While you consider Devon, it’s normally the coast and countryside which spring to thoughts – understandably so, however don’t overlook the county’s greatest metropolis, as you’ll discover a string of issues to do in Plymouth with youngsters.
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As a result of whereas Exeter is the historic capital of Devon, Plymouth has some nice household sights, whether or not you’re visiting Devon on a wet day with youngsters, seeking to hit the seashore, take a ship journey or get outside.
And there are some nice free days out in Plymouth with youngsters too – I’ve rounded up my choose of one of the best, from the fantastic Nationwide Marine Aquarium and exhibitions of The Field to a historic lighthouse and state-of-the-art immersive enjoyable.
Nationwide Marine Aquarium, Plymouth
The most important public aquarium within the UK, you don’t have to attend for a wet day in Devon to go to the Nationwide Marine Aquarium, however as we found, it’s excellent once you want an indoor exercise.
With quirky trivia concerning the sea creatures inside, an opportunity to look out into Plymouth Sound, 400 totally different species on show and many family-friendly actions, it’s additionally a terrific choice should you’re visiting Devon with toddlers in addition to older youngsters.
Tickets should be prebooked, with timed entry slots. The aquarium is open year-round.
Take a look at my 13 causes to go to the Nationwide Marine Aquarium with youngsters
The Field, Plymouth
The humanities and cultural hub of The Field has a mixture of everlasting galleries and short-term exhibitions – and even higher, there’s no entry cost should you’re searching for free days out in Devon with youngsters.
The shows have hyperlinks to Plymouth’s previous – every part from a mannequin woolly mammoth to the figureheads of ships, together with a complete host of details about town’s seafaring previous, together with interactive screens and pictures displaying a number of the most well-known journeys which began in Plymouth.
Youngsters can choose up free trails to comply with as they discover, designed for all ages, with half a dozen totally different subjects, or step in entrance of a inexperienced display to attempt their hand as a TV presenter.
Open year-round. Click on right here for opening instances and to e book tickets. There’s a cost for some short-term exhibitions.
For extra free days out in Devon with youngsters, try my high picks
The Mayflower Museum
Opened to have fun the four-hundredth anniversary of the Mayflower setting sail from Plymouth for the New World, the Mayflower Museum is an effective way to introduce youngsters to this explicit a part of town’s maritime historical past.
There’s a youngsters’s path by the museum, taking a look at every part from the Mayflower ship and its passengers (together with youngster passengers), to life and tradition of the Wampanoag Nation, the Native American tribal nation dwelling within the a part of Massachusetts the place the Mayflower made landfall.
Set over three flooring, there are additionally displays wanting on the impression of English colonialism to become old youngsters considering, plus a mannequin of the Mayflower itself inbuilt 1970 by apprentices at Devonport Royal Dockyard, on a 1:11 inch scale.
The Barbican, together with the Barbican touchdown stage for ferries, and the Mayflower Steps Memorial are each proper on the doorstep too, the beginning level for the Mayflower Path.
Plymouth Hoe
You will discover a number of the metropolis’s greatest views from Plymouth Hoe, the massive inexperienced area overlooking Plymouth Sound (town’s pure harbour, additionally identified merely as The Sound).
The general public park is the right spot to get pleasure from some downtime with the household and let little ones stretch their legs. You may take a stroll alongside the promenade, hunt for the park’s many statues and monuments, get pleasure from a picnic within the solar, and discover the peaceable sensory backyard, in addition to following the Hoe Path stroll.
It’s right here that Sir Francis Drake was taking part in bowls when information of the advancing Spanish Armada was acquired – confidently ending his recreation earlier than heading out to defeat the invading fleet. His statue stands only a few metres from the bowling inexperienced to this present day.
In addition to being a stunning area to chill out and take within the scenic views, The Hoe can also be residence to many extra of one of the best issues to do in Plymouth with youngsters, reminiscent of Smeatons Tower, The Royal Citadel, and Tinside Lido (scroll down for extra particulars).
Smeaton’s Tower
Smeaton’s Tower is a historic lighthouse that sits because the centrepiece of Plymouth Hoe, and it’s one of many metropolis’s most iconic and recognisable landmarks.
The lighthouse was initially constructed on the Eddystone reef (round 12 miles off Plymouth’s shoreline) in 1759. However when it was found that the rock it was standing on was starting to erode, it was taken down and moved – stone by stone – to its present place.
The 72-foot-high tower is now open to the general public, and you’ll climb the staircases to achieve the historic lantern room, for extra fabulous views over town and its environment.
The steps and ladders to achieve the highest of the tower are pretty steep, so it’s not the simplest choice should you’re carrying a child or toddler. However the stairs are actually doable for little legs as Claire from Devon with Youngsters found.
The Royal Citadel
Positioned to the east of Hoe Park, The Royal Citadel is a big 350-year-old clifftop fortification that was initially constructed to defend town from Dutch invasion.
In the present day, the imposing fortress continues to be used as a working navy base, so you possibly can solely go to on a guided tour. Excursions run a couple of instances per week, so make sure you verify dates and e book prematurely (and don’t be late!)
On the two-hour tour, younger historical past buffs can study all concerning the metropolis’s navy historical past from an enticing and educated native information. As you wander by the baroque gates and alongside the ramparts, hold an eye fixed out for the numerous cannon and benefit from the views over the harbour.
The tour might not seize the eye of youthful visitors and little ones who wish to run round on their very own (you have to keep on with the group) however it’s undoubtedly an attention-grabbing expertise for older youngsters and teenagers.
West Hoe Park
Whilst you’re exploring The Hoe, don’t overlook to take a slight detour to West Hoe Park, one other of one of the best locations to go to in Plymouth with youngsters.
The small park is jam-packed with thrilling rides and sights for the entire household to get pleasure from. You’ll discover a big journey playground, a household pleasant mini golf course, a miniature prepare, trampolines, a bouncy fort, a merry-go-round, and extra.
And once you get hungry, cease for an ice cream or indulgent loaded waffle from the Ocean Metropolis snack hut on the southern fringe of the park.
In the event you’re searching for concepts of extra Plymouth parks to go to with youngsters, discover a full checklist right here, together with Mount Clever Park, searching throughout to Cornwall and down onto Royal William Yard and residential to Mount Clever swimming swimming pools, a number of summer season outside swimming pools together with a child’s pool
Tinside Lido
Relationship again to 1935, this huge outside swimming pool on Plymouth Hoe enables you to take a step again in time and benefit from the quintessential British seaside expertise of yesteryear.
Due to its stunning Artwork Deco fashion and sweeping views throughout the harbour, the historic Lido was voted one of many high 10 outside swimming pools in all of Europe. Which actually isn’t a lot of a shock when you see it.
Youngsters of all ages will love splashing round within the enormous saltwater pool and getting soaked by the central fountain. There’s additionally a big sundeck for folks to control their youngsters whereas absorbing the solar and having fun with the gorgeous views over the water.
Tinside Lido is open in the course of the summer season months, normally from Could. Prebooking strongly suggested and important throughout busy durations.
Market Corridor
Opened in 2021, Plymouth’s Market Corridor is a state-of-the-art digital innovation and studying area. It’s residence to the biggest immersive dome in Europe and the second largest on this planet.
The 15-metre-tall dome comprises a 210-degree display that guarantees an incredible full-scale digital actuality expertise with no need a headset.
Among the best Plymouth sights for households, there are many exhibits and experiences excellent for youngsters of all ages. Current household exhibits embrace ‘Outer Area: Aliens and Guardians’, ‘Dinosaurs: A Story of Survival’, and ‘Legend of the Enchanted Reef’.
Every of the exhibits lasts between 30 and 45 minutes, which is nice for shorter consideration spans too. Kids’s tickets might be bought for as little as £1.50, whereas grownup tickets value between £3.50-£5.50, making it one of many metropolis’s most reasonably priced household experiences as nicely.
Take a ship journey
Expertise Plymouth from a special perspective on a enjoyable sightseeing cruise of the massive harbour and exquisite Devon shoreline.
Plymouth Boat Journeys runs a family-friendly one-hour scenic harbour cruise, which takes you previous Plymouth Hoe and Drake’s Island, earlier than pulling into Devonport Royal Dockyard, the biggest naval base in western Europe, the place you might be fortunate sufficient to identify warships and nuclear submarines.
The corporate additionally runs particular themed cruises for households and youngsters all year long, such because the Household Summer time Sundowner, the Kids’s Pirate Disco Cruise, and themed Halloween and Christmas Cruises. Maintain an eye fixed out for particular occasions throughout your go to.
Or hop onto the Barbican, Royal William Yard & Mount Edgcumbe ferry service, which hyperlinks the three websites, letting you cruise from Plymouth to Cornwall, the place you possibly can discover Mount Edgcumbe Home and nation park earlier than crusing again throughout the Sound to Plymouth once more.
Royal William Yard
In addition to with the ability to choose up a ferry, there’s lots to tempt you to Royal William Yard with youngsters. As soon as a victualling yard for the Royal Navy, the place ships would tackle provides, now it’s residence to eating places, a cinema, a begin level for boat journeys and someplace to get artistic.
Households can take a stroll alongside the Geo Path, winding round Royal William Yard and alongside the South West Coast Path to uncover 380 million years of geological historical past.
Then head to Ocean Studios for youngsters’s mini-maker periods, in addition to an opportunity to see exhibitions of labor by native artists, or craft periods at Hub Field.
Or hire paddleboards to get out onto the water underneath your personal energy, or have a swim within the tidal pool at Firestone Bay, with a sloped entry that’s nice should you’re visiting with youthful swimmers or little ones who wish to paddle.
Go to Drake’s Island
Take a ferry from the Barbican touchdown stage over Plymouth Sound to discover Drake’s Island – named for Sir Francis Drake, who was governor of the island within the sixteenth century, it steadily misplaced its outdated title of St Nicholas’s Island.
Tucked away within the waters of the Sound between Devon and Cornwall, there’s an opportunity to identify seals napping on the rocks close by earlier than taking a two-hour tour to discover additional.
The tour is a superb introduction to the historical past of the island, which was used as a jail within the seventeenth century, and later as an observatory. Spot the 4 large cannon as you wander the outdated paths and thru tunnels.
You’ll even get to search out out the reply as to whether the island is formally a part of Cornwall or Devon…
Make a journey to the seashore
With its improbable coastal location on the Devon and Cornwall border, Plymouth is only a brief distance from a number of pretty sandy seashores.
Only a 15-20 minute drive from town centre, Bovisand Seashore is likely one of the greatest family-friendly seashores near Plymouth.
Sheltered by the encircling cliffs, the secluded bay hides a big sandy seashore with clear waters and tide swimming pools which can be excellent for paddling with youthful youngsters. There are additionally loads of facilities close to the seashore, together with a parking lot (which prices £5 a day), a restaurant, and public bathrooms.
In the event you’re visiting town in summer season, or having fun with some surprising sunshine, a visit to Bovisand Seashore makes for a terrific household time out in Plymouth. It’s price understanding that no canines are allowed on the sands between Could 1 and September 30.
You probably have some further time and wish to discover extra, head just a little additional south to take a look at Wembury Bay and its many rock swimming pools – one of many greatest seashores in Devon with youngsters.
Jennycliff Seashore is barely nearer, though this little cove has a pebble seashore reasonably than sand, and has its personal rock swimming pools to discover.
Set throughout the South Devon Space of Excellent Pure Magnificence (AONB) and on the South West Coast Path, there’s free automotive parking and canines are allowed year-round. There’s a steep path down should you’re planning a visit to Plymouth with toddlers although.
Saltram Home
Round 20 minutes from Plymouth metropolis centre, this elegant Georgian home was owned by the Parker household from 1712 for nearly 250 years, and you’ll nonetheless see a lot of the unique assortment at Saltram Home.
Youngsters are more likely to be extra within the truth there are common new trails, plus alternatives to decorate up and take a look at actions inside, with further seasonal occasions aimed toward households.
Open many of the 12 months, however there are diminished hours in the course of the winter months and the home is closed utterly throughout a part of the winter. Click on right here for opening instances and tickets.
Clip’n’Climb Plymouth
Positioned simply to the north of town centre, Clip ‘n Climb is the UK’s largest indoor climbing centre and a terrific place to spend a wet day in Plymouth with youngsters.
The thrilling journey park has an enormous collection of climbing partitions appropriate for youngsters 4 years and above, in addition to a number of different enjoyable obstacles and challenges.
There’s additionally a comfortable play space for teenagers underneath 4 should you’re visiting Plymouth with toddlers, so the climbing centre is a enjoyable time out for the entire household, from tots to teenagers.
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Nationwide Marine Aquarium copyright MummyTravels, all different photos courtesy of Depositphotos
