Plymouth is one of the South East’s largest cities. It is an historic sea port with fantastic views across the harbour. It is a University city with a variety of cultures and entertainment.
There is plenty to see in Plymouth, with its large harbour, Plymouth Hoe which is where Sir Frances Drake played bowls, and the Mayflower Steps.
The city has art galleries and museums one of which is the City Museum and Art Gallery this has on display a good selection of decorative arts and is full of natural and human history.
Boat trips can be taken and water sports, such a fishing , windsurfing, scuba diving and water skiing are all prominent.
Plymouth was in 1000BC an Iron Age trading post and later the Romans were known to have traded cattle, hides and tin.
Catherine of Aragon, one of Henry VIII’s wives came to England via Plymouth Harbour.
The Pilgrims sailed to the New World in 1620 on board the Mayflower.
The survivors of the Titanic disaster also sailed into the harbour.
Smeaton tower built in 1759 used to be at Eddystone Reef, twenty miles off Plymouth until the foundations began to collapse and it was moved to the Hoe in 1852.
The city was also one of the main ports for the Normandy landings in 1944.
Plymouth has always been one of the UK’s principal naval dockyards and the tradition still carries on today.
The UK’s best aquarium is to be seen in Plymouth and will keep the whole family entertained watching sea horses, turtles or large silver mullet.
The city’s nightlife has always centred round Union Street, with music halls and cinemas, nowadays it is full of bars and clubs such as Club Jesters, Walkabout Bar, and Club Fares and Reflex plays 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s music. Also on this street is Stanley Grand Casino. On the Barbican the Plymouth Gin Distillery serves award winning cocktails.
There are plenty of restaurants in the city serving a wide variety of cuisines and of course traditional fayre can also be found.
Plymouth Pavilions have cinemas, casino’s as well as music from rock and pop to ballet and was built in 1991. On site there are also bars and a nightclub.
Plymouth Railway Station runs trains to Penzance and Paddington and to the North of England destinations all served by Virgin Trains.
Plymouth City Airport is four miles north of the city just off the A36.
Regular ferries are available to Brittany and Spain.
Plymouth is fortunate to have twelve parks throughout the city.
The city has several sports facilities which include clubs for football, American football, rugby, basketball and speedway.
A few miles north of the city is located Buckland Abbey, once the home of Sir Francis Drake. Also close by is Dartmoor National Park and nearby are the lovely country towns of Okehampton and Tavistock.
Plymouth is undergoing a huge development project, the largest since WWII and should be completed by the year 2020. Some of the town has already been demolished and the new Drakes Circus Shopping Centre opened in October 2006 with 60,000 people visiting the first morning. A large new hotel is to be built and work on the University Campus is also to take place. Shops in Plymouth include Derrys, Coop Homemaker and Dingles, Coast, Wallis and Long Tall Sally.
Since the opening of the new shopping centre the rents have increased drastically causing some smaller retailers to close.
Rental property in the area is available costing from £470pcm for a l bed flat, £495pcm for a 2 bed flat and £575 for a 3 bed house.
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