Plymouth

Renowned as Britain's Ocean City and with a rich maritime heritage, Plymouth is one of the most exciting destinations to visit in Devon. On Ferryhopper, you can take a look at available ferry routes from the port of Plymouth and find travel tips for your holiday!

Read our suggestions for your stay in Plymouth and find useful information about its port:

• Plymouth ferry port
• Vacation in Plymouth

Beautiful scenic views from the world-famous Plymouth Hoe

Plymouth ferry port

The port of Plymouth is one of the UK’s most historic ports with a rich maritime heritage spanning many centuries. Ideally situated for passengers coming from the West of England and Wales, Plymouth port offers sailings to France and Spain, and serves more than 400,000 ferry passengers each year.

Inside the terminal building, passengers can find many visitor amenities, such as a cafeteria, payphones, escalators, and a lift.

Ferries from Plymouth port: schedules and tickets

Ferries from Plymouth travel to Roscoff in France and Santander in Spain. Both routes are operated by Brittany Ferries.

• Ferry from Plymouth to Roscoff (France)

Ferries from Plymouth to Roscoff run with up to 2 crossings a day during peak season. The trip duration ranges from 5.5 to 11 hours.

• Ferry from Plymouth to Santander (Spain)

The Plymouth - Santander connection is served with up to 2 crossings a week departing on Sundays and Wednesdays. The ferry ride lasts around 20 hours. 

Where is the ferry port in Plymouth?

Plymouth Ferry Port is located on the border with Devon and Cornwall, and around 1.6 km from Plymouth city center.

How to get to Plymouth port?

The port of Plymouth is easily accessible by car, train, bus, and on foot.

If you’re traveling by car from London, take the M4 westbound until you get to the M5 motorway. Follow M5 south-west towards Exeter and then head on the A38 to Plymouth.

If you’d rather travel by train, Plymouth's central railway station is very close to the port entrance. Take the Number 4 bus from the station to the center of Plymouth. The ferry terminal is then a short taxi ride or 20 minute walk from the city center. 

Tip: in case you decide not to embark your vehicle on the ferry, you can leave it at the paid car park close to the ferry terminal (parking is free for 2 hours). There are also parking spaces for people with disabilities.

Ferries and cranes at the port of Plymouth

Vacation in Plymouth

Plymouth has countless tricks up its sleeve! Hemmed in on 3 sides by water, this city is ideal if getting outdoors is your thing and to anyone with even the slightest interest on maritime history.

With numerous local nature reserves and one of the largest national parks in Britain, Plymouth is also a great place for nature lovers. 

Looking to travel with your children? No worries. Thanks to the presence of many theaters and the UK's largest aquarium, there are plenty of options for a family day out.

How to get to Plymouth

Plymouth is easily reachable by car, coach, train, plane or ferry.

You can drive to Plymouth from most places within the UK. Similarly, the city is easily accessible by train from a variety of locations within England. From London, for example, the average train journey time to Plymouth is around 3 hours. 

If you prefer traveling by plane, there are 3 airports within a short distance from Plymouth: Bristol, Exeter and Newquay, but Bristol Airport offers direct services from most European cities.

Glorious sunny day from Smeaton's Tower in Plymouth's Hoe

What to do in Plymouth

With an interesting and varied history, there are some fascinating local sites to be visited during your stay in Plymouth. Immerse yourself in Plymouth’s seafaring heritage by going on a city hike. Start at Royal William Yard and then get past the city’s ferry port to reach Plymouth Hoe, a large, elevated public park with captivating views over the harbor. 

This area is home to the Royal Citadel, an impressive statue of Sir Francis Drake and a striking red-and-white striped lighthouse called Smeaton's Tower. Then stroll around Plymouth’s city center, admire its brutalist architecture and eat at one of the numerous celebrity chef restaurants.

If you’re a fan of gin, make sure to go for a tour and tasting at the Plymouth Gin distillery in the history-rich Barbican area, the oldest working gin distillery in England. Moreover, Plymouth boasts the largest shopping center in the South West, in case you want to add some retail therapy to the mix.

End your evening with a top-class theater show and party till dawn at one of Plymouth’s traditional British pubs.

Sightseeing in Plymouth

There are several amazing family-friendly sights in Plymouth that the whole family can enjoy, from the largest aquarium in the UK to outdoor pools and fascinating museums. 

Here you can find a list of the top sightseeing in Plymouth: 

• The Mayflower Steps, the city’s most famous landmark
• Smeaton’s Tower
• The Plymouth Naval Memorial and the Armada Monument
• The Plymouth Gin Distillery 
• The Tinside Lido, an art deco outdoor swimming pool
• The Royal Citadel, a 17th century fortress built to defend the coastline
• The Box, Plymouth's museum, art gallery and cultural center
• The National Marine Aquarium

British and American flags flying over the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth

Nightlife in Plymouth

Plymouth boasts a buzzing nightlife scene. Britain’s Ocean City offers a fantastic variety of pubs, bars and clubs, as well as a fantastic theater culture, a jam-packed live music scene, and some of the best comedy shows in the country. 

Once the sun has set, you can visit the historic Barbican and Sutton Harbor's quaint bars and cool cocktail lounges or head to the main club strip, Union St. 

Additionally, with an impressive schedule of events and festivals, Plymouth has one of the best event calendars in England all year long.

Food in Plymouth

Plymouth is a popular destination for traditional English food and is known for being "quintessentially English." Even though there are many dishes containing meat and poultry, Plymouth is most known for its fresh seafood. PS don’t forget to pair your food with a long, cold glass of Plymouth gin. 

Some of Plymouth’s flavors that you must try are:

• fish and chips
• lobster and dressed crab
• traditional cumberland sausage
• scallops 
• mussels
• prawns
• fish pie

Tip: two of the highlights of Plymouth’s event calendar that food lovers will definitely appreciate is the Flavor Fest in June and the Plymouth Seafood Festival in September.

Useful information about Plymouth

Plymouth has 3 main sections. The pedestrianized center south of the train station, the headland Hoe area further south and the regenerated Barbican area east of the Hoe. 

If you’re wondering where to stay in Plymouth, you’ll find everything from luxury hotels to family-friendly B&B’s and holiday cottages. Most of Plymouth’s B&B’s are concentrated around the Hoe, especially along Citadel Rd. 

Being a university city, Plymouth also has a ton of accommodation options for travelers on a limited budget or for backpackers. Most of them are situated overlooking or just a short stroll from the city's breathtaking waterfront views. 

As for medical services, in Plymouth you will find a University Hospital, the largest hospital in the south west peninsula.

Important phone numbers for your stay in Plymouth

Check out some phone numbers that might prove useful during your holidays in Plymouth:

• Derriford Hospital: +441752202082
• Tourist Information Center: +441752306330
• Port of Plymouth: +441752662191
• Plymouth Police station: +441392420320
• European emergency number: 112

Transportation in Plymouth

You can easily get around Plymouth thanks to the city's numerous transportation options. Since most services and attractions are within walking or biking distance, we would recommend renting a bike. 

If you’re more interested in exploring the city by water, make sure to board Plymouth's Waterlinks. Getting on Plymouth Citybus, the city’s primary local bus service operator is another option. 

Tip: for unlimited travel for either 1, 7 or 28 days you can buy a Skipper ticket.

Beautiful sunset from Plymouth waterfront

Where to book ferry tickets to Plymouth online

At the moment, it is not possible to book tickets from the port of Plymouth on Ferryhopper. For now, you can check out our Map of ferries and discover all the available connections.