Guide of Plymouth

Plymouth is located on the south west coast of England. Its lies within the country of Devon and acts as a good starting point to explore the rest of this beautiful, western corner of England.  

A brief history of Plymouth

Plymouth's history goes back to the Bronze Age when a settlement emerged at Mount Batten. This settlement became a trading post for the Roman Empire, until it was surpassed in the 9th century by the more prosperous village of Sutton, which became Plymouth, as we know it today. In 1620, English people departed Plymouth to create a settlement in the New World, they established Plymouth Colony in modern day Massachusetts. During the Industrial Revolution, Plymouth grew as a commercial shipping port, handling passengers from the Americas and importing and exporting goods including tin, copper, lime, china clay, and arsenic. In 1914 three neighboring areas were merged to form a single County Borough. The combined town took the name of Plymouth, which achieved city status in 1928. It grew in naval importance which led to its being targeted by the German military, during World War II the city was partially destroyed by bombing. After the war the city was rebuilt and today It has the largest operational naval base in Western Europe, HMNB Devonport, and is home to the University of Plymouth.

Things to do in Plymouth

The largest aquarium in the United Kingdom The National Marine Aquarium is located in Plymouth, in Sutton Harbour, next to the Barbican and fish market. It was opened in May 1998, with the aims of promoting research, education, and conservation. A visit to the aquarium goes from the local waters of Plymouth to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. If you are a fan a gin and tonic, then why not visit The Plymouth Gin Distillery. It has been in operation since 1793 and used to be a significant manufacturer of gin in the UK and is located on Southside Street. For some culture, why not visit the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery in Drake Circus. It is the largest museum and art gallery in the city and was built in 1907–10 by Thornely and Rooke in Edwardian Baroque style. The natural history collection consists of over 150,000 specimens and an historic natural history library and archive. Plymouth Hoe, referred to locally as the Hoe, is a large south-facing open public space that is worth a visit. It’s a great place to take a stroll, go for food or just an ice cream. It is also popular with skaters, cyclists and those who like to barbecue in the great outdoors!

Beaches around Plymouth

Bovisand Beach is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is secluded, family-friendly beach and is surrounded by rocky cliffs, rock pools and picturesque views. Firestone Bay is another nice beach where you can swim in the tidal pools and the sea itself. There is a nice café for refreshments. Jennycliff Beach is set in a stunning area and is great for hikers. It has wheelchair access along the path down to a little cafe on the edge of the cliff, which has lovely views! It’s a great free place to take the children for a barbecue and a game of cricket!