Local Attractions
From the Hoe on our doorstep to the Barbican and beyond
Fox on the Hoe looks out over Plymouth Sound, the UK’s first National Marine Park, and most of what Plymouth is known for is a short walk away. The walking times below are from our front door. For what’s on at the Theatre Royal and Plymouth Arena, see our event calendar.
On the Hoe
Plymouth Hoe
The lawns and promenade outside our door, where Sir Francis Drake is said to have finished his game of bowls as the Spanish Armada approached. His statue still looks out over Plymouth Sound.
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Smeaton’s Tower
The red and white lighthouse that once stood on the Eddystone Rocks, rebuilt on the Hoe in the 1880s. Climb to the lantern room for views across the Sound.
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Tinside Lido
An Art Deco seawater pool at the foot of the Hoe, opened in 1935 and open to swimmers through the summer.
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The Royal Citadel
A fortress built in the 1660s under Charles II at the eastern end of the Hoe, and still home to the army. English Heritage runs guided tours.
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The Barbican
Plymouth’s old harbour quarter, a warren of cobbled lanes and Tudor buildings filled with galleries and harbourside restaurants. The Mayflower Steps commemorate the Pilgrims’ departure for America in 1620.
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Plymouth Gin Distillery
Gin has been made at the Black Friars Distillery on Southside Street since 1793, which makes it the oldest working gin distillery in England. Tours take you round the stills.
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National Marine Aquarium
The UK’s largest aquarium, on the far side of Sutton Harbour from the Barbican, and a good choice for families on a rainy day.
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Theatre Royal Plymouth
One of the largest regional theatres in the UK, staging touring musicals and plays alongside its own productions.
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The Box
Plymouth’s museum and gallery, opened in 2020, where the city’s collections and archives sit alongside changing exhibitions.
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Royal William Yard
The Royal Navy’s former victualling yard, completed in the 1830s and now Grade I listed, with restaurants and bars around its waterfront.
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Mount Edgcumbe
A Tudor house and country park across the water in Cornwall, with gardens and coast paths looking back over Plymouth Sound. The Cremyll Ferry crosses from Admiral’s Hard.
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Dartmoor National Park
Open moorland and granite tors, with the edge of the moor at Yelverton.
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Our concierge team can help you make the most of Plymouth during your stay.