Whatever your reason for visiting Plymouth, CrossCountry trains can take you to the centre of this fascinating city, bursting at the seams with history and culture. In Plymouth you’ll find plenty of shopping, museums, tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, and cafés, the list just goes on! Whether you’re visiting for business or pleasure, you’re sure to enjoy your stay in Plymouth.
Shopping in Plymouth
Plymouth really does offer a unique shopping experience, spanning everything from ultra-modern shopping centres to historic cobbled streets teaming with independent shops. There’s something for everyone from high street favourites to quirky boutiques, antique shops to craft shops and everything in between.
The Drake Circus Shopping Centre is home to all the biggest brands. This bright and breezy modern shopping centre is your one stop shop when it comes to browsing all your favourite shops. And, when you’ve worn out your legs and your credit card, you can take a break in one of the many cafés and restaurants.
For something more traditional you have a couple of options; either head into the historic Barbican district where you will find a range of shops for you to wander around, or to Plymouth Market where a variety of local stalls will tempt you. Whichever you choose you’re sure to find something completely unique.
Food & Drink in Plymouth
Plymouth was recently named the UK’s new gourmet hotspot, and with the variety of fresh seasonal and local food on offer, all cooked to perfection it’s easy to see why. From fine dining restaurants run by celebrity chefs like Marco Pierre White to truly excellent traditional fish and chips, there’s plenty of delicious treats to enjoy.
When it comes to food in Plymouth, our pick is anything with an ocean view. There’s nothing like a fresh sea breeze to work up an appetite, so visit one of the fish restaurants clustered around the docks (The Dock Café is a favourite), pick something up from the chippy and eat it while strolling along the beach, or pack up a picnic and head to the Hoe.
Of course, it’s hard to discuss Plymouth’s food and drink scene without mentioning the famous gin distilled in the city. A trip to the Plymouth Gin Distillery has to be high on any foodie’s to do list when visiting the city. The distillery is the perfect place to grab some cocktails and bar snacks for the perfect start to your evening!
Culture in Plymouth
The influence of Plymouth’s seaside location and maritime history is a thread which makes its way through most of the city’s cultural offering. Whether you decide to visit the Mayflower steps where the Pilgrim Fathers left from in 1620, the amazing Plymouth Aquarium, or wander round the art galleries clustered in the cobbled streets, the beauty of the ocean is everywhere.
There’s loads of museums to explore in the city! One of our favourites is the Mayflower Museum, where you can find out more about the Pilgrims who left Plymouth for the New World. At The Box, you will find a family friendly environment to discover modern art. Or, head to DIVE Museum, an eclectic collection of objects discovered at the bottom of the sea by a commercial diver.
A visit to Plymouth wouldn’t be complete without spending time at Plymouth Hoe. These perfectly manicured gardens look out over the sea and are reportedly where Sir Francis Drake played bowls while waiting for news of the Spanish Armada. While you’re there take the opportunity to visit Smeaton’s Tower, a wonderful old lighthouse restored to its former glory within the park, which offers amazing views over the city as well as out to sea.
Plenty of iconic events happen in the city throughout the year; there’s so much to enjoy for visitors of all ages from Plymouth Pirate Weekend, Armed Forces Weekend and a huge Bonfire Night celebration.
Catching a train to Plymouth
Situated on the edge of the historic Barbican district, Plymouth Station is right in the city centre, meaning you’ll easily be able to reach many of the main tourist attractions.
Plymouth train station has step-free access throughout and is fully accessible to those with a range of needs. Accessible ticket machines are also available in the station, as are accessible taxis.
For those with an onward journey from Plymouth the excellent bus service is a popular choice, alternatively a taxi rank is available at the station.
We want to help you travel cheaply, so as long as you buy your ticket 15 minutes before departure via our website or Train Ticket app, you can still enjoy great savings! To get the very best out of your train travel, read our top tips to find cheap train tickets and learn about our exclusive benefits offered to registered customers.
If you want to explore Plymouth and all it has to offer, you’ll want to stay longer than a day! So, make sure you book a great value hotel in Plymouth before you arrive.
