Plymouth Sightseeing & Activities Guide

recommended places to visit and things to do in or near Plymouth


  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • craft shop
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • ceramics
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  • furniture
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  • history
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

historic house and grade 1 Cornish gardens with the national camellia collection within 865 acre park on Rame Peninsula

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • National Trust
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • antiques
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • furniture
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  • history
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

once the home to Sir Francis Drake with contemporary furnishings and artefacts, an impressive medieval Great Barn and extensive gardens

Dartmoor Zoo

Sparkwell

  • zoo
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • virtual tours
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  • shop
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  • nature
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  • wildlife

get up close and personal with the vast array of animals in 33 acres of woodland, from Chincha the Jaguar to Kelloggs the Corn Snake

  • aquarium
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • nature
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  • wildlife

discover an underwater world and the conservation efforts to protect it, shown in different environments with daily talks and shows

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • seasonal opening
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  • café
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  • antiques
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • history
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

like most houses, Port Eliot has a front door and about there the similarity ends. There are 11 staircases, 15 back doors and 82 chimneys

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • National Trust
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  • café
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  • guided tours
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  • shop
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  • antiques
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  • architecture
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  • cycling
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  • furniture
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  • history
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

a magnificent Georgian house which has been a family home for nearly 300 years with extensive grounds with year round interest

Cotehele

St. Dominick

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • National Trust
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • antiques
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  • art
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  • history
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  • social history
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  • needlecraft
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

atmospheric Tudor house with medieval roots, working mill on historic quay with a restored Tamar Sailing Barge and glorious gardens

Cotehele Mill

St Dominick

  • museum
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • National Trust
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • architecture
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  • history
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  • industrial heritage

19th century working watermill surrounded by outbuildings, now used as estate and craft workshops, short walk from Cotehele Quay

  • park
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  • family-friendly
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

400 acres country park surrounding one of the highest hills in the area - which may have had religious significance in prehistoric times

  • historic house
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • architecture
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  • furniture
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  • history
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  • social history

restored 15th century stone cottage suggested as the home of Mary Newman, the first wife of Sir Francis Drake - atmospheric

  • sightseeing tour
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • history
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  • maritime heritage

historic foot ferry between Cremyll and Plymouth with spectacular coastline views

Antony

Torpoint

  • film/tv location
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  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • seasonal opening
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  • limited opening
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  • National Trust
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • antiques
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  • art
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  • history
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  • social history
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

18th century house with fine collections of paintings, furniture and textiles; landscaped gardens; Alice in Wonderland film location