a relaxed paddleboarding session with South West SUP. Or if you’re feeling really adventurous, learn to scuba dive with Aquanauts Dive Centre.
There is so much to delve into for novices and history buffs. Walk the footsteps of adventurers and explorers who strolled the streets of Plymouth, including Sir Francis Drake, the Mayflower Pilgrims and Charles Darwin. Soak up the post-war architecture of the city centre and explore a city rebuilt following the Blitz, or step further back in time wandering the cobbled streets of the Barbican and Sutton Harbour. There are lots of places to visit from the Mayflower Museum, Devonport Guildhall and Royal Citadel with tours, talks and exhibitions.
The town holds a place of great prominence in American history, folklore, and culture, and is known as "America's Hometown." Plymouth was the site of the colony founded in 1620 by the Mayflower Pilgrims, where New England was first established. Plymouth was the Pilgrims final departure point before they sailed across the Atlantic to the new world. In 2020 a colossal commemoration of the four hundred years since the Pilgrims sailed on the Mayflower is taking place. There will be a massive programme of events and cultural activity to enjoy throughout 2020.
Plymouth’s vast city centre is a wonderland for shoppers, with big brand names and quirky independents all on offer. Plymouth's premier shopping venue is Drake Circus, which has more than 70 stores all undercover. Head to the West End for more independent stores and to discover the incredible Plymouth Market. With its Grade II listed features, you’ll find stallholders selling everything from crafts to collectables and fresh food to fashion.
Plymouth is known for its fresh fish, with one of the largest fish markets in the country located at the heart of the waterfront. You can expect the freshest fish and seafood in the city’s restaurant. On top of this there is prime Devonshire beef, clotted cream, cider and Plymouth Gin. The distillery building is a national monument. The Black Friar’s building dates back to the early 1400s. It is one of the oldest buildings in Plymouth and protected as a precious national monument. Not least because it is now also an important centre of excellence for gin cocktail making. Of course, local food and drink including homemade afternoon tea or a traditional Sunday roast is served in Fishbone Restaurant.
West country mussels cooked in a white wine and garlic butter sauce, served with crusty bread. Available as a starter or a main in Fishbone Bar & Restaurant.
If you do want to show off your travels, having a beautiful backdrop is a must. Plymouth Hoe has spectacular views. Head there and drink in the breath-taking image of Plymouth Sound, with the ocean stretching out in front of you surrounded by countryside. You can even climb Smeaton’s Tower for an even better viewpoint, or head down to Tinside Lido for a seaside snap. The Grade II listed Royal William Yard also makes a fantastic backdrop for photos and is a regular haunt for bloggers, photographers and even fashion brands.
On the edge of Plymouth Hoe, you can find one of Europe’s best outdoor pools. Tinside Lido is an outdoor, Art Deco swimming pool overlooking Plymouth Sound and it is an amazing place to spend a summer’s day. It is open between May and September for a dip in the saltwater pool, or kick back and relax on the sunbathing terrace. It is one of the best places to soak up the sun in Plymouth.
The National Marine Aquarium is the UK’s largest. There are more than 4,000 animals here, including sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, Neptune the octopus and Friday the green turtle. The aquarium also run regular special events, ranging from boat trips and behind the scenes tours, to sleepovers under the shark tank!
The Theatre Royal Plymouth is the largest and best-attended regional producing theatre in the UK and the leading promoter of theatre in the South West. There are three distinctive performance spaces: The Lyric, The Drum and the workshop space, The Lab. The Plymouth Pavillion’s is the south-wests largest purpose-built entertainment attraction and even has an ice rink. From theatre shows to stand-up comedy or live performances there is something for everyone to enjoy.
If art is your thing check out, there are galleries showcasing ground-breaking work. Check out KARST, The Arts Institute or The Gallery at Plymouth College of Art. Cinema fans will want to discover Plymouth Arts Cinema. Their programme features a range of the very best in the world, art-house and independent cinema. They also run an open-air cinema programme during the summer, bringing blockbusters and classics to some of the city’s most beautiful waterfront settings.
If reading this has left you feeling tempted to book your trip, then look no further than Future Inn Plymouth. The city centre and attractions are a short drive from the hotel or are easily accessible via public transport. Alongside free parking, free WiFi and a whole host of home comforts, the bedrooms sleep up to four adults or a family. Plus you can dine on homemade, fresh, local food in Fishbone Bar & Restaurant. 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.
Future Inns are taking part in the online blog and article posting challenge #Blogtober which means we will be posting a different news article every day, creating new and exciting content for you to read throughout October. Did you know? Every day between two and four million blogs are written, as well as a whole host of news stories, articles, reviews and interviews.
