Experience SUMMER & AUTUMN '21 PLYMOUTH
welcome to PLYMOUTH Situated in one of the most beautiful locations imaginable, Plymouth is sandwiched between the incredible South West coastline and the wild beauty of Dartmoor National Park.
exciting cultural happenings. Don’t miss The Box, Plymouth’s museum, arts and heritage attraction with its woolly mammoth and fascinating programme of exhibitions.
There’s everything you’d expect to find in a cool, cultural city here, with great food and drink, shopping, arts and entertainment, spectacular events and
You can also uncover hundreds of years of history by following one of the many walking trails to discover Plymouth's fascinating past. Rain or shine, Britain’s Ocean City is home to breath-taking views, plenty to see and do and lots of fresh, sea air. There’s nowhere quite like it – let us show you around.
While every care has been taken in the accuracy of producing this guide, the publisher is not liable for any errors or omissions which may occur. All information is correct at time of going to print, July 2021. Please follow the latest guidance regarding Covid-19 restrictions.
For more information on planning your visit, head to: visitplymouth.co.uk WhatsOnPlymouth @visitplymouth
10 ways to keep the family happy this summer Family members of all ages can enjoy a day out together in Plymouth! We’ve suggested ten ways to keep the family entertained! 1 Watersports Learn to kayak or stand up paddleboard at the Mount Batten Watersports and Activities Centre, or explore the coastline around Royal William Yard by paddleboard with South West SUP. If you’re a fan of scuba diving, we have have some top dive centres. 2 The National Marine Aquarium is the largest aqaurium in the UK, with over 4,000 ocean animals. You can also learn about their ground-breaking Ocean conservation work. 3 Plymouth Boat Trips offer a variety of cruises. Hop on board for a journey to Mount Edgcumbe House and Gardens, with hundreds of acres to explore, plus the action packed Adventure Segway. 4 Game of Throwing is an exciting new experience in the axe throwing world. Suitable for ages 10 years and over, there are a variety of packages available, which includes coaching. 5 Tinside Lido is an art deco, salt water swimming pool and consistently voted in the top 10 of Europe’s outdoor pools. It’s the perfect cool down during summer months.
6 The Box, Plymouth’s new museum, art gallery and cultural centre, tells stories of international and local significance through experiences and amazing objects. 7 Immerse yourself at The Market Hall in Devonport. With its immersive dome offering amazing shows and experiences it’s the perfect place to experience something awesome. 8 Paradise Island Adventure Golf is Plymouth’s new indoor Adventure Golf attraction, with two 18 hole Adventure Golf courses spanning across 16,000 sq/ft of tropical utopia. 9 Cineworld Plymouth, at the Barcode in the City Centre it offers all the latest films and boasts 12 screens including IMAX and 4DX. 10 Dartmoor Zoological Park, come face-to-face with lions, tigers, monkeys and much more. Home of the book and Hollywood movie “We Bought A Zoo”. There's more! The Central Park Play Space, designed for toddlers and adventurous older children. Teens will love the nearby skate park too! West Hoe Park is great fun too, with crazy golf, trampolines, a miniature train and Treasure Island Park.
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shopping Plymouth offers a fantastic shopping experience, with an amazing mix of top brand names and creative independents. Plymouth’s Waterfront is a treasure trove of independent boutiques and art galleries, filled with treats for you, your home, your friends – or to eat! It’s a great place to browse and find something completely unique. In the city centre you'll find big name brands and amazing post-war architecture. It’s the place to go if you’re looking for retail therapy, along with some great food, zingy cocktails, or just coffee and cake. Drake Circus offers the ultimate shopping and leisure experience. With a range of top brands, and high street stores, including: BOSS, Joules, Jack Wills, M&S, Lush, H&M, Next, JD Sports, Pandora and Primark to name a few,
plus a huge choice of places to eat, drink and relax. On either side of Drake Circus you’ll find the pedestrianised city centre with high street stores alongside hundreds of great independents. Stroll down to Plymouth Market in the West End to find some amazing unique stalls and incredible artisan food and drink. Just outside of the city centre, Ebrington Street offers a quirky street of independent stores, with a social enterprise pub, the Bread and Roses, and some great coffee shops. Royal William Yard is a thriving hub for many Plymouth businesses and retailers including fashion and beauty, food and drink and local artists on site and regular markets offering a range of artisan products. With pop up retail there is always something new to see with locally sourced gifts and homeware.
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Experience the new immersive dome at Market Hall, Devonport. Market Hall, Duke Street, Devonport, Plymouth, PL1 4PS
SCAN THE QR CODE TO BOOK AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE OR VISIT: REALIDEAS.ORG/WHATS-ON
What's ON this summer & AUTUMN Plymouth has one of the best event programmes in the country, with year round fun and something to suit everyone!
5 Sept Britain’s Ocean City Running Festival Plymouth Hoe
7 Aug Plymouth Pride Plymouth Hoe
18 to 19 Sept Plymouth Seafood & Harbour Festival The Barbican and Sutton Harbour
6 to 8 Aug Ocean City Blues 'n' Jazz Festival The Barbican 14 to 15 Aug The Hatchling City Centre and Plymouth Hoe
18 Sept Tom Jones - A Celebration Central Park
5 Nov Bonfire Night Plymouth Hoe 25 to 28 Nov Illuminate Royal William Yard
18 to 19 Aug British Firework Championships Plymouth Hoe
At Christmas the city comes alive with entertainment, markets and competitions.
19 Aug Roots Up! Hip-hop festival Plymouth Hoe
There are many smaller events held within the city throughout the year. Head to visitplymouth.co.uk Follow us on Facebook: WhatsOnPlymouth
28 Aug West End Carnival Plymouth City Centre
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Master map 37 140721
Harbour Heritage Trail Mayflower Trail Shuttlebus pick up/drop off
South West Coast Path
food & drink Looking for fresh local produce, prepared by some of the best chefs in the finest locations? You’ve come to the right place. You can also find a whole host of cuisines on offer in the city centre, with a melting pot of cultures meeting, so whether you're stopping for a bite to eat during a busy day shopping or want a special evening out, there's something on the menu you'll enjoy! Whether you’re a fan of crispy battered fillets served with salt and vinegar topped chips, a lover of delicately rolled sushi or simply a seafood fanatic, Britain’s Ocean City will have what you’re looking for. Here are some of our favourite restaurants to enjoy the fruits of the sea: Kuku Set in a Grade II listed building, just seconds away from the bustle of Plymouth’s city centre, Kuku serves up contemporary Japanese cuisine and is a great place to enjoy fresh fish and seafood in a different way. The Boathouse Café Tucked in the fisherman’s arches near the Mayflower Steps, choose from their classic menu or the new Scallop Shack menu, which offers locally-caught scallops (from their own boat) that have been lovingly shucked, prepared and cooked to order by their expert chefs. Leandra A well known city centre gem is Leandra who pride themselves on their fantastic quality, locally sourced, homemade fresh food. Fish fans will love the great range of menu options including a tasty sea food curry.
Rockfish Plymouth Mitch Tonks’ Plymouth restaurant has beautiful harbour views and serves up delicious fresh fish dishes, from traditional fish and chips to fritto misto, prawn tacos and Jersey Rock oysters. They also offer a local fish menu, which changes daily depending on the catch of the day.
The Harbour The whole family will be happy to eat here, with a kids’ menu and veggie and vegan options alongside plenty of delicious fish dishes – with unique options including seafood tacos, tuna steak and a scallop burger. They also serve up lobster and crab every day if you’re looking for a special treat!
Platters Seafood Restaurant Head inside the cosy Barbican restaurant and enjoy great tasting plates of food. You can enjoy crispy battered fish and chips, grilled fish fillets, seafood pasta and paella. Starters include classics like bouillabaisse and moules mariniere too.
Barbican Kitchen Located inside Plymouth Gin Distillery, Barbican Kitchen is run by celebrity chef duo, the Tanner brothers. The restaurant makes the most of the delicious fresh produce on offer in the South West, including fish purchased at the local market, so the menu options vary depending on the season and availability.
The Chancel Wine Bar & Bistro Just a five minute walk from the hustle and bustle of Drake Circus. There’s lots of gluten free options, a great selection of wines – and plenty of fantastic fish dishes on the menu too, including fish stew, swordfish steak and a seafood platter.
The Fish Lounge This newly opened stylish restaurant and takeaway on Southside Street, is the place to be for seafood lovers. You can create your own dish, by choosing your fish, sauces and sides, or maybe you prefer the sharing platters. Great choice at affordable prices.
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Let us show you around Plymouth has an incredible story to tell and you can experience these with our selection of sightseeing tours. Take a scenic boat tour and explore our local history and heritage, learn all about a working military base or take a private sightseeing tour of our beautiful coastlines or the idyllic countryside.
If you prefer to venture on your own, we have detailed maps and guides for every adventure. The award winning Plymouth Tourist Information Centre, located in the Mayflower Visitor Centre on the Barbican, is a great place to find out all you need to know. Or if you prefer, you can visit our website: visitplymouth.co.uk to download guides and maps. We have some great walking trails available too, where you can find out about Plymouth’s fascinating past and present. Download the Plymouth Trails App free on iOS and Android.
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dive into fun Britains Ocean City, with its fantastic waterfront location, has no shortage of things to do if you're a watersports enthusiast. Whether you're looking for high octane adrenaline sports such as wakeboarding or coasteering, or would prefer the slightly more relaxing pace of kayaking or stand up paddleboarding, there's something for everyone.
Plymouth's main water sport activity centre is the Mount Batten Watersports and Activities Centre offering half day sessions to week-long courses.They provide a full selection of RYA sailing, powerboating and windsurfing courses from beginner to advanced. The surrounding estuaries, coves, and bays are ideal for kayak and canoe training and allow for plenty of exploration.
It’s no surprise that Plymouth has a great choice of boat trips on offer, departing from the Barbican and Cremyll. Choose from Mount Edgcumbe, the quaint fishing village of Cawsand (seasonal) or nearby Royal William Yard (seasonal). Chartered fishing trips and harbour cruises are also available, including the Dockyard and Warships, Drake’s Island and Calstock.
Plymouth Sound has some of the best diving waters in the UK, with a huge variety of sites that include wreck diving through to shallow dives in waters which are home to all sorts of marine life.
From diving to snorkel safaris, jet ski safaris and fishing there’s lots to choose from! Head to visitplymouth.co.uk to plan your on water adventure.
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best chill out spaces The Waterfront has an array of outstanding places to eat and drink, including some fabulous spots for al fresco dining, with breath-taking views across Plymouth Sound. Plymouth Hoe offers the best scenic views and the wide grassy expanse of the Hoe park is the perfect place for a picnic to admire the views. Look out for ‘Look II’ on West Hoe Pier, an impressive sculpture by world-renowned artist Sir Antony Gormley – a great place for a selfie!
If you’re in the city centre, try out one of the many cafes or restaurants with outdoor seating along Armada Way. And if you’re looking to escape the city, head to Central Park on the outskirts of the city centre where you’ll find wide expanses of meadow, outdoor sports pitches and woodland to explore. Further afield the wild expanse of Dartmoor is waiting to be explored, perfect for a relaxed afternoon enjoying the outdoors, discovering wildlife and reconnecting with the elements.
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All kinds of amazing This summer make sure you visit The Box, Plymouth’s brand new museum, archive and gallery. There’s so much to see and do, from giant figureheads and a mammoth, to fascinating film footage and voyages that changed the world. While in Plymouth, why not discover 400 years of history at Elizabethan House and take in the incredible views from Smeaton’s Tower? Three visitor attractions – one amazing day out.
Plan your visit now theboxplymouth.com
DISCOVER PLYMOUTH WITH GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY
Book your travel to Plymouth at GWR.com, on our App, or at a station.