English (UK)
English (US)
Français
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Nederlands
简体中文
Park
Plymouth Hoe
Large south-facing open space above the seafront cliffs with views over Plymouth Sound and Drake's Island.
A mini guide to
Plymouth
Waterfront city of the Hoe, the Barbican and the Mayflower Steps
Photos
1 / 7Welcome to the area
Waterfront city of the Hoe, the Barbican and the Mayflower Steps
Plymouth is a port city between the rivers Plym and Tamar and the largest settlement in Devon. The Hoe, a wide south-facing open space above low limestone cliffs, looks over Plymouth Sound to Drake's Island and across to Mount Edgcumbe in Cornwall. Smeaton's Tower, the rebuilt upper section of the third Eddystone Lighthouse, stands on the Hoe, and the Royal Citadel of the late 1660s guards its eastern end.
The Barbican, on the western and northern sides of Sutton Harbour, escaped most of the destruction of the Blitz and has about 100 listed buildings and the largest concentration of cobbled streets in Britain. The Mayflower Steps mark the area from which the Pilgrim Fathers are believed to have left for America in 1620. The Box, opened in 2020, is the city's museum, gallery and archive, and the National Marine Aquarium sits across the harbour.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Lighthouse
Smeaton's Tower
Upper section of John Smeaton's third Eddystone Lighthouse, in use 1759 to 1877, rebuilt on the Hoe as a memorial.
Fort
Royal Citadel
Fortress of the late 1660s by Sir Bernard de Gomme at the eastern end of the Hoe; a scheduled monument.
Museum
The Box
Museum, gallery and archive opened in 2020, combining the former city museum, central library and St Luke's Church.
Historic quarter
The Barbican
Old harbour quarter beside Sutton Harbour with about 100 listed buildings and Britain's largest concentration of cobbled streets.
Monument
Mayflower Steps
Memorial near the spot from which the Pilgrim Fathers are believed to have sailed on the Mayflower in 1620.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Plymouth and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Start on the Hoe
Smeaton's Tower, the Naval Memorial and views of Drake's Island and the Breakwater are all on or beside the Hoe.
2
Walk the cobbles
The Barbican's lanes around Southside Street hold most of its pubs and restaurants, and the Mayflower Steps are on the harbour edge.
3
Swim in summer only
Tinside Lido opens between May and September; check the season before you go.
4
Royal William Yard
Sir John Rennie's former Royal Navy victualling yard, built 1826 to 1835, now has restaurants and bars, according to GWR.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Devon
More areas to explore
14 sights · 16 places to eat
Torquay, Paignton & Brixham
Torbay's three resorts: Torquay's cave and abbey, Paignton's pier and zoo, Brixham's fishing harbour
Open the mini guide →
14 sights · 19 places to eat
Dartmouth, Totnes & the Dart
Castles at the river mouth, a naval college and a market town at the head of the Dart estuary
Open the mini guide →
25 sights · 21 places to eat
Dartmoor
Granite tors, clapper bridges, Bronze Age sites and moorland villages in a national park
Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Plymouth (area photo): Herbythyme, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Plymouth Hoe: Merlin UK, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Smeaton's Tower: Herbythyme, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Royal Citadel: Adam Cuerden, Public domain, source
- The Box: Smalljim, CC BY 3.0, source
- The Barbican: Alan Murray-Rust, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Prysten House: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Tinside Lido: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Plymouth Gin Distillery: Smalljim, CC BY 3.0, source
- Plymouth Naval Memorial: Reading Tom from Reading, UK, CC BY 2.0, source
- Royal William Yard: Swissboy76, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Theatre Royal Plymouth: painma, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Drake's Island: Janipewter, Public domain, source
- Torquay, Paignton & Brixham: Kolforn, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dartmouth, Totnes & the Dart: Andrew Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Dartmoor: Addshore, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Exmoor & Lynmouth: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Exeter: Rüdiger Wölk, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring Devon