With historic buildings and galleries, and enticing stores and cafes, you’ll find a huge number of attractions on offer in Plymouth city center. With a rental car you can also explore the nearby coast along with Dartmoor National Park, making it a great way to make the most of your stay.
Historic harbor
Plymouth’s Barbican area and the surrounding Sutton Harbor lie at the heart of the city’s waterfront, and are home to many of its most famous sights. Around the Barbican you’ll find an array of boutique stores, along with several restaurants where you can enjoy excellent views of the waterfront as you dine.
From the harbor it’s possible to take a boat trip out on to the water, where you can learn all about the marine life off Plymouth’s shores. The harbor is also home to the National Marine Aquarium, which contains rare species of shark and other fish. Reserve a spot on a behind-the-scenes tour to learn all about how the conservation charity looks after them.
And, of course, at the harbor you can see the famous Mayflower Steps, from where the Pilgrim Fathers are believed to have set sail for North America in 1620. The actual steps themselves no longer exist, but a monument has been installed to commemorate the site of their departure, marked on either side by the British and American flags.
Sun, sand and sea
With a rental car, it’s just a short drive to visit some of the beautiful beaches near Plymouth. Make your first stop the nearby Bovisands beach, a sheltered bay ideal for swimming and snorkeling thanks to its calm waters. There is parking available on either side of the bay, making it easy to visit by car.
Close by is the village and peninsula of Wembury, a popular surfing and watersports spot. This rugged stretch of coastline is surrounded by cliffs, and its beach is filled with captivating rock pools and coves.
From Plymouth, you can even take the Cawsand Ferry to Cornwall, which departs from the Barbican landing stage. This service, which runs through the summer months until October, will take you to Kingsand and Cawsand, where you will find beaches surrounded by picturesque fishing villages and, of course, some excellent seafood restaurants.
A day in Dartmoor
Another destination within easy reach in a rental car is Dartmoor National Park, an ancient rural landscape where you will find scenic hills, valleys and rivers. With a great range of activities on offer, from horseback riding to camping and canoeing, it’s the perfect place to experience the great outdoors. You might even see some of the wild ponies that roam freely on the moor.
Once you’ve taken in some of the scenery and enjoyed the fresh air, you can drive to one of the nearby towns or villages, such as Ashburton or Tavistock, to enjoy a relaxing lunch in the country. Renting a car in Plymouth makes it possible to explore all this and more during your stay in this fascinating corner of the UK.