Plymouth has a reputation as a centre for voyage, discovery and military importance. For more than a thousand years the spectacular waterfront has been a port of call or point of departure for adventurers, emigrants, merchant traders, soldiers and sailors. Including, of course, the departure point of the Mayflower, marked by the Mayflower Steps.
In 2020 ‘The Box’ will open as a flagship museum and cultural centre for the region. The Box will house archives and a dedicated Mayflower exhibition.
The stunning views over Plymouth Sound from the Hoe will literally take your breath away. Take a boat trip out into the Sound - as the Pilgrims did - for amazing views back over the city. Plymouth boat trips offer a boat trip with Mayflower commentary.
Plymouth today is a melting pot of historical sites, memorials and museums - alongside a vibrant cultural scene, stunning places to eat and some of England's finest beaches are never far away. Sightseeing in Plymouth is easily done of foot - explore the Barbican, Sutton Harbour, Royal William Yard and the Hoe. Tour guides offer walking, driving and ancestral tours in the city of Plymouth and the surrounding regions. See the attractions list below for further details.
When in Devon - a cream tea is a must – Plymouth has a great variety of restaurants and places to eat. The Gin Distillery offers tours of ‘Plymouth Gin’ and was used by the Pilgrims the nights prior to their final departure.
Visitors should head over the Tamar Bridge into Poldark's Cornwall - for more fabulous coastline, great seafood restaurants and attractions including the Eden Project.
You can explore a complete overview of the Mayflower 400 programme in Plymouth here
Plymouth is developing a world-class culture and heritage programme for Mayflower 400 in 2020. Investment and support from Plymouth City Council combines with wider private/public sector investment to deliver a transformational year for the city. Highlights include:
By this time, the cramped, damp and miserable passengers had already spent up to six weeks at sea basically getting nowhere, with a fair wind and good fortune they would have hoped to be closing on their destination by then. The Speedwell was finally declared unfit for the journey. Some of the Pilgrims dropped out; the remainder crowded onto the Mayflower, which required re-provisioning, despite funds running low.
She left on 16 September with up to 30 crew and 102 passengers on board. Just under half of them were Separatists, the rest were 'economic migrants' - skilled tradespeople sent by the investors to help build the new colony.
It is believed the Pilgrims received a warm welcome in Plymouth. Those that did not live on board ship probably stayed in or visited houses around the quay such as Island House and the Elizabethan House. These buildings still stand today.
Island House, situated on Southside Street, dates from between 1572 and 1600 and is reputed to be one of the houses the Pilgrims were entertained in prior their departure for the New World.
The Elizabethan House, situated on New Street, was called London House when it was built in the 1580s. It may have been the Plymouth offices of the London Company of Virginia. Today it is called the Elizabethan House because it was built in the time of Queen Elizabeth I.
The Protestant community were also sympathetic to the Pilgrims cause. Plymouth had a long Protestant tradition and the port had been previously used as a base for fighting Protestant England's war against Catholic Europe.
Furthermore, Plymouth people were deeply interested in the Pilgrims destination. When the Speedwell and Mayflower anchored in Plymouth, many families in the town had seen their men sail off to fishing grounds in New England and Newfoundland. They were probably aware too that the end of August was too late to set sail across the Atlantic and their men were due to return home.
The ship-builders in Plymouth said the Speedwell was unfit to cross the Atlantic, the Mayflower would therefore have to travel alone. There was not enough room for everyone on board one ship but, by then, some Pilgrims had already lost heart or were simply too weak and sick to continue the journey by sea.
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Visitor Attraction
The Mayflower Museum explores the story of the voyage of the Pilgrims and their journey aboard the Mayflower.
Visitor Attraction
The Elizabethan House is a historic property laid out in the style of a merchant or sea captain’s home from the 1600s. The house is currently closed due to essential conservation work.
Visitor Attraction
The oldest working gin distillery in England. The Pilgrims are thought to have dined here on the eve of the Mayflower departure.
Monument / Memorial
A monument to commemorate and mark the departure of the Mayflower ship from Plymouth in 1620.
Visitor Attraction
Smeaton's Tower is a memorial to celebrated civil engineer John Smeaton, designer of the third and most notable Eddystone Lighthouse.
Park / Open Space
Mount Edgcumbe Country Park is listed as Grade I on the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
Visitor Attraction
The National Marine Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the United Kingdom.
Historic Site
The Royal William Victualling Yard was the major victualling depot of the Royal Navy and an important adjunct of Devonport Dockyard.
Visitor Attraction
Refined Georgian house with a notable interior, period furnishings, porcelain and smart grounds.
Historic Site
The Mayflower is thought to have made a final unexpected stop at Newlyn, Cornwall to take a supply of fresh water on board.
Guided Walking Tour
Delivering luxurious, customisable trips For private groups.
Visitor Attraction
The Box, a state of the art museum, will open in 2020 as the flagship building for the Mayflower 400 commemorations.
Crowne Plaza Plymouth
Hotel
Overlooking Plymouth Hoe's greenery and the coastline, the Crowne Plaza Plymouth is less than 10 minutes' walk from Plymouth city centre. Panoramic views across the Plymouth Sound bay feature in the 11th-floor dining room.
Jurys Inn Plymouth
Hotel
In the heart of the city centre adjacent to Plymouth's historic tourist quarter and shopping centre.
New Continental Hotel
Hotel
The New Continental Hotel’s central location makes it easy to explore Plymouth's maritime delights.
Boringdon Hall Hotel and Spa
Hotel
The 5-star Boringdon Hall Hotel and Spa is situated on the edge of Dartmoor National Park and just five minutes from Plymouth.
Copthorne Hotel
Hotel
The Copthorne Hotel Plymouth offers spectacular views towards the historic Barbican and Hoe areas.
The Grosvenor Plymouth
Bed & Breakfast
Originally built in 1879 this beautiful Victorian property has been welcoming guests since 1990.
The Duke of Cornwall Hotel
Hotel
Set in the heart of Britain’s Ocean City, the Duke of Cornwall is a stunning period hotel brimming with character and style.
Premier Inn Sutton Harbour
Hotel
Dream of life on the open waves with Premier Inn Hotel Plymouth City Centre (Sutton Harbour). Just minutes from Plymouth's bustling shops and buzzing nightlife you're in a great location.
Travelodge Plymouth
Hotel
Travelodge Plymouth is in the heart of the city, a short walk from the breathtaking views of Plymouth Sound from Hoe Park.
1620
Hotel
1620 will be a landmark redevelopment on the iconic facade of Plymouth Hoe.
You'll be the first to hear the latest Mayflower news, events, and more.
The Box will open to the public in Plymouth for the first time
The Mayflower History Festival will be a city-wide programme of activity, including talks, tours, reenactments and exhibitions run by local people and organisations in Plymouth.
The Royal Western Yacht Club of England in Plymouth will run its major transatlantic races, the Original Single-handed Transatlantic Race (OSTAR) in 2020.
Visit Plymouth's newest visitor attraction, situated a stone's throw from the Mayflower Steps. Set on Plymouth's cobbled New Street, the Elizabethan House will provide a unique, immersive experience that will take you back to the time of the Pilgrims and their epic journey.
Plymouth will host its third Marine Tech Expo in June 2020, creating a platform to showcase, network and collaborate with the world class marine technologies being developed in the area.
Plymouth will once again host the thrilling finish of the 2019 Rolex Fastnet race.
Plymouth's spectacular festival of light returns to the historic Royal William Yard for an immersive, interactive experience.
The Christmas holiday calendar officially kicks off in Plymouth
The Plymouth Christmas Market is the perfect place to pick up unique gifts for loved ones
Can you find all the LEGO penguins hidden around Plymouth?
The Mayflower Museum explores the story of the voyage of the Pilgrims and their journey aboard the Mayflower.
The Elizabethan House is a historic property laid out in the style of a merchant or sea captain’s home from the 1600s. The house is currently closed due to essential conservation work.
The oldest working gin distillery in England. The Pilgrims are thought to have dined here on the eve of the Mayflower departure.
A monument to commemorate and mark the departure of the Mayflower ship from Plymouth in 1620.
Smeaton's Tower is a memorial to celebrated civil engineer John Smeaton, designer of the third and most notable Eddystone Lighthouse.
Mount Edgcumbe Country Park is listed as Grade I on the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
The National Marine Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the United Kingdom.
The Royal William Victualling Yard was the major victualling depot of the Royal Navy and an important adjunct of Devonport Dockyard.
Refined Georgian house with a notable interior, period furnishings, porcelain and smart grounds.
The Mayflower is thought to have made a final unexpected stop at Newlyn, Cornwall to take a supply of fresh water on board.
The Box, a state of the art museum, will open in 2020 as the flagship building for the Mayflower 400 commemorations.
Overlooking Plymouth Hoe's greenery and the coastline, the Crowne Plaza Plymouth is less than 10 minutes' walk from Plymouth city centre. Panoramic views across the Plymouth Sound bay feature in the 11th-floor dining room.
In the heart of the city centre adjacent to Plymouth's historic tourist quarter and shopping centre.
The New Continental Hotel’s central location makes it easy to explore Plymouth's maritime delights.
The 5-star Boringdon Hall Hotel and Spa is situated on the edge of Dartmoor National Park and just five minutes from Plymouth.
The Copthorne Hotel Plymouth offers spectacular views towards the historic Barbican and Hoe areas.
Originally built in 1879 this beautiful Victorian property has been welcoming guests since 1990.
Set in the heart of Britain’s Ocean City, the Duke of Cornwall is a stunning period hotel brimming with character and style.
Dream of life on the open waves with Premier Inn Hotel Plymouth City Centre (Sutton Harbour). Just minutes from Plymouth's bustling shops and buzzing nightlife you're in a great location.
Travelodge Plymouth is in the heart of the city, a short walk from the breathtaking views of Plymouth Sound from Hoe Park.