Wedged between the sea and the wild sweep of Dartmoor is Plymouth, a city circled by nature and steeped in history. It was bombed during WWII and rebuilt with a concrete makeover that belies its grand maritime history. But pockets of seaside prettiness and history abound—you just need to know where to look. Things to do in Plymouth include tracing Pilgrim history at the Mayflower Museum, browsing the cobblestone Barbican quarter, and hiking the scenic South West Coastal Path around Devon and Cornwall.
Central Plymouth is easy to explore by foot; popular haunts such as the Barbican and Plymouth Hoe are both walkable. For exploring beyond the center, there are ferries, taxi boats, and cruises. Trains link the city to West Country destinations such as Calstock on the Tamar River, plus Falmouth, St. Ives, and Newquay—all with one change. To discover the coastline or hike around Dartmoor, a car or bike rental offers greater freedom.
It's no surprise that summer is the liveliest time of year in Plymouth. When the warm weather arrives, more flight connections to nearby cities such as Exeter, Newquay, and Bristol open up the area to tourists seeking the West Country shores. The arrival of more tourists then brings more summer fun with events like the British Fireworks Championships (August) over Plymouth Sound and the Summer Sessions live music festival (June) at Plymouth Hoe.
Get into the spirit of Plymouth’s seafaring adventurers, and cruise to nearby Drake’s Island in the Plymouth Sound. What the island lacks in size, it makes up for in history with a past that’s seen centuries of service as a maritime defense. Today, it’s privately owned, but you can book a ferry from Mountbatten along with a guided tour to explore the island’s mysterious tunnels, search for seals, and discover its history.
