Destination guides > Europe > England > Southwest England > Devon > Plymouth
Plymouth
There's a good chance that your ancestors passed through Plymouth on the way to the New World. Not only is this where Captain Cook set sail from before heading to Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii, but this historic port in Devon was also the departure point for the Mayflower.
Practical information
Discovery Centre Tourist Information Centre
Plymouth Discovery Centre, Crabtree, Plymouth
Tel (01752) 266030
Website www.visitplymouth.co.uk
Open Jul-Sep Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm
Plymouth Mayflower Tourist Information Centre
Plymouth Mayflower Centre, 3-5 The Barbican, Plymouth
Tel (01752) 304849
Website www.visitplymouth.co.uk
Open Jan-Easter Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm; Easter-Oct Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm; Nov-Dec Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm
Coming & going
BUS & COACH
National Express (tel 0870 580 8080) coaches go to Bristol, Exeter, London and Truro.
Stagecoach buses go to nearby towns in Devon and Cornwall and include buses X38 and X39, which run between Exeter and Plymouth.
National Express and Stagecoach buses depart from Bretonside coach station north of the Barbican.
Megabus has daily buses to London with prices between £1 and £9 (plus 50p booking fee). Megabus departs from outside Theatre Royal on Royal Parade in the city centre and in North Hill outside the main entrance to Plymouth University.
FERRY
Brittany Ferries sail from Millbay Docks to Roscoff, France and Santander, Spain.
TRAIN
South West Trains run trains between Plymouth and London (Waterloo) stopping en route at Exeter and Salisbury. First Great Western operate trains to Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter and Penzance.
The train station is north of the city centre on North Road, accessible by buses 5 and 6.
Local transport
Plymouth's local buses are run by Citibus (tel (01752) 222 221), First (tel (01752) 402 060) and Stagecoach.
Hostel accommodation
Globe Backpackers
172 Citadel Road, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3BD
Tel (01752) 225 158
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
Crownhill Fort
This fortified hill 6.5km north of Plymouth was built in the 1860s to defend the city from attack by both land and sea. Crownhill has an impressive collection of artillery that includes the Moncrieff Counterweight Disappearing Gun.
Crownhill Road, Plymouth
Tel (01752) 793 754
Website www.crownhillfort.co.uk
Open Apr-Oct Mon-Fri & Sun 10am-5pm
Mayflower Steps
The Mayflower Steps marks the departure point for several historic journeys. It is where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for North America in the Mayflower in 1620 and it also witnessed the departure of Captain Cook's voyage to Australia and New Zealand, Sir Humphrey Gilbert's journey to Newfoundland and Sir Walter Raleigh's trip to North Carolina.
The Barbican, Plymouth
Website www.mayflowersteps.co.uk
National Marine Aquarium
This aquarium is home to a large variety of marine life including several sharks.
Rope Walk, Coxside, Plymouth
Tel (01752) 600 301
Website www.national-aquarium.co.uk
Admission £11, £9 students
Open Jan-Mar 10am-4pm daily; Apr-Oct 10am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-4pm daily
Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery
This museum has a large collection that covers fine art plus human and natural history.
Drake Circus, Plymouth
Tel (01752) 304 774
Website www.plymouthmuseum.gov.uk
Admission free
Open Tue-Fri 10am-5.30pm, Sat 10am-5pm
Royal Citadel
This large fortress was built in the 17th century as a defence against the Dutch and is still in use today.
Plymouth Hoe, Plymouth
Website www.english-heritage.org.uk
Tours cost £4
Tours depart May-Sep Tue 2.30pm
Smeaton's Tower
This striking lighthouse was built 22.5km off the coast on Eddystone reef in 1759 but later moved to its present position on the Hoe after its foundations became unstable. The 22-metre tower offers stunning views from the lantern room.
The Hoe, Plymouth
Tel (01752) 603 300
Website www.plymouth.gov.uk/museumsmeatonstower
Admission £2.25; combined ticket with Plymouth Dome £6.50 (£5.50 students)
Open Jan-Mar Tue-Sat 10am-3pm; Apr-Oct 10am-4pm daily; Nov-Dec Tue-Sat 10am-3pm
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