Top 5 places to visit in or near Plymouth

Royal William Yard

Royal William Yard is a complex full of restaurants, cafes, a wine bar and various clothing shops. The complex is an ex-Naval yard that also holds many unique and interesting events. Plymouth’s annual Illuminate light festival is held here and is a spectacular event, not to be missed. For any students, many of the restaurants have student discount (even more enjoyed, sitting outside in the sun, slurping on a cold beer). The illuminate festival is on the 28-29^th November 2019.

Bigbury on Sea

The journey to Bigbury is a little bit of a trek but it is totally worth it once you get there. The beach is a huge hit in the summer for surfers and paddleboarders, who can paddle around Burgh Island and explore the secret caves and the stunning clear blue water. You can hire surf or paddle boards and there is a pub and café to grab some food after a day on the beach or hiking across the beaches or exploring the island.

Plymouth Hoe and The Barbican

Smeatons Tower is one of the worlds most famous lighthouse, which Plymouth treasures. On Summer evenings, students bring BBQs, drinks and their mates up to The Hoe to take a break from studying. You can also climb Smeatons Tower to witness the breathtaking panoramic view of Plymouth. A short 5 minute walk away is The Barbican, home to many restaurants, authentic shops, bars (The beloved Gog and Magog, Weatherspoons). During the Christmas season, The Barbican is decorated with Christmas lights, switching on on Sunday 1^st December 2019.

Lopwell Dam

If you aren’t keen on trekking all the way to the beach, then Lopwell Dam is a must. You can take paddle boards and kayaks down the River Tavy and see the stunning forests and wildlife. There is a lot of history at Lopwell Dam, such as the mineshaft, Wheal Maristow, dating back to the 13^th centuary. You can explore this by foot or by cycling along the Tamar Discovery Trail.

Burrator reservoir

The tranquil reservoir, bursting with wildlife and woodland, is perfect for a Sunday morning walk (hungover, or not). The walk is easy to follow as it circles back to the beginning and takes around 2 hours to complete but you wont regret it. The route is also popular with cyclists and horseriders so it can get busy when its good weather.