Things to do in Plymouth

The historic port of Plymouth has a rich maritime history that is fascinating. The city suffered at the hands of the Luftwaffe during World War II and the majority of its buildings were completely flattened. Restoration work was carried out quicker than any other city in England, but instead of reconstructing attractive period style buildings the property developers chose a sometimes faceless concrete approach. The modern grid of wide, pedestrian streets is useful only for the shopping. Instead, check out the old Elizabethan part of the town known as the Barbican, with its narrow lanes and historic buildings that managed to survive the bombings. The Mayflower Steps, where the Pilgrim Fathers took their leave of the Plymouth shore before heading for America, ensures that it has a lot of visitors from overseas.

Royal Citadel

Built following the English Civil War, this was England's principal fortress and features some outstanding examples of 17th century baroque architecture. It was located on the earlier Plymouth Fort as a defence against a threatened Dutch invasion. It has been regularly strengthened over the years, particularly during the 1750s when it was equipped with 113 guns making it a formidable fortification. On the south east corner you can see the Fisher's Nose Blockhouse which dates from 1490-1540. On the opposite bank is Queen Anne's Battery dating from 1667. Within its ramparts is a spacious parade ground, barracks for over 300 men and a collection of historic guns. Most of the stone used to build the Citadel was taken from a quarry at West Hoe Park. In recent years, the Citadel has been home to the Royal Marine Commandos, a specialist Army unit.

National Marine Aquarium

The National Marine Aquarium is Britain's premier Aquarium featuring a vast array of Marine life. It's the largest aquarium in the UK and the first to be built solely for the purpose of education, conservation and research. Among the many fascinating exhibits are the Atlantic Reef, comprising of a two-storey high Atlantic Reef tank and Mediterranean Seas, where visitors can experience the sensation of total underwater immersion, with fishes swimming all around. One of the National Marine Aquarium's major projects is Scylla Reef, an outreach project which involves the placing of a decommissioned Naval frigate on the sea bed off Whitsand Bay in order to create a habitat for marine life. Scylla itself has become a great place for leisure diving, research and education.

The Mayflower Steps

One of the most famous landmarks of Plymouth lies on the Barbican. The Mayflower Steps commemorate the spot from where The Mayflower set sail for America in 1620. On board were 102 Puritans who broke away from the Church of England during the reformation and were seeking a new life away from the persecution by James I. In 1891, descendents of the original Pilgrims paid tribute to the spot by laying the Mayflower Stone. In 1934, the Mayor of Plymouth added a stone gateway over the Mayflower Stone and called it The White Gateway to the Ocean. Visitors, have since flocked to this and to the plaque on which the names of the Pilgrim Fathers, their wives and servants are recorded. Visitors can stand on a metal balcony and experience the same vista that the Pilgrim Fathers saw all those years ago as they embarked upon their great adventure from the Mayflower Steps. A nearby exhibition in The Barbican chronicles the voyage of the Mayflower and the history of Sutton Harbour. Displays feature interactive graphics, tales of merchant families, the fishing industry, the military harbour and emigration to the New World.

Plymouth Gin visitor centre

Plymouth Gin is the only English gin still made at its original distillery and has been made to the same secret recipe since 1793. The Black Friars Distillery is one of the oldest buildings in the city and dates back to a Dominican monastery built in 1425. It is where the Pilgrim Fathers spent their final night before they set sail to the New World on the Mayflower. Following a substantial renovation in 2004, The Plymouth Gin visitor centre now offers a unique tour of the Black Friars Distillery with insights into the history and distilling of gin. Tastings can be made in the cocktail lounge which has some beautiful original features of the medieval Refectory Hall. The site also has a distillery shop offering the full Plymouth Gin range of products and a variety of gifts and memorabilia.

Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park

Just across the river at Torpoint lies the former home of Mount Edgcumbe. The House was built in 1547 and has been beautifully restored to the 18th century style. Mount Edgcumbe is rare among the English country houses because of its post-War interior design and neo-Georgian style. The Drawing room, overlooking the 19th century garden, has a Boulle desk, a portrait of the 2nd Lord Edgcumbe by Reynolds and two Van de Velde seascapes. Some of the exhibits include paintings by Gerard Edema, William van der Velde and Sir Joshua Reynolds. The Mount Edgecumbe Estate, which is almost surrounded by coastline, covers more than 800 acres. The grounds have eccentric features such as temples, forts, follies and a unique shell seat that was laid during the 18th century. Close to the house is the formal mid 19th Century Earl's Garden which has terraces, lawns and shrubberies laid out in exotic styles from all round the world.

Plymouth Hoe

The Hoe is one of the most popular spots in Plymouth with its outstanding views of Plymouth Sound, Drake's Island and across the Hamoaze to Mount Edgcumbe in Cornwall. It is probably best known as the place that Sir Francis Drake played his famous game of bowls in 1588, just prior to boarding his fleet and defeating the Spanish Armada. A statue of Drake is erected on the Hoe in his honour. The other prominent visible landmark is Smeaton's Tower, a large lighthouse that was originally sited on the Eddystone Rocks and then re-erected on land in the late 1880s. Visitors can climb the 93 steps and enjoy the wonderful panoramic views over the city and beyond.