The Best Places to Stay in Plymouth
If you’re planning a trip to Britain’s Ocean City, you may be wondering ‘where are the best places to stay in Plymouth?’. With every type of accommodation from hostels to five-star resorts, you’ll absolutely find the best hotel in Plymouth to suit your budget and taste. If you’re not sure about where to stay in Plymouth, here are some ideas of the best places to consider!
Where to stay in Plymouth: Quick Run Down
Where to stay in Plymouth for backpackers: Plymouth Hoe
Where to stay in Plymouth for families: The Barbican or Plymouth Centre
Where to stay in Plymouth to party: The Barbican
Where to stay in Plymouth for couples: Stonehouse
The Best Places to Stay in Plymouth
These are my top 3 hotels in Plymouth – click through to read more about them:
Also, if you want somewhere luxury to stay out outside the city, check out Boringdon Hall Hotel and Spa. If you’re a backpacker, Plymouth Backpackers is probably the best option for you!
Alternatively, read on to read about the best areas to stay in Plymouth.
The Best Areas to Stay in Plymouth
Plymouth Barbican
The Barbican is the tourist heart of Plymouth. Right by the sea, it’s where all the best restaurants and attractions (including Plymouth cruises, the Mayflower Steps, the Aquarium and the Plymouth Gin Distillery) are located.
This makes it one of the best places to stay in Plymouth with kids, as all the attractions are right there and you don’t have to bother with travel time into the city. It’s also an ideal location for first-time visitors to the city.
It is a little more expensive and can get quite busy, and hotels can be booked out in the busy season. Therefore, if you are looking to stay somewhere cheap, especially at the last minute, you might be better off looking somewhere else.
It can also be hectic, especially in summer. You are very much in the town here, so if you’re wanting a more rural Devon holiday, you are better off looking elsewhere.
Attractions near the Barbican:
- Plymouth cruises
- The Mayflower Steps and Museum
- The National Aquarium – the biggest in the country!
- The Plymouth Gin Distillery
Places to eat near the Barbican:
- The Harbour is a wonderful seafood restaurant that has some enticing veggie options too.
- The Pier Master’s House juts out from the area, serving up delicious drinks and plenty of food.
- The Gin Distillery has an on-site restaurant, serving traditional British food and lots of gin on the side!
Where to stay near the Barbican
Custom House 2 bed apartments
These luxurious and modern spaces have 2 bedrooms each, all with crisp white bedlinen and storage space for clothes. There is also a kitchen, living area and dining room in each, as well as a deluxe bathroom. Click here for more information.
Barbican Reach Guest House
This B&B is a homely spot a stone’s throw from Plymouth Barbican. Choose from a single, double, or triple room, some which have an en-suite bathroom – or you could opt to save money with a shared bathroom. A full English breakfast is served daily. Click here to read more.
Plymouth Hoe
Just along from the Barbican is Plymouth Hoe. This is a beautiful area punctuated by various landmarks, such as Smeaton’s Lighthouse, backing onto the sea. It’s really close to the Barbican and city centre, yet has its own little atmosphere all to itself.
There are a few bars and restaurants here, as well as one of the UK’s best outdoor lidos. For someone who likes staying close to the city centre but not in it, Plymouth Hoe is perfect.
That being said, hotels do come with steep rates and can get very busy, especially in the summer months. If you are searching for the best places to stay in Plymouth on a budget, hotels in Plymouth Hoe may not be the one!
Attractions on Plymouth Hoe:
- Smeaton’s Lighthouse
- The Beatles Bums
- The Lido
Places to eat near Plymouth Hoe:
- The Terrace, which has a simple menu of mainly Plymouth gin and also serves delicious wood-fired pizza
Where to stay on Plymouth Hoe
Plymouth Backpackers
This is a family friendly hotel with private rooms and dorms, and plenty of space in the communal areas. It’s one of the best places to stay in Plymouth if you are on a budget or want to meet other like minded travellers! Click here for more information.
The Grosvenor
The Grosvenor hotel is a 3* property located very close to Plymouth Hoe. It has well appointed spacious rooms with en-suite bathrooms, and a bar on site. Click here for more information.
Crowne Plaza Plymouth
The Crowne Plaza has epic views over the Hoe itself and features modern en-suite rooms with ambient lighting, comfortable beds, and living and working spaces. If you need some R&R after exploring all of the things to do in Plymouth, you can pamper in the spa, or work up a sweat in the gym. Click here for more information.
Duke of Cornwall Hotel
One of the most authentic places to stay in Plymouth, the Duke of Cornwall hotel is housed in a stunning building, and has an equally ornate interior to match. The rooms are all decorated with period furnishings, and there is a restaurant and bar on site. Click here to read more about the hotel.
Plymouth Centre
Plymouth is the biggest city in the South West outside of Bristol, and therefore it has some of the best shopping in the region. The centre of Plymouth isn’t really a touristy area, but it does have some great restaurants, so staying here is a good option for families. It’s also only a short walk to the Barbican and Plymouth Hoe, and it’s easy to get buses to other parts of Plymouth from here too.
The potential downsides of staying in Plymouth Centre is that there aren’t many attractions right on your doorstep, but they are only a short walk away. Hotel prices are slightly cheaper than elsewhere in Plymouth.
Places to stay in Plymouth centre
Copthorne Hotel Plymouth
The Copthorne Hotel is a 3* property, with well-laid out rooms making the most of the space hotel. Toiletries are available in the bathroom, and the rooms are all well-appointed. On site is a gym, bar, restaurant, and parking facilities. Click here for rates and to reserve your spot.
Jurys Inn
This is a great mid-range hotel that has modern en-suite rooms, but comes at a good value price. Each room has a comfy bed and big windows letting in natural light, and downstairs there is a restaurant and bar. Click here to read more.
Mount Batten
On the opposite side of the River Plym is Mount Batten. This is a beachy area with lots of lookouts over Plymouth and the harbour. It’s a bit far out of the city – about 20 minutes drive or a short boat ride – but if you are looking for somewhere more nature-based, Mount Batten is a good place to be!
Do bear in mind that when you stay in Mount Batten you will have to pay extra for taxis or the boat. I used Need A Cab while in Plymouth and liked them a lot – they have an Uber-style app. Mount Batten is a great choice for families who want to stay out of the centre and don’t mind travelling in, or couples or groups who want to both see Plymouth and soak in a bit of nature.
It’s not the best for people who are just in the city briefly and want to make sure that they see all the sights!
Things to do in Mount Batten:
- Mount Batten Point
- The Marina
- Jennycliff Beach
- The South West coastal path walks
Places to stay in Mount Batten
The Lake House
Choose a twin, double, or triple room at The Lake House, which is located in between Mount Batten and Hooe. The rooms are astoundingly clean, and they all feature a kettle, toaster, and some have a microwave. Click here for more information.
Stonehouse
Stonehouse is a local area near the River Tamar. It’s great if you want to experience a local atmosphere; and there are a few attractions here as well. Being a 30 minute walk from Plymouth Hoe (buses and boats are available), it’s also a cheaper place to stay in Plymouth.
It does have a slightly lower safety score than other areas of the city, however. While you are unlikely to notice anything while staying there, you might want to get a taxi back at night to be super safe.
The area has been rejuvenated over the last few years, and it mainly focused on Royal William Yard. Most of the places to stay here are apartments, so it’s a great option if you are looking for a base in Plymouth for a short time. These are bookable on Booking.com like every other accommodation on this list!
You are also very close to the attractions of Devonport, such as the various lookouts over the River Tamar and the Devonport Naval Heritage Centre.
Things to do in Stonehouse
- Royal William Yard
- Stand Up Paddleboarding on the Tamar
- Devil’s Point Lookout
- Mutton Cove
- Devonport Naval Heritage Centre
Places to stay in Stonehouse
Royal William Yard Apartments
Located in Royal William Yard itself, Royal William Yard Apartments are a collection of luxury digs with 1-3 bedrooms. Ideal for groups, they have epic views over the yard, and are kitted out with everything that you’ll need while in the city. Click here to read more about the apartments.
Plympton
Plympton is an area in the north of the city. On one side of the neighbourhood is an urban region, with Plymouth’s ring roads. Some of the cheapest hotels in Plymouth are here, such as the Ibis, which is great value.
On the other side of Plympton, the area becomes more rural and eventually leads to Dartmoor National Park. Contrastingly, the most luxurious hotel in the city is here – Boringdon Hall Hotel and Spa.
There aren’t many things to do in Plympton, but you can get a bus, taxi, or drive into the city fairly easily. It’s about 20 minutes on the bus and 10 minutes in a car. It’s also a great place to stay if you don’t want to drive into the city and are coming from the east – it’s very simple to drive to areas in Plympton.
Where to stay in Plympton
Hotel Ibis
Hotel Ibis is a budget place to stay near Plympton. It has basic but well-equipped rooms, as well as a bar and restaurant. There is a bus stop outside the Ibis so you can connect you easily with the city centre. Click here for more information.
The George
For friendly and good value pub accommodation, check out The George. It has twin, double, or king-sized bedrooms, and tasty food and drinks are served in the pub below! Click here to read more and reserve your stay at The George.
Boringdon Hall Hotel and Spa
If you fancy a little luxury, Boringdon Hotel and Spa is located near Plympton, towards Dartmoor, and is undoubtedly one of the best places to stay in Plymouth. This glorious hotel pulls out all the stops to ensure a fantastic stay, from stunning bedrooms to a world-class spa. Click here for more details about Boringdon Hall Hotel and Spa.
If you’re wondering where to stay in Plymouth, hopefully, this list has shown you the best spots! You can click on any of these hotels to read more information and book them on Booking.com. Also, be sure to check out my other Plymouth and Devon posts to help you with planning a trip to this city!
