Sensational sights and attractions in Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City

‘Especially for cruise lines that are calling or turning around in Portsmouth, Southampton and Dover, Plymouth is an alternative, while complementing itineraries around the UK, particularly in the Southwest,’ explains Glen Gardner, cruise BDM, Destination Plymouth. ‘To German cruise lines sailing out of Hamburg and Bremerhaven, if you’re coming across to the UK, don’t circumnavigate the British Isles and miss out on the West Country peninsula - come to Plymouth!’ 

A destination befitting luxury and expedition cruise lines, Noble Caledonia, Ponant, Seabourn and Windstar are among its cruise line customers, while ‘Silversea is a regular caller now,’ says Gardner. 

‘What makes us stand out from our competitors in the southwest is the fact we’ve got multiple berthing facilities, and a number of anchorages in Plymouth Sound. Plymouth is definitely a year-round destination. Added to that we have a city wide partnership led by Destination Plymouth which supports and welcomes cruise liners and their passengers to provide an exceptional "joined up" city experience that they will cherish.' 

Cattewater Harbour – Port of Plymouth

Cattewater Harbour, nestled within Plymouth Sound, serves as a gateway for cruise visitors to Britain’s Ocean City. Just an 8-minute tender ride from the sheltered anchorage, the Harbour’s purpose-built cruise ship tender pontoon, the Barbican Landing Stage enables guests to disembark adjacent to the famous Mayflower Steps, and direct access into the heart of historic Plymouth. The Barbican Landing Stage ensures a sheltered, safe, and accessible disembarkation for all. 

Sheltered anchorage in Plymouth Sound

Purpose-built cruise ship tender pontoon, safe and accessible for all

Plymouth's cruise calls have surged by 28% compared to last year, with 14 visits booked to tender guests directly to the Barbican Landing Stage. Even more calls are scheduled for 2025 and 2026. At the Barbican Landing Stage, guests receive an unforgettable welcome: Royal Marine drummers set the rhythm, the town crier's bell ringing out to announce their arrival, and a dedicated team of volunteers and harbour staff extend warm hospitality, ensuring guests feel welcomed from the moment they step ashore. 

Royal Marine Drummers

Plymouth Town Crier, announcing guests' arrival into the heart of Plymouth

The Barbican Landing Stage accommodates up to three, 12-meter vessels at once, accessible throughout the tide's cycle for a seamless arrival. Nearby parking for up to 14 coaches and two large car parks simplifies logistics for guests and operators. The tourist information centre, conveniently located nearby, offers quick access to essential information, enhancing guests' Plymouth experience. Its proximity allows efficient planning, maximising visitor enjoyment. 

ABP Port of Millbay 

A brand-new covered passenger walkway at West Wharf, new fenders, and upgrades at the cruise terminal representing a total £22m investment are planned. Shore power will be available at West Wharf by 2026. ‘Calls are limited at West Wharf because of the works, but operations will return to normal in 2025,’ says Adrian Buss, operations manager, ABP Ports Plymouth. 

This year, Plymouth’s first cruise call of the season – Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition – arrived on April 11, with the line scheduled to visit twice this year and in 2025. The destination will receive a total 14 calls this summer – including at least 10 maiden calls – and it can accommodate unscheduled calls in the event of bad weather. 

Airports at Exeter and Newquay offer opportunities for turnaround calls, the last one occurring in April 2023 with Noble Caledonia, with various new accommodation being built in and around the city centre which can serve pre- and post-cruise stays. 

The port has capacity to handle three ships simultaneously: at the 110-metre-long Trinity Pier, West Wharf and at anchor. It takes eight minutes to tender into Millbay’s King Point or the Barbican Landing Stage in the city centre, a stone’s throw from where the Pilgrim Fathers are believed to have departed England. ‘15-18 years ago, Plymouth had a good number of ships,’ reveals Buss. ‘There’s been renewed interest off the back of 2021,’ he added, when country restrictions due to Covid saw an uptick in cruising in the UK, one of the first European countries to roll out vaccines. ‘We’ve received a lot of German passengers… they love seeing the town crier who adapts the cry to each individual cruise line.’ At present, Plymouth is working to create the UK’s first National Marine Park. 

Across its two floors, the cruise terminal can handle up to 1,000 passengers

Cultural events year-round 

Renowned for its wartime history, and home to some of the UK’s most impressive cultural and outdoor attractions, the city hosts countless festivities throughout the year: From the three-day Flavour Fest food and drink festival, the British Fireworks Championships for the best fireworks that sees staggering displays over the water, and a pirate festival in recognition of Plymouth’s pirate history, to a programme of family entertainment at West End Carnival in and around Plymouth Market, as well as Plymouth Christmas Market with more than 50 stalls and live entertainment. The sailing regatta in Plymouth is one of the oldest in the world, established in 1823. 

Positive local attitudes 

One of the secrets to Plymouth’s growing success may be attributed to positive local attitudes towards cruise tourism. With every call, a team of ambassadors made up of local cruise enthusiasts warmly welcome passengers ashore, often accompanied by local students from City College Plymouth and those studying cruise management at the University of Plymouth – one of the city’s three well-respected higher education institutions. ‘You can come into the Barbican and have a really warm welcome by our cruise line volunteers, the welcome team and also the town crier and entertainment… It’s a very colourful and vibrant welcome,’ Gardner states. ‘The destination itself has so much to offer, as well as being a gateway to South Devon and Cornwall, with Dartmoor National Park not too far away, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Eden Project.’ The latter comprises enormous adjoining dome structures housing thousands of plant species. ‘There’s water sports, ferry trips and boat trips,’ continues Gardner. ‘There’s so much you can do here. It’s such a diverse offering.’ 

Major investment

In addition, huge investment schemes are lending themselves to Plymouth’s evolution towards a flourishing tourist destination. The local council has committed to regenerating the city centre to create an urban park at a cost of £12.7m that will include a good-sized performance space situated among trees and greenery, water features and a play area. 

It comes on top of other major investments such the £50m restaurant and leisure complex, The Barcode, and the £53m The Box which is one of the region’s largest cultural attractions. The latter is a free to enter hub catering for a broad range of interests, serving as a museum, creative centre and research facility rolled into one. Encompassing an art gallery, numerous exhibitions, and more, its rich and informative installations are frequently updated. Plus, it holds the UK’s biggest regional film archive of over 250,000 films. 

An array of activities at locations throughout the city – from live music, dance, arts and crafts – are held throughout the year. 

A recent familiarisation trip, which included The Box, served as an introduction to some of Plymouth’s most enthralling attractions: 

History 

A tour of the Mayflower Museum – also home to Plymouth’s award winning tourist centre – kicked off the tour of Britain’s Ocean City. Through engaging audio-visual technology, it retells the story of the Mayflower ship’s voyage from Plymouth to the New World in 1620, allowing visitors to explore the story of the US’ Pilgrim Fathers in new ways. The first floor introduces visitors to the personal and political legacies of the Mayflower story, while the second floor delves into the journeys of the Mayflower passengers, and the effect of colonisation on the native Wampanoag people. The museum, open year-round, continues to collaborate with the Native American tribal nation to share their stories, and has a well-stocked shop filled with books, local gifts and souvenirs, and a wheelchair hire facility. 

A typical guided tour lasts at least 45 minutes with a maximum party of 25 people recommended. 

Mayflower Museum

For more maritime history, a visit to the 17th century Royal Citadel – a fortress built to defend the coastline from the Dutch – is strictly by guided tour as the site continues to be an operational military establishment and ID is required on entry. It offers private two-hour tours for groups of up to 15 people. There are steep inclines up to the ramparts but accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs. It is one of only 10 places in the UK that has permission to fire a 21 gun salute. 

The 15th century Minster Church of St. Andrew has richly decorated stained-glass windows, installed between 1957 and 1962 after the ancient glass of the original windows was destroyed during the Civil War of 1642-46, and later, during WW2 when Plymouth was severely damaged by falling bombs in the Plymouth Blitz. 

It can accommodate any number of cruise passengers, serving them cream tea inside the church or outdoors in fine weather. Gardner recommends a two-hour tour, incorporating the church, the priest’s house and the abbey, a good level of mobility required. 

A tour of the 1762-built synagogue – the oldest Ashkenazi Synagogue in continuous use in the English-speaking world – is also possible, followed by cream tea in the nearby Treasury café-bar. 

Alternatively, passengers can turn back the clock by stepping inside the 1599-built Elizabethan House. As visitors pass through, each room tells the story of local characters from yesteryear known to have stayed there, recounting their fortunes and misfortunes through light projections. A steep, winding staircase again calls for good mobility. 

The Barbican is one of the few places in the city that escaped damage during the Plymouth Blitz of World War Two and comprises alleys flanked by Tudor, Jacobean, and Georgian properties from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. 

Famously, Ernest Shackleton’s voyages of Antarctic exploration left from Plymouth's Millbay Docks, the ill-fated Endurance and Quest in 1921. 

There are more than 100 listed buildings in Plymouth’s labyrinth of cobblestone lanes

Food and drink 

Plymouth Gin Distillery is the oldest in England and offers at least three English language tours of varying length, including the Master Distiller’s Tour lasting 2.5 hours. Each one delves into the history of the distillery, the botanicals used and the distillation process combined with tasting opportunities, with a master class available where passengers can distil their own gin. Small groups can be hosted in an intimate-sized secret bar. 

Royal William Yard, which has the largest collection of Grade 1 Listed buildings in Europe (it was used by the Admiralty as a major victualling depot for the Royal Navy), has become a focal point for food and drink, where visitors can catch their own seafood or enjoy a global food offering from a range of independent venues and well-known restaurants. There are plenty of high-end venues to stop at for a cocktail, plus a wine bar, microbrewery, and Plymouth’s first 

specialty rum bar. A monthly market at the Yard means visitors can enjoy the freshest produce from the South West’s top suppliers. 

Furthermore, passengers can stroll along the geo trail that winds its way around the Yard and along the South West Coast Path at Devil’s Point to discover the site’s 380m years of geological history, explained through QR codes scattered along the trail. 

A tour of Plymouth’s historic sites could continue with afternoon tea at the 150-year-old Duke of Cornwall Hotel, whose famous guests have included comedy duo Laurel & Hardy, actor Charlie Chaplin and the explorer Ernest Shakleton. Famously, it served as accommodation for several survivors of the Titanic on their return to England after being rescued. 

Plymouth Fish Market sells over 80 species of fish and over 60t of fish are landed at the fish market every day.

Culture 

Historic figureheads, natural history, pickled and preserved sea life, and naval history and shipwrecks are just a snapshot of the exhibits that can be found inside The Box, which is free to enter and open Tuesday-Sunday. 

The Box’s Planet Ocean exhibition, focusing on the importance of the ocean and highlighting the climate emergency, opened last month. Visionary artists John Akomfrah’s film Arcadia has also been showing at the venue. As well as working closely with the British Film Institute, the attraction has been pulling in some big names by partnering with London’s Tate Gallery. It will work with the British Council on a Polish exhibition for next year. 

700,000 people have passed through The Box since its opening in 2020. Group tours lasting two hours can be arranged or groups of 15-20 can participate in a behind the scenes tour outside of normal opening times and accompanied by an archivist. 

An audio guide accessed via mobile app and with a variety of languages to choose from is now available.

There are multiple tours available to explore the city via Plymouth Boat Trips, and Torpoint car ferry is just one option for reaching Cornwall. For example, passengers can reach the Grade II listed Mount Edgcumbe House, which is surrounded by 865-acre Grade I gardens and parkland, in only minutes. The wider park is open year-round daily and free to the public.  

The free area of the park includes the National Camellia Collection, and there is a gift shop for high-quality locally-made products and a coffee shop. 

Mount Edgcumbe House

Panoramic tour 

A panoramic tour takes in views over Plymouth Sound, a deep inlet in the English Channel, Eddystone Lighthouse, the scenic Mount Batten peninsula, the breakwater, the 1935-built Art Deco Tinside Lido and the 2.6 ha Drake’s Island, named after English privateer Sir Francis Drake who circumnavigated the world from Plymouth in 1577. 

The Grade I listed Smeaton's Tower lighthouse, the Royal Citadel and the coasts of Devon and Cornwall can also be observed, in addition to various murals at North Cross, as well as the ‘Beatle Bums’ – the sculpted derrières of rock’n’roll band, The Beatles, imprinted on the Hoe. 

www.visitplymouth.co.uk