With everyone facing financial challenges, finding a fun-packed, homegrown destination without breaking the bank is a real bonus. Step forward Plymouth, a city that delivers bags of activities, arts and culture without busting the vacation budget and perfect for families.
Getting There
For a start, reaching Plymouth is unbelievably good value thanks to sustainable green coach travel firm FlixBus – starting from just £9.99 for a London to Plymouth ticket – and travellers can help the planet at the same time. FlixBus estimates travelling by coach, compared to car, cuts average CO2 emissions by 80% and customers have the option to make their journey carbon neutral by adding a contribution – usually between 1% and 3% of the ticket price – to NGO atmosfair, which has some of the highest sustainability standards in the world.
Once in Britain’s Ocean City, which has a proud maritime heritage of exploration and adventure and is bursting with culture, there is a range of free entertainment, scenic walks and affordable eating options. And with what you save you can afford to splurge on the occasional paid-for activity.
Plymouth Sound is home to the UK’s first National Marine Park and top of the list of activities has to be the National Marine Park Experience Collection with its wide range of bookable activities. Highlights include: a bespoke guided drawing and painting experience around the magnificent Grade 1 listed buildings of Royal William yard; the National Marine Park Ranger Experience, spending a morning with a ranger that could include a beach clean; a guided e-bike tour of Plymouth’s waterfront seeing beautiful coastal landmarks.
Free activities:
Step back in time on the interactive Geo Trail and discover what Plymouth was like 380 million years ago. Learn about the city’s once tropical climate, see evidence of ancient weird and wonderful sea creatures and take a voyage of discovery into the Devonian era on the free walking route. The trail turns Royal William Yard into a living museum.
Check out The Box Plymouth where admission is free to the south-west’s major new museum, art gallery and archive. The Box also has a fascinating range of permanent galleries highlighting its art, natural history, human history, media and archive collections, plusan impressive flotilla of 19th century ships’ figureheads, on loan from the National Museums of the Royal Navy, floating from the ceiling…and a mammoth!
Explore the coastline
Along the South West Coast Path, a great way to see the countryside and seascapes on foot. Walkers can choose the length of route and its level of difficulty – easy, moderate or challenging – from a range of themed walks. They include family, heritage, culture, wildlife and dog friendly walks. If finances permit, for £6.60 you can buy a Coast Path Passport and log your journey along the way, stopping off to have it stamped at various stamping points along the 630-mile route.
Download the Plymouth Trails app and explore the city’s heritage on foot. Take a seaside walk on the Hoe Trail through Plymouth’s maritime history, from the ruins of medieval Plymouth Castle to the 1930s Art Deco Lido. Investigate Plymouth’s Powerful Women with a stroll past 13 sites connecting amazing women, including a scientist and suffragist. Or trace Plymouth’s connections with Indigenous North American peoples through Beyond the Spectacle: Indigenous Plymouth
Discover the Bridging the Tamar Visitor and Learning Centre and find out about the engineering legacy of the Tamar estuary’s historic bridges, including Brunel’s Royal Albert Bridge. Free guided talks are available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Reach the centre via the City Bus route 12/12A
Dive into the sea and go Wild Swimming. Connect with a network of communities of wild swimmers across Devon and Cornwall. Informal groups with no charge or registration – just plenty of swimming. Two designated safe swimming areas are Tinside beach and Firestone Bay at Devil’s Point. But respecting safety in the sea is paramount – never swim alone and if in doubt, don’t go out.
Activities under £10 (prices for one adult ticket):
Smeaton’s Tower
The centerpiece of Plymouth Hoe, this landmark stands 72ft hight and offers fantastic views of Plymouth Sound and the city from its lantern room. £5. (re-opens soon for Spring/Summer)
Cremyll Ferry
Take the Ferry to Mount Edgcumbe just £2 each way, Cawsand Ferry from Plymouth to Cornwall just £5 each way or Barbican to Royal William Yard ferry £3.50 for a single fare. The Mount Batten Ferry also £2 each way, to the Mount Batten peninsula is a gateway to the spectacular National Marine Park.
Market Hall
The immersive shows are a wonderful find. Explore new worlds in Plymouth’s 15m immersive dome. Prices vary around £3.50 to £5.50.
Mayflower Museum
Set over three floors, this museum explores the story of the voyage of the Pilgrims and their journey aboard the Mayflower to the New World. £5.
The Elizabethan House
Built when Plymouth was a thriving port, the house has witnessed more than 400 years of history. Saved from demolition, it opened as a visitor attraction in 1930 and underwent major restoration as part of the Mayflower 400 commemorations. £5. (Re-opens soon for Spring/Summer)
For the whole range activities the city has to offer see What’s On in Plymouth for even more ideas.
And if all that whets the appetite, visit some of the city’s reasonably-priced eateries:
Dine on sustainably-caught fish. Plymouth is the world’s first city to win the Fish2Fork Blue City award, in recognition of a core number of restaurants using seafood from sustainable sources, and Rockfish seafood restaurant on the edge of Sutton Harbour has the Sardine Bar offering award-winning haddock and chips for just £5 on Fish Fridays.
Cap’n Jaspers in the Barbican serves great value burgers and hotdogs. Mama Rita’s Kitchen offers Caribbean fare the Lisbon Bakery and Restaurant serves Portuguese cuisine and The Terrace dishes include woodfired pizza with an amazing view over Plymouth Sound. There are endless options to suit every budget, if you just know where to look.
So set course for an affordable staycation in Plymouth and make the most of a break in this exciting coastal city.
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