Plymouth Tourist Attractions
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Plymouth, situated at the mouth of the River Tamar, which forms the boundary between Devon and Cornwall, is one of Britain's largest seaports and naval bases, and historically the most important.
Hoe
The finest views of Plymouth and Plymouth Sound are to be had from the Hoe, a spacious park opened in 1817 and traversed by the Promenade, with a prospect extending over the Sound past Drake's Island as far as the famous lighthouse on Eddystone Rock, 14mi/23km away.
Armada Monument
The Armada Monument, located in the Hoe, was erected in 1888 by Charles May and decorated with Britannia and the coats of arms of all the towns which offered support in the struggle against the Armada.
Naval War Memorial
A massive stone column (1924) by Sir Robert Lorimer serves as a naval war memorial in the Hoe.
Sir Francis Drake Statue
In the Hoe is the statue of the circumnavigator Sir Francis Drake, holding globe and sword (1884; a copy of the original statue by Joseph Edgar Boehms stands in a street in Tavistock).
Hoe - Smeaton's Tower
The upper part of the former Smeaton Lighthouse has been turned into a museum and viewing tower. The lighthouse had to make way for a newer one in 1182 and was dismantled and rebuilt stone by stone.
Dome (closed)
At the southern end of the Hoe the Plymouth Dome has been open since 1989 and presents the history of the port, from the Elizabethan era to the present day, with the aid of the latest technology.THIS ATTRACTION IS NOW CLOSED.
Royal Citadel
The Royal Citadel, east of the Hoe, was built in 1566-70; its inner courtyard is graced by a statue of George II. At the southwest corner there is an aquarium belonging to the Marine Biological Society, which forms part of a marine laboratory and is well worth visiting. A road runs around the citadel, affording excellent views, including the remains of the old town, with its few remaining old houses.
Saltram House
Saltram House (3mi/5km to the east of Plymouth) was begun by John Parker in 1750, its dining-room being designed by Robert Adam in 1768. The house is particularly notable for 14 paintings by Reynolds, who lived in Plympton for a number of years and worked in Devonport. The artist used to like staying at Saltram and painted portraits of the lord of the house and his family. The portrait of the artist himself (1767) which hangs on the stairway is the work of Angelika Kaufmann. Also of interest are the works by Rubens, Stubbs, the American presidential painter Gilbert Stuart and the collections of porcelain and chinoiserie.
Barbican
In the narrow streets of the historic quarter of Plymouth, "The Barbican", the visitor can see an excellent example of 16th century architecture in the Elizabethan House on New Street, which has been fitted out exactly as it would have been in Tudor times. In Southside Street the remains of a 14th century Dominican monastery can still be seen.
Sutton Pool
Following Plymouth's Madeira Road, we come to the old harbor, Sutton Pool. Pleasure ships offering excursions around the harbor and Plymouth Sound dock here at Phoenix Wharf.
Mayflower Steps
On the Mayflower Steps, which is a gateway built in memory of the Pilgrim Fathers, there is a mooring-place for ships crossing over to Drake's Island. A short distance away there is a memorial tablet commemorating the arrival of the British aviators Alcock and Brown, who in 1919 became the first persons to cross the Atlantic in a seaplane.
The Elizabethan House
The Elizabethan House is situated on the Barbican in Plymouth. It is a National Trust property containing a wealth of Elizabethan furniture and furnishings. The home has been restored to reflect the life of an Elizabethan merchant or sea captain.
Armada Way and Royal Parade
Plymouth city center today occupies the area around the two broad avenues, Armada Way and Royal Parade, which adjoin Hoe Park to the north.
Prysten House & Merchant's House
Near St Andrew's church are the medieval Prysten House dating from the 15th century, the Merchants' House, a Tudor building dating from the 16th century, in which a museum of social history is housed, and the Guildhall with its pretty little towers.
St Andrew's Church
The main church, St Andrew's was built in the second half of the 15th century and was rebuilt in 1945-57. Sir Martin Frobisher (d. 1594) and Admiral Blake (d. 1657) were both laid to rest here, and there is also a memorial tablet to William Cookworthy, who in 1768 founded the first English porcelain factory.
Civic Centre
Opposite St Andrew's church on the Armada Way is the Civic Centre, 1958-62, built to designs by J. Stirling, with a 14-story high rise office building. The viewing platform on the 14th floor provides a breathtaking view of the city and in clear weather it is possible to see as far as Dartmoor.
Theater Royal
On Derry's Cross is the famous Theatre Royal, the leading theater in Plymouth, with the Athenaeum Theatre next door, surrounded by three cinemas.
Pavilions
On the far side of Derry's Cross in Millbay Road, the Plymouth Pavilions opened their doors in 1991. This modern conference and leisure center also contains a swimming pool with a wave-machine, an ice rink and a concert hall which can seat 3,000 people.
Drake Circus Centre
To the northwest of Plymouth city center is Drake Circus Centre, a pedestrian zone with passageways of shops, boutiques and restaurants.
City Museum and Art Gallery
The City Museum is situated in Drake Circus Centre; its exhibits include works of old masters, paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds, a valuable collection of porcelain and silver, Italian bronze objects and the goblet which Sir Francis Drake was given by Elizabeth I on his return from his three-year voyage around the world.
Devenport
To the west of Plymouth city center, Devonport has many fine old houses, mainly Georgian and Regency. The Royal Dockyard, established in 1691 by William III, can be visited. There is a memorial to the polar explorer, Robert Falcon Scott, who was born in Devonport in 1868 and died in 1912 while on an expedition to the South Pole with his ship "Discovery" (today in Dundee). Gun Wharf, built between 1718 and 1725 to plans by Vanbrugh, is architecturally interesting.
Crownhill Fort
The Crownhill Fort is the largest and best preserved of Plymouth's ring of Victorian Forts. There are cannon and underdround tunnels to explore as well as ramparts and a massive dry moat.
Merchant's House
The Merchant's House in Plymouth is Devon's finest Jacobean town house. It is crammed full of interesting objects relating to Plymouth's past.
Surroundings
Mount Edgcumbe House
From Plymouth there is a ferry service over to Cremyll in Cornwall, and the mansion of Mount Edgcumbe, which is over 400 years old and represents a fine example of English interior design in the 18th century. The landscaped park surrounding the house is full of color and brings together both European plants and more exotic ones from overseas.The house was featured in the Oscar award winning film "Sense and Sensibility".
Modbury
The village of Modbury is located in the beautiful Devon countryside. Modbury offers a number of attractions and activities in and around the town. There are also an array of specialty shops and restaurants in Modbury. In May of 2007, Modbury became the first plastic bag free town in Britain.
Wembury
Wembury is located to the southeast of Plymouth with a beach noted for its rockpools. The Wembury Marine Centre educates visitors about the rockpools and how to protect them. A unique landmark in Wembury is the Mewstone, visible from the beach, a triangular island that has served as a prison and refuge for local smugglers.
Old Mill
The Old Mill is a National Trust property located in Salisbury. The former mill house sits on a beach near the Yealm estuary and is now a cafe.
Ivybridge
Ivybridge is noted as a good walking centre for southern Dartmoor. The town also has leisure facilities such as a swimming pool, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and a skatepark.
Map of Plymouth Attractions
Map - Plymouth
